Deadline: 30-Nov-23
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) Implemented by UNDP is pleased to announce a call for expressions of interest from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including Community-based Organisations (CBOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), academia, scientific Institutions and conservation groups to serve on the GEF SGP National Steering Committee in Malaysia.
Role of the NSC
- The National Steering Committee (NSC) serves as the main decision-making body of the SGP at the country level and provides overall oversight, guidance, and direction to the Country Programme. All NSC members contribute to their responsibilities on a voluntary basis. Membership and responsibilities of the NSC are:
- Provide overall guidance and strategic direction of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS)
- Review and approve projects in alignment with the Country Programme Strategy.
- Provide technical expertise on national environmental and/or social issues of global concern.
- Link the SGP operations to the relevant global, regional, and national policies and strategies of the GEF and other third-party co-financing.
- Support partnership development and resource mobilisation efforts for the SGP at project and country levels.
- Support scaling up efforts to mainstream SGP lessons learned and successes in national development planning and policy-making.
- Provide inputs and endorsement to the Country Programme Strategy
Eligibility Criteria
- Interested NGOs and CBOs seeking for SGP grants should make sure that the following basic criteria are met.
- Locally registered NGOs, CBOs and civil society organizations.
- Demonstrate strong organizational capacity to implement SGP grant projects and meet SGP requirements.
- Ensure the proposed project falls within one of the specified GEF SGP focal areas.
- Demonstrate strong community involvement in the planned or proposed project.
- Though SGP is an environmental themed programme, but it is opened to all type of civil society organizations irrespective of their background. However, the project proposals focus need to be on environmental issues with active local community or target group involvement.
- Non-registered and rural based organizations such as village committees are encouraged to apply in partnership with intermediary organizations (to assist them in providing project management services and meeting SGP requirements).
Selection and Appointment
- For new country programmes, the selection of NSC members is led by the UNDP Country Office (CO) with support from the National Coordinator (NC), in close consultation with the SGP Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) and a wide circle of stakeholders. The composition and appointment of a newly established NSC is subject to review by the CPMT Regional Focal Point (RFP) and final approval by the SGP Global Manager. Based on the approval by the Global Manager, the UNDP RR provides the appointment letters on behalf of the SGP. For UCPs, approval is provided by the UCP Global Coordinator.
- For an existing NSC, the selection and rotation of new NSC members will be facilitated by the UNDP Resident Representative (RR) or his/her designated delegate, with support from the standing NSC and NC, in consultation with a wide and representatives group of stakeholders at the national level. For existing NSC, appointments and updates will be approved by the responsible CPMT Regional Focal Point (RFP). Based on the approval by the RFP, the UNDP RR provides the appointment letters on behalf of the SGP. For UCPs, approval is provided by the UCP Global Coordinator.
- For both new and existing NSC, nomination and selection of non-governmental NSC members should be undertaken in a transparent manner through as wide a consultation as possible with country stakeholders. Unless an exception is granted by the CPMT based on the country context, an open call for nomination of NSC member (i.e. email among CSO networks and partners, communication through the print media, radio and other relevant channels) along with clear selection criteria and the due process for selection will be undertaken.
- The existing NSC reviews the nominations and provides a recommended composition to the UNDP RR, considering both the expertise and qualifications of the individual candidates, and the overall composition and balance of the committee. The UNDP RR, in consultation with the NC, will review and agree upon the recommended list of new NSC members, which is then submitted to the CPMT or UCP Global Coordinator for final approval, and inclusion in the SGP database. The SGP database should be updated in a timely manner, including terms and contact information.
- The NSC non-governmental members must have high credibility and wide experience working with CSOs, CBOs, and indigenous peoples in the country and can thus represent the needs and interests of the constituency in committee discussions. Strong, experienced, and technically competent civil society representation on the NSC is crucial as a means of keeping the SGP responsive to its mandate to work with CSOs, CBOs and indigenous peoples. These members must also have the requisite knowledge of GEF Focal Areas and/or specific themes such as gender, sustainable livelihoods, monitoring and evaluation and knowledge management.
For more information, visit UNDP.