GEF Small Grants Programme (Operational Phase 7) – Philippines

Deadline: 15-Feb-2024

The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) has announced the Seventh Operational Phase of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP-7) for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), such as Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), People’s Organizations (POs), Indigenous People’s Organizations (IPOs), and other Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that pursue biodiversity conservation initiatives, sustainable livelihood and biodiversity enterprises, and implementation of measures improving community-based capacities and resources to promote and build socio-economic and ecological resiliency.

The SGP-7 is being implemented in the Philippines under the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) as the Implementing Partner (IP) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the Executing Agency, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the Philippines’ Office of the Focal Point for GEF, and other stakeholders.

Objective, Components, Outcomes, and Outputs

• To address the barriers, the objective of SGP-7 is to build socioecological and economic resilience in its chosen landscapes/seascapes, or project sites, specifically in (1) Aurora Province within the Sierra Madre Mountain Range; (2) Calamianes Group of Islands, or Calamianes, in the province of Palawan; (3) Catubig Watershed, in the province of Northern Samar; and (4) Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape in the province of Surigao del Norte, through community-based activities for global environmental benefits and sustainable development.
• This will be pursued through two project components, each with its target outcomes and outputs.
  • Component 1 Resilient landscapes for sustainable development and global environmental protection
    • Outcome 1.1 Ecosystem services and biodiversity within four targeted landscapes and seascapes are enhanced through integrated landuse systems.
      • Output 1.1.1 Community-level small grant projects in the selected landscapes that restore degraded landscapes, improve connectivity, support innovation in biodiversity conservation, and optimization of ecosystem services (including reforestation of riparian gallery forests, forest fire control, enhanced connectivity for wetlands and priority conservation areas; water catchment protection; participatory monitoring of species; restoration of biological corridors).
    • Outcome 1.2 The sustainability of production systems in the target landscapes is strengthened through integrated agro-ecological practices.
      • Output 1.2.1 Targeted community projects enhancing the sustainability and resilience of production systems, including agroforestry systems, sustainable management of non-timber forest products, soil, and water conservation practices, increased on-farm arboreal coverage with native species; biodiversityfriendly agro-ecological practices, multiple cropping systems and small-scale organic agriculture.
    • Outcome 1.3 Livelihoods of communities in the target landscapes and seascapes are improved by developing eco-friendly, climate-adaptive smallscale community enterprises with clear market linkages.
      • Output 1.3.1 Targeted community projects promoting sustainable livelihoods, green businesses and market access, including ecotourism; ecological processing and conversion of organic waste products; beekeeping; green value-added agro-businesses integrated into value chains, micro-processing.
  • Component 2 Landscape governance and adaptive management for upscaling and replication
    • Outcome 2.1 Multi-stakeholder governance platforms strengthened/in place for improved governance of target landscapes and seascapes for effective participatory decision making to enhance socioecological landscape resiliency.
      • Output 2.1.1 A multi-stakeholder governance platform in each target landscape develops and executes multi-stakeholder agreements for execution of adaptive landscape management plans and policies; development of valuechain improvement strategies for resilience enhancing products; and enhanced community participation in land-use decision making and management.
    • Outcome 2.2 Knowledge from community-level engagement and innovative conservation practices is systematically assessed and shared for replication and upscaling across the landscapes, across the country, and to the global SGP network.
      • Output 2.2.1 Landscape/ seascape Learning Hubs support community level project management capacity building, project monitoring and learning.
      • Output 2.2.2 Knowledge management mechanism established as part of each multi-stakeholder platform.
      • Output 2.2.3 Strategic initiatives are supported to upscale successful SGP project experience and practice including community-NGO-government policy dialogues.

Types of SGP-7 Grants

• Planning Grant: A Planning Grant may be awarded to eligible CSOs, especially POs, IPOs, and other CBOs, whose project ideas or proposals need more intervention or technical assistance for them to further develop their full-blown proposals.
  • Maximum Grant: Peso equivalent of US$ 5,000.00
  • Maximum Period of Implementation: Three months after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
• Regular Grant: Project shall seek to achieve any or a combination of the outcomes and outputs of the SGP-7, specifically Component 1.
  • Maximum Grant: Peso equivalent of US$ 50,000.00
  • Maximum Period of Implementation: 24 months after the signing of the MOA
• Strategic Grant: Project shall enable the scaling up and replication of tested approaches and tools in multiple locations and communities, and consolidate the efforts of several CSOs, as well as the implementation of the site landscape and seascape strategies. This will implement the Component 2 of the SGP-7 or a combination of several outcomes and outputs.
  • Maximum Grant: Peso equivalent of US$ 150,000.00
  • Maximum Period of Implementation: 24 months after the signing of the MOA
• Grant for Landscape Level NGO Hub: This is to provide technical assistance to community based organizations in developing grant proposals and assist the grantees in the implementation and monitoring of projects, including capacity building and information and knowledge sharing and management. The NGO Hub shall act as the coordination center of all SGP-7 grants within the landscape and seascape.
  • Maximum Grant: Peso equivalent of US$ 150,000.00
  • Maximum Period of Implementation: 24 months after the signing of the MOA

Eligibility Criteria

• In developing grant proposals, the applicants should consider the following general eligibility criteria and requirements:
  • The project should be implemented in the four (4) priority sites of the SGP-7 and cover ecologically important ecosystems, habitats, and species in either terrestrial, agricultural, wetlands, coastal and marine, and/or other ecosystems.
  • The project should have a clear situational analysis of issues, concerns, and challenges on the biophysical, socio-cultural and economic, governance, and risk and hazard conditions of the site where it shall be implemented.
  • Appropriateness of the solutions, strategies, and approaches being proposed relative to the identified issues, concerns, and challenges in the proposal and strategic alignment with the landscape strategy of the site.
  • Potential contribution of the project to addressing relevant needs of communities in terms of capacity building, institutional development, sustainable and biodiversity friendly livelihood and enterprises, and participation in biodiversity conservation and natural resources management.
  • Each project should determine a measurable contribution to one or more of the GEF result indicators and targets on the global environment.
  • Potential contribution of the proposed project to meeting the SGP-7 overall objective, outcomes, and outputs.
  • Strategic potential of the proposed project in expanding the knowledge base and menu of options for biodiversity conservation and landscape approach, including lessons learned, insights, and best practices.
  • Potential for sustainability, scaling up, and/or replication of efforts beyond project life, including building the internal capacity of project partners with mechanisms that will enable them to carry on the project activities in the long-term even when external intervention is no longer available.
  • Appropriateness and reasonableness of the proposed budget, including cost efficiency and value for money.
  • Alignment of the proposed projects to the landscape strategy of the site where they shall be implemented, and form part of an integrated conservation and development within the larger landscape and seascape of the SGP-7 or larger biogeographic regions.
  • Inclusion and provisions of Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES), and gender mainstreaming in the proposed project.
  • The project should be started and completed within the implementation period of the SGP-7.

Ineligible

• The following are disqualified and ineligible to avail of grants from the SGP-7:
  • Individual
  • National or local government units, agencies, offices, and instrumentalities, including government-controlled corporations and state universities, colleges, and schools.
  • Churches, political parties, and for-profit establishments.
  • Any organization that has still pending issues, such as unaccomplished projects, failure to submit terminal and financial reports, or yet to return funds to the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
  • Any organization that has a questionable track record, as evidenced by poor implementation of previous projects and unsound financial management practices.

For more information, visit FPE.