7th Operational Phase: Upscaling Grant on Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries (India)

Deadline: 10-Apr-25

Under the 7th Operational Phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme in India, The Energy and Resources Institute (National Host Institution) is inviting proposals for Upscaling Grant on Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries.

The project aims to build capacities of the local communities to take collective action for conservation and sustainable development thereby generating global environmental benefits.

Thematic Areas

• Biodiversity
  • This thematic area promotes the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable management of natural resources, agriculture and nature-based livelihoods. Key interventions include:
    • Agrobiodiversity Conservation: Preserving and promoting indigenous seeds, plant species, and livestock.
    • Protection of Endemic and Endangered Species: Establishing community-managed ecological corridors to enhance habitat integrity.
    • Conservation of Globally Significant Biodiversity: Initiatives such as Indigenous Community Conserved Areas and Locally Managed Marine Areas.
    • Strengthening Local Community Institutions: Supporting Biodiversity Management Committees and Peoples’ Biodiversity Registers.
    • Forest Area Conservation: Livelihood-based eco-restoration activities.
    • Marine Habitat Conservation: Practices like seasonal protection of critical fishing grounds.
    • Collaborative Protected Area Management: Joint initiatives with protected area administrations (e.g., community patrols).
    • Human-Wildlife Conflict Management: Mitigating conflicts in settlements near protected area boundaries.
• Land Degradation
  • The focus of this thematic area is on addressing issues such as soil erosion, deforestation, damaged agricultural land, and desertification. Key interventions include:
    • Agroecosystem, Forest, and Marine Ecosystem Restoration: Reforestation, improved grazing practices, planting resilient trees and mangroves, and establishing nurseries.
    • Community-Managed Natural Regeneration: Supporting the restoration of degraded lands and coastal ecosystems.
    • Sustainable Use of Biodiversity: Promoting the sustainable utilization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) within buffer zones and productive landscapes.

Funding Information

• The Small Grants Programme (SGP) can fund projects with grants up to USD $50,000.

Duration 

• Project Duration: The total project duration is 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Registration 
  • The NGO/CSO/CBO should be registered as a trust/society in India for more than 5 years. The organization must have a minimum of 5 years of experience. Registration documents of the Trust/Society to be submitted.
  • NGO/CSO/CBO must be registered at the DARPAN portal of NITI Aayog and should have a valid unique ID with updated details.
  • IT returns for FY 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 (mandatory) and FCRA (if applicable) to be submitted.
  • Audited accounts (including Balance Sheet, Income and Expenditure, Schedules, Notes of Accounts, and Auditor’s Report) for the FY 2021-22 2022-23 and 2023-24 to be submitted.
  • The latest Annual Report should be submitted (FY 2023-24)
• Organisational Experience
  • The organization must have at least 5 years of experience working on community-based programmes in the field of sustainable land management, conservation, agriculture and climate resilience.
  • The applicant organization should have offices/local presence in the three intervention landscapes, (Proof of the projects completed in the focus landscape to be submitted).
  • Ability to co-finance the project by fund raising through parallel sources is expected.
  • Preference will be given to organizations who have participated in GEF Small Grants Programme and similar UNDP projects.
  • Experience in the relevant thematic areas will be preferred.
  • Capacity to deliver high-quality project management and reporting.

For more information, visit UNDP.