Deadline: 8-Jul-24
The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme is inviting Civil Society organizations, Academic and Research Institutions to submit proposals for developing the OP8 Country Programme Strategy Process for Small Grants Programme.
This call for proposals aims to solicit civil society organizations to put forward proposals that help SGP undertake a preparatory process to develop its strategy for OP8. This will involve multistakeholder consultations, development of baseline assessment(s) of priority identified landscape(s)/seascape(s), and elaboration of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) for OP8 in close coordination with the SGP National Coordinator, UNDP country office and National Steering Committee (NSC) in Botswana.
Key steps in the OP8 Country Programme Strategy elaboration process
- Step 1.OP8 Country Programme strategy consultations and scoping exercise
- To initiate the development of the SGP OP8 Country Programme Strategy (OP8 CPS) an assessment and scoping exercise should be undertaken which will take stock of the results and achievements of the SGP Country Programme thus far and identify the priority directions for programming in OP8 in line the SGP OP8 project document, the country’s national priorities, GEF- 8 programming directions, and potential for synergy with UNDP CPD, GEF projects and other partner agencies.
- This CPS consultation and scoping process will extend beyond the NSC to involve relevant stakeholders from government, civil society, UNDP country office, sector agencies and other partners. Its purpose is to identify the gaps and opportunities of SGP for programming in OP8 in order to focus the programme to deliver the strategic impact expected in terms of the OP8 directions and initiatives.
- his process will include the following broad elements:
- Communications, outreach and capacity development about OP8 and its strategic initiatives. Such communications should serve to explain the need to focus SGP on landscape/seascape areas for achievement of greater strategic impact through clustering of projects and achievement of synergies.
- Multi-stakeholder consultations. This consultation process should include the NSC, Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and other relevant partners from government, civil society, UNDP, partner agencies etc. in order to achieve a broad consensus on the Country Programme approach in OP8.
- Selection of the landscape/seascape area(s) of focus, with consideration given to SGP’s niche, opportunities, challenges, and potential for synergies, etc. Depending on country size and grant resources available, Country Programmes may select one or more landscapes or seascapes. For smaller countries, such as SIDS, the entire country may be considered as one landscape or seascape – in such cases, the programme would need to identify a thematic focus or niche to ensure that SGP grantmaking is strategic and achieves greater impact.
- Grant-making outside the selected landscape/seascape area(s). In OP8, up to 30% of grant resources could be allocated outside of the landscape/seascape areas, provided that these funds are utilized strategically. Criteria for prioritization of projects and typology of projects may be identified in the General Evaluation and Scoping Exercise. For example, priority may be given by the Country Programme to grants outside the landscape/seascape area(s) that:
- Promote innovation in relation to SGP OP8 strategic initiatives and directions
- Provide new opportunities for partnerships and replication.
- Help translate landscape lessons into policy or promote broader adoption
- CSO-government dialogue platforms that promote civil society engagement with government in the context of multilateral environmental agreements
- Key outputs to be produced at this stage would include: (a) a short report documenting the consultation and scoping process with key agreements on the CPS approach recorded, and (b) a draft outline of the CPS already developed to the extent possible with the landscape approach still to be fully elaborated in Step 2.
- Step 2. Selected Landscape Baseline Assessment
- The objective of the baseline assessment is to assist SGP National Coordinator and National Steering Committees a) to elaborate a landscape-wide baseline, b) to develop a landscape strategy that will guide grant-making with types of projects proposed and sets of indicators for selected SGP strategic initiatives identified. The baseline assessment provides information about the current state of the landscapes, through consultations with local communities and stakeholders which can be used as a basis for setting goals and desired outcomes.
- The Landscape Baseline Assessment will study the key challenges, global environmental issues, and identify the opportunities for community and CSO actions. The baseline assessment process will include community consultations, and ensure participation of the range of stakeholders in the landscape, including local authorities, civil society, community organizations, and other relevant partners. The baseline assessment will include the following key elements:
- Baseline analysis. Identification of the landscape context and background, including threats to the global environment, sustainable development, and key actions and plans underway, and identification of relevant stakeholders within and outside the landscape who need to be involved and play a role. The boundaries of the landscape should be identified along with an analysis of the baseline activities that the SGP Country Programme can build on as well as the gaps that it can intervene to address.
