Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility in Kazakhstan

Deadline: 4-Nov-24

The Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Facility (GEF SGP) in Kazakhstan, working under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), as part of the implementation of the seventh operational phase, it announces the acceptance of project applications for participation in the grant competition.

Thematic Areas

• Project proposals must be aimed at implementing activities in one of 2 thematic areas:
  • Mitigation of climate change impacts;
  • Reducing land degradation processes.

Additional priorities when selecting projects

• Mitigation of climate change: Promotion of renewable energy sources, introduction of energy-saving technologies, thermal modernization, etc.
• Partnerships and cooperation: Projects carried out in partnership with other donors, development organizations and programs, the private sector, etc.
• Social inclusion: Projects aimed at women, youth and other socially vulnerable groups.

Funding Information

• Grant funding must not exceed US$50,000.

Duration

• Project implementation period: no more than 12 months.

Geographical Scope

• Projects implemented in Kostanay region.

Eligible Activities

• The following types of activities are possible within the theme of “reducing land degradation” (this list is not exhaustive):
  • Irrigation water conservation, including drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, water metering, drainage reuse, flood and rainwater harvesting, restoration and conservation of springs, streams, etc.
  • Soil conservation and restoration methods (e.g. crop rotation, conservation tillage, organic farming, restoration of saline or abandoned land, etc.)
  • Adaptive methods in agriculture (for example, sowing drought-resistant crops, snow retention, protection and restoration of forest belts, use of digital technologies, etc.)
  • Sustainable pasture/grassland management practices (e.g. seasonal use of pastures or rotation of pastures in summer/winter, rotation of pastures on public pastures, production of ready-to-eat feed, use of digital technologies, etc.)
  • Effective methods of growing and processing vegetables (hydroponic cultivation, various types of greenhouses, use of vermicompost, drying, canning, etc.)
• The following types of activities are possible on the topic of “climate change” (this list is not exhaustive):
  • Promotion of the use of low-power renewable energy sources (solar installations, mini-hydroelectric power plants, biogas plants, etc.)
  • Introduction of energy-saving technologies and approaches in heating, lighting, water heating, etc.,
  • Comprehensive thermal modernization of multi-apartment residential buildings, social facilities and educational facilities, etc.
  • Introduction of energy-efficient materials in the construction and repair of residential buildings and household facilities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are accepted only from registered Kazakhstani non-profit, non-governmental public organizations (NGOs).
• Project proposals from government agencies and enterprises, commercial structures (LLPs, etc.) and research organizations are not accepted for consideration.

Criteria 

• All projects supported by the GEF SGP must meet the following criteria:
  • Achieving global environmental benefits. The project must be aimed at solving problems in one or more priority thematic areas of the GEF:
    • Climate change;
    • Reducing land degradation.
  • Involving the local population in the implementation of the project. The project must ensure the active involvement of the focus group (local community) in the project implementation process, as well as its monitoring and evaluation.
  • Connection with the practice of sustainable livelihoods of the local population. The project should ensure the expansion of the local population’s ability to manage their economy rationally; development of additional opportunities for entrepreneurship, crafts, expansion of the market for goods and services at the local level; providing additional jobs; receipt of income during the implementation of the project and after its completion.
  • Formation of public environmental consciousness. The project should include the following activities: work with the population and local media to educate, promote and attract the attention of all segments of the population and leaders to the problem being solved by the project; initiation of local environmental activities; activation of the local population in solving environmental problems.

For more information, visit UNDP.