LocationsGEF-SGP Empowers Community Organizations with Project Management Best Practices
September 16, 2024
Sithembile Magagula from Maphalaleni whose community will benefit from the GEF-SGP grant to rehabilitate a donga.
Community-based and civil society organizations that received funding under the GEF-Small Grants Programme today were oriented to best project management practices, including social and environmental safeguards, gender mainstreaming in M&E, and Communication.
In 2021, Eswatini began implementing the impactful GEF-SGP, receiving a substantial $635,000 for grant-making and developing the country's programme strategy. A total of 20 projects have been implemented, with seven worth over $3 million recently awarded grants and set to commence.
GEF-SGP is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with various organizations, including government institutions, communities and civil society organizations.
UNDP Resident Representative, Henrik Franklin.
Addressing the participants today, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Henrik Franklin, congratulated the organizations for submitting successful proposals to address the triple-planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. He highlighted the unique approach of the GEF-SGP, which, over two decades, has provided support for community-based innovation and empowerment, proving effective in addressing the challenges communities face.
As the implementing agency, Franklin said UNDP is committed to supporting and overseeing the global programme. UNDP is accountable to the GEF Council for using GEF resources and ensures their transparent and responsible use.
"We are indeed pleased to be working with Eswatini for the 8th Operational Phase of the GEF, where UNDP Eswatini will continue to provide operational and management support to the SGP country programme," said Franklin.
He expressed his gratitude to Government Ministries that have partnered with these organizations to implement the community projects.
"The SGP is indeed a country-driven programme, and we encourage partnerships as wide as possible to ensure the projects' success, scalability, and replicability," he said.
Representatives of community and civil society organizations at the training.
The chairperson of the GEF-SGP Steering Committee, Lynn Kona, said the orientation session will enable the organizations to incorporate best practices, such as gender mainstreaming and keeping records, as they work with communities.
"The critical part is that the organizations have learnt to plan together with the communities because these projects belong to the people," said Kota.
The GEF focal point for Eswatini is the Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ms Khangeziwe Mabuza, while TENVELO team leader Irene Ng'ambi is the GEF country contact person for civil society organizations in Eswatini.