A/RES/55/199 protection, as these are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development; 5. Stresses the importance of early and effective preparations for the Summit and a comprehensive assessment of progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the other results of the Conference to be carried out at the local, national, regional and international levels by Governments and the United Nations system so as to ensure high-quality inputs to the review process, and welcomes the preparatory activities carried out so far; 6. Welcomes the work undertaken at the regional level, in close collaboration with the respective regional commissions, to implement action programmes for sustainable development that could provide substantive inputs to the preparatory process and the Summit itself; 7. Also welcomes the work undertaken by the United Nations Secretariat in close cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the regional commissions and the secretariats of conventions related to the Conference, as well as other relevant organizations, agencies and programmes within and outside the United Nations system and international and regional financial institutions, including the Global Environment Facility, to support preparatory activities, in particular at the national and regional levels, in a coordinated and mutually reinforcing way; 8. Further welcomes the report of the Global Environment Facility to the General Assembly on its contributions to the implementation of Agenda 21, 7 and notes the assistance provided by the Facility to the national implementation of Agenda 21; 9. Welcomes the decision of the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its last meeting, held from 1 to 3 November 2000, 8 to request the Chief Executive Officer to explore the best options for enhancing the support of the Facility in assisting affected countries, especially those in Africa, in implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, 9 taking into account the third replenishment; 10. Also welcomes the initiation of the third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund, invites all donor countries and other countries in a position to do so to make contributions to the third replenishment and ensure its successful conclusion, and invites the Facility to submit a report to the Summit on the status of the replenishment negotiations; 11. Invites relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations and international financial institutions involved with the implementation of Agenda 21, including the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme, and of conventions related to the Conference, to participate fully in the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21, including in the preparation of reports for submission to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its tenth session and the Summit, in 7 See A/55/94. See ICCD/COP(4)/11/Add.1, decision 9/COP.4, para. 2. 9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. 8 3