Deadline: 31-Oct-2025
The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) in Ethiopia, implemented by UNDP, has opened its Eighth Operational Phase, inviting community-based and civil society organizations to propose projects that blend local action with global environmental impact.
The programme seeks to empower grassroots actors—particularly in marginalized and vulnerable communities—to design and lead initiatives that protect ecosystems, restore degraded lands, and build resilience to climate change.
With a legacy spanning more than three decades, the SGP OP8 builds upon earlier phases by emphasizing landscape-seascape approaches, multisectoral partnerships, and capacity building through grant support and technical assistance. Local organizations will have access not only to funding but also to knowledge exchange, mentoring, and opportunities to scale innovations or replicate successful models.
Eligible proposals must respond to key themes such as biodiversity conservation, land degradation and restoration, climate adaptation and mitigation, sustainable forest management, waste and chemical management, and capacity development. Projects may be located within prioritized landscapes — including the Central Rift Valley, East Shewa (Oromia), Hawassa Zuria (Sidama), and Mareko (Guraghe) — though a portion of funding is reserved for creative and inclusive interventions outside these zones.
Each project may request funding of up to USD 75,000, with durations not exceeding 24 months, according to the capacity of the implementing organizations. Proposals should demonstrate strong community involvement, equitable inclusion of women, youth, and people with disabilities, and the potential for lasting environmental and socioeconomic benefits.
Interested not-for-profit NGOs, CSOs, and community-based organizations registered in Ethiopia are eligible to apply. The SGP emphasizes local ownership, transparency, and innovation. Applicants are expected to show co-financing potential, replicability, and readiness to strengthen institutional capacities.
This open call represents a powerful opportunity for local organizations across Ethiopia to lead solutions for climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable livelihoods from the ground up. By engaging communities in the protection and regeneration of their own landscapes and waterscapes, the SGP aims to translate global environmental goals into locally meaningful impact.
For more information, visit UNDP.