Call for Applications: GEF Small Grants Programme (Eswatini)

Deadline: 15-Apr-24

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently accepting applications for the funding under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme for the implementation of community-based projects.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a funding facility designed for community-based projects that will conserve the environment and generate income resulting in reduced poverty. As a corporate programme of the GEF, the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aligns its Operational Phase strategies with those of the GEF and co-financing partners, and provides a global portfolio of innovative, impactful, and inclusive projects that address global environmental and sustainable development issues. The GEF/SGP is a grant-making programme which has been implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992 and is currently operational in 125 countries. In partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Eswatini joined the SGP under the 7th Operational Phase.

Building on it’s over 26 years of successful operations, the 7th Operational Phase of the SGP aims “to promote and support innovative, inclusive and scalable initiatives, and foster multi stakeholder partnerships at the local level to tackle global environmental issues in priority landscapes and seascapes”. Action at the local level by civil society and community-based organizations, including women groups, indigenous peoples, youth, and persons with disabilities is recognized essential to form multi-stakeholder alliances to deliver global environmental benefits and contribute to the GEF-7 Programming Directions, UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022- 2025 , and national priorities to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other international commitments.

Focus Areas

Biodiversity Focal Area. Specifically, the proposed Biodiversity Focal Area is built around achieving the Four-year Program’s three objectives:
- Mainstream Biodiversity Across Sectors as well as Landscapes and Seascapes,
- Address Direct Drivers to Protect Habitats and Species,
- Further Develop Biodiversity Policy and Institutional Frameworks.
Climate Change Focal Area. The Climate Change Focal Area Strategy is focused on the following objectives:
- Promote Innovation and Technology Transfer for Sustainable Energy Breakthroughs,
- Demonstrate Mitigation Options with Systemic Impacts, and
- Foster Enabling Conditions for Mainstreaming Mitigation Concerns into Sustainable Development Strategies.
Land Degradation Focal Area. The Land Degradation Focal Area seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Enhance on-the-ground Implementation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) using the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) tool, and
- Create an Enabling Environment to Support Voluntary LDN Target Implementation.
Chemicals and Waste Focal Area. The Chemicals and Waste Focal Area focuses on eliminating chemicals covered by the above conventions that are used in or emitted from industrial and agricultural sectors.
International Waters Focal Area. The International Waters Focal Area focuses on:
- Strengthening Blue Economy Opportunities (which includes sustaining healthy aquatic ecosystems; catalysing sustainable fisheries management; and addressing pollution reduction of both nutrients and plastics),
- Improving Management in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, and
- Enhancing Water Security in Freshwater Ecosystems. These objectives will be supported by investments in large marine ecosystems, transboundary rivers, lakes, aquifers and areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Priorities

All SGP projects must integrate climate change impacts into them to ensure sustainability.
The SGP will give priority to the following strategic initiatives:
- Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries
  - This SGP initiative aims at testing and promoting community-based climate resilient agriculture, fisheries and food production practices that improve productivity and increase ecological connectivity, including support for supply chains to target biodiversity-based products; agrobiodiversity and small-holder farmers; conservation of landraces and genetic resources; agro-ecological production methods; and organic agriculture, fair trade, and other relevant certifications schemes.
- Low-Carbon Energy Access Benefits
  - This SGP initiative aims to demonstrate and scale up viable low carbon technologies, including renewable energies and energy efficient technologies and approaches that improve community energy access by working with the private sector and the government.
- Community-based Threatened Ecosystems and Species Conservation: Land and Water
  - This SGP focal area aims to improve conservation and sustainable use of threatened ecosystems and species in priority landscapes, including the management of protected areas and corridors, integrated river-basins, and aquatic ecosystems with active involvement of communities. The initiative also aims to mainstream biodiversity in key production sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and infrastructure.
- Local to Global Coalitions in Chemicals and Waste Management
  - This SGP focal area aims to improve communities in the forefront of threats related to chemicals and waste either as users or consumers with a focus on managing and recycling plastics, solid waste management and circular economy; and agro-chemical substitution with organic fertiliser and integrated pest control.
- Cross Cutting initiatives
  - CSO-Government-Private Sector Policy Dialogue Platforms
  - Enhancing social inclusion
  - Monitoring and Evaluation
  - Knowledge Management

Funding Information

A total fund of $750,000 has been secured for the GEF SGP. Out of this, $500,000 is from the global GEF SGP and $250,000 is from the GEF Star Allocation.