- Elaborating SGP OP8 Strategic initiatives within the landscape context. Based on results of the CPS Consultation and Scoping process, the country will have identified the selective strategic priorities for grantmaking. Within the Baseline Assessment the implementation of the priority OP8 strategic initiatives selected by the country will be elaborated within the landscape context with (a) types of projects developed, (b) indicators and targets and results framework developed.
- Modalities for implementation will be proposed, such as possibilities for linking and connecting projects within the landscape for learning and exchange, fostering engagement with local authorities, identifying policy influence and scaling up opportunities, promoting participatory M&E that enables community involvement, and facilitating knowledge management and capture and dissemination of results.
- As a key output of the Landscape Baseline Assessment process a report will be produced that will present the baseline analysis, the elaboration of the SGP strategy within the landscape and the modalities for implementation. The report will also present the consultative process followed and the results of community consultations held. This report will be presented to the NSC and NC and may be prepared in the national languages as appropriate (note it will not be required for review by the SGP Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) at SGP headquarters).
- Step 3. Country Programme Strategy Finalization
- Based on the above steps and once the Baseline Assessment process for the selected Landscape area(s) of focus has been completed and agreed, the SGP OP8 Country Programme Strategy (CPS) will be fully elaborated and finalized. A draft of the complete CPS will be produced for review and comment by the NC and NSC. It will also be shared for review and approval by the CPMT. Any final comments from the NSC and CPMT will be taken into account and addressed in the final draft of the CPS which will then be widely shared and posted online for public information.
Scope
- The Grantee’s main responsibilities will include undertaking all of the key steps 1 through 3 outlined in II above, based on the needs and specific agreement with the SGP Botswana Country Programme. The Grantee will be expected to produce the key deliverables foreseen under the various key steps in a professional and timely manner. The timely completion of all key deliverables will be critical for this project given that it will prepare the CPS which will be needed for further grant-making within the selected landscape area(s) of focus. It is foreseen that the entire project, if undertaking steps 1 through 3, be completed within a two month period.
- The Grantee will design preparatory exercises and help prepare for and facilitate consultations throughout the key steps outlined above, including the preparation of necessary information and background documents as needed. The grantee will capture and document key points of discussion and agreement from stakeholder consultations at national and landscape level.
- The Grantee will work closely with the SGP National Coordinator (NC), National Steering Committee (NSC) members and Technical Advisory Group (TAG) members in completing steps 1 through 3.
Funding Information
- The maximum amount per grant award for the entire project will be limited to US$25,000, with applicants required to provide a detailed budgetary estimate.
Timeframe
- The entire process of engagement with the selected grantee, comprising the 3 key steps described above, is expected to be completed within a two-month time frame with the First Step completed within a month or shorter.
Eligibility Criteria
- The project may be undertaken by an appropriate, experienced National or Subnational NGO/CSO or Academic Institution as an on-the-ground capacity building project and financed by a grant. The proposal will clearly present the experience of the applicant and its partner organizations in the issues to be addressed.
- The entity should be legally registered;
- Demonstrate experience in similar or related work/projects. However, in case of capacity limitations, the selected entity could, at its own discretion and in consultation with UNDP and SGP, outsource some services from qualified third parties;
- In the event the CSO decides to outsource the services, the GEF-SGP shall however not be responsible for nor enter into any correspondence, negotiations or agreements whatsoever with third parties. The GEF/SGP and UNDP CO will however, exercise oversight in determining the suitability and eligibility of the third parties.
- A consortium of CSOs/Academic/Research institute can apply as partners with one CSO being the lead proponent and executor of the project; institutional arrangements should show increasing role and responsibility being taken by other partners involved in the project;
- A CSO/Academic/Research institute partner may receive a project grant while partnering in a Country Programme Strategy Process;
- A CSO/Academic/Research institute that have received or have an ongoing project grant may apply.
- Institutions that are currently implementing GEF-SGP Supported projects are not eligible for funding during this call. An institution is only allowed to submit one proposal at a time.
Competencies
- Demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking and analysis
- Proven experience in working with community-led initiatives as well as experience in community and stakeholder participatory processes
- Expertise on global environment and sustainable development issues
- Expertise in landscape/seascape management
- Proven capacity to produce high quality qualitative research and ability to absorb, analyze and synthesize large amounts of complex information within tight deadlines
- Strong presentation and facilitation skills
- Exceptional writing skills of policy and communication materials for a variety of audiences, including the civil society and policymakers
- Excellent writing, presentation, communication and facilitation skills in English as well as relevant local languages.
For more information, visit UNDP.