Deadline: 10-Mar-23
The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the UNDP, is offering financial and technical support to communities and CSOs to meet the overall objective of “global environmental benefits secured through community-based initiatives and actions”.
These “larger” projects allow for scaling up and cover many communities within a critical landscape or seascape. The GEF SGP has expanded to provide assistance to 132 countries. UNDP believes that community-driven and civil society-led initiatives can generate environmental benefits, while supporting sustainable livelihoods, community resilience building and local empowerment. This is one of the most effective ways to address global environmental challenges. SGP Jamaica became a member in June 2003 and started financing projects in June 2005. Since then, GEF SGP Jamaica has succeeded in funding and providing support for over 150 projects.
Objectives
OP7 Projects will enable eligible national stakeholders in Jamaica to carry out the following:
- Create greater impact and closer links between local efforts and global environmental benefits (GEBs) by supporting more extensive geographical coverage and/or thematic consolidation for policy improvement.
- Make effective use of the built-up capacity of local NGOs, CBOs and communities for replication of successful technologies and approaches.
- Improve the capacity of the SGP and its partners to leverage larger funds from potential partners and donors.
- Strengthen the sustainability and replicability of SGP projects.
- Pilot innovative market mechanisms and financial instruments (i.e. such as Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES); environmentally friendly loans; revolving funds; and/or sustainable financing for clean energy technologies).
- Accumulate national and global experience in the development and implementation of projects of larger coverage enabling SGP to link more effectively with the MSP and FSP modalities of the GEF, as well as that of other donors and governments.
- Strategically position civil society participation and leadership in new and innovative policies and programmes with non-GEF funding (i.e. wide implementation of community-based adaptation (CBA), ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA), community-based REDD+, sustainable energy for all (SE4ALL), strengthening direct access to funding mechanisms such as the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund).
OP7 Focal Areas & Strategic Initiatives
- Biodiversity Conservation: Community-based Conservation of Threatened Ecosystems and Species Improve management effectiveness of protected areas through ICCAs and shared governance with private sector and government.
- Improve community-led biodiversity friendly practices and approaches, including promoting blue economy (e.g. agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, infrastructure, etc.)
- Enhance community led actions for protection of threatened species.
- Land Degradation & Sustainable Forest Management: Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries, and Food Security.
- Increase efficiency and effectiveness of overall food production and value chain, including in vulnerable ecosystems (mountains, SIDS, etc.).
- Increase diversification and livelihood improvement.
- Remove deforestation from supply chain and expanded restoration of degraded lands.
- Climate Change (Mitigation): Low-carbon Energy Access Co-benefits Support implementation of Paris Agreement and the NDCs.
- Promote renewable and energy efficient technologies providing socio-economic benefits and improving livelihoods.
- CSO-Government-Private Sector Policy and Planning Dialogue Platforms
- Promote/enhance community voices and participation in global and national policy, strategy development related to global environment and sustainable development issues.
- Enhancing Social Inclusion
- Promote targeted initiatives.
- Mainstream social inclusion in all projects (e.g. women/girls, indigenous peoples, youth, and persons with disabilities).
Funding Information
- SGP funds “small grants” up to a maximum of US$50,000.
- A 1:1 matching co-financing (cash and kind) is required.
Criteria
- Projects with tangible co-financing will be of priority.
- Projects should demonstrate collaborations and partnerships with other agencies, as well as broad community participation.
- Demonstrated ability to manage project processes.
- Projects should be aligned to National Policies/Priorities (i.e., Vision 2030 Jamaica, NDCs, SDGs and the UN Conventions to which Jamaica is a signatory.
- Projects should have cross-cutting results in poverty reduction, livelihoods, capacity development and gender with special focus on women and youth involvement.
For more information, visit UNDP.