UNDP: Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (Togo)

Deadline: 30-Jun-21

UNDP is calling project proposals for the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program to support local solutions with the aim of preserving biodiversity, the climate, land and international waters, and the fight against chemical pollution and waste.

Since its creation in 1992, the PMF / GEF has provided technical and financial support to civil society organizations (CSOs), through local initiatives likely to generate global environmental benefits, while strengthening the resilience of populations in the face of threats and crises.

Objectives

The main objectives of the program are:

support and accompany innovative community initiatives, on a small scale, which by replication could reduce threats to the global environment, in accordance with multilateral agreements on the environment ;
learn from experiences, at community level, and share best practices with the community of NGOs / Associations / OCBs, state services, research institutions and technical and financial partners;
facilitate the creation of partnerships and networks of actors, to support and multiply the good practices in favor of sustainable development.

Areas of Intervention

Project proposals submitted to PMF / GEF must be initiatives whose results, adaptable and reproducible, will be able to contribute, in a significant and unprecedented way, to sustainable development, in particular in the following GEF areas:

biological diversity;
climate changes ;
international waters;
land degradation and desertification;
chemicals and hazardous waste

Priorities

Priority will be given to innovative projects aimed at:

increase forest cover, through landscape restoration, sustainable management of land and ecosystems, giving priority to initiatives linked to protected areas, community forests and sacred sites;
identify, develop and disseminate appropriate techniques and technologies for agricultural production, favorable to natural resources and the environment;
develop the skills of environmental CSO executives, mainly young people and women, to make them more efficient.
In each of the priority landscapes, the community initiatives that will be supported must contribute to:
- restoration and conservation of natural ecosystems, including community forests and sacred sites;
- popularization of sustainable agricultural, forestry and fishery production practices;
- the development of sustainable livelihoods;
- strengthening of the technical capacities of local actors

Note: Particular attention will be paid to innovative initiatives, with environmental, social and economic co-benefits, carried out jointly by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), grassroots community organizations (CBOs) and local authorities.

Funding Information

The maximum contribution to a project is $ 50,000, up to 75% of its total cost.
The project application file must present a provisional implementation schedule not exceeding 36 months (3 years). This duration may vary from one call to another, but not more than 3 years
If a project proposal is accepted, the total grant is paid in several installments, depending on the following modalities:
- 1st tranche: At most 50% of the total subsidy. It is paid after signing the protocol agreed by the recipient organization and UNDP.
- Second installment (40%): It is paid after receipt and approval by UNOPS of a progress report containing all the elements making it possible to report on the progress already made in the implementation of the project, accompanied by supporting documents for the use of at least 80% of the previous tranche of the grant and of the request for payment of the following tranche.
- Last installment: 10% of the total subsidy. It is paid after receipt and approval, by UNOPS, final narrative and financial reports, as well as any other documents that may be required by UNOPS.

Eligibility Criteria

Purpose of the project
- Inscribed in the PMF / GEF mission, the national strategy and, where applicable, in the priorities mentioned in the call for projects.
Partnership
- The beneficiaries of PMF / GEF grants must be established in the national territory and are legal persons (NGOs, non-profit development associations, groups, in particular those initiated by youth and / or women, village development committee, cantonal committee development, etc.).
- To these main beneficiaries, whose involvement is effective and measurable in the realization of the project, may associate with other organizations / institutions. However, the latter cannot benefit from the grant requested from PMF / FEM. The National Coordination and the CNP may require the partnership with specific structures, for the implementation of a project financed by the program. Likewise, the National Coordination and the CNP may request the services of other structures or resource persons to coach monitor and / or evaluate an organization supported and supported by the program.
Eligibility of expenditure
- The requested grant can only cover costs directly linked to the realization of the project. In matter equipment of the beneficiary organization, only digital equipment expenses are eligible, to up to 10% of the amount of the requested grant. Operating expenses (expenses recurring related to the daily operation of the project: coordination allowances, communications, supplies, small office equipment, etc.) cannot exceed 10% of the amount of the grant.
- Are considered ineligible:
  - Purchases of land or buildings;
  - The debts ;
  - Costs already financed in another framework;
  - Debt interest;
  - The dollar exchange losses.
- When analyzing projects, great attention is also paid to travel expenses and consultancy or subcontracting, which must be limited. In all cases, they must reflect the practices in use in the country.
Other criteria
- Individual projects are not admissible;
- The project must be carried out in Togo;
- As part of the PMF / FEM eligibility criteria, no organization can submit several projects for the same call (only one project is authorized per organization).