Deadline: 30-Nov-2025
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) has opened its Call for Applications for the Eighth Operational Phase (OP8) in Lao PDR, offering a vital opportunity for civil society organizations, academic institutions, and community-based groups to drive local environmental and community development.
The SGP grant-making component in GEF-8 is funded by the GEF Trust Fund or CORE Funds amounting to approximately US$500,000 and the STAR Funds totaling around US$500,000, including non-grants for projects and UNDP overhead costs.
The SGP OP8 in Lao PDR is designed to address critical gaps in policy implementation, coordination, enforcement, and the integration of community-driven solutions despite the country’s robust planning frameworks and ratification of international environmental agreements. It aligns with the transitional phase of the UNDP taking over SGP management from UNOPS, coinciding with the conclusion of the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and the development of the 10th NSEDP, as well as the merger of MONRE with MAF to form the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The programme prioritizes food security and the sustainable management of natural resources through climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive agriculture and forestry.
Projects under OP8 should address the local context and strategic environmental priorities, including community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, low-carbon energy access, chemicals and waste management, and catalyzing sustainable urban solutions. The programme also emphasizes enhancing local capacity, promoting social inclusion, and fostering youth, women, and indigenous or ethnic peoples’ participation in environmental initiatives.
The programme encourages innovative, inclusive, and impactful projects that empower communities while strengthening environmental resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods in Lao PDR, ensuring that interventions align with both national priorities and global environmental goals.
For more information, visit UNDP.