CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: The GEF Small Grants Programme

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: The GEF Small Grants Programme

November 19, 2024

Deadline: 6 December, 2024

OVERVIEW

The Small Grants Programme (SGP) supports small-scale projects for activities that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing people’s wellbeing and livelihoods, taking into consideration of gender, vulnerability, and equality concerns. The Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is now in the 7^th Operational Phase (OP7). The objective of the 7^th Operational Phase of the SGP is to “promote and support community based innovative, inclusive and impactful initiatives and foster multistakeholder partnerships at the local level to tackle global environmental issues in priority landscapes and seascapes”. GEF SGP is, therefore, inviting applications from qualified organisations for the OP7 in Malawi.

In this OP7, not-for-profit organisations will provide support with innovative solutions to environmental challenges faced by communities within the following GEF focal areas: Biodiversity, Land Degradation, Climate Change and Chemicals and Waste. Along with the focal areas mentioned above, the following multifocal “strategic initiatives” should be taken into consideration when developing the proposal notes:

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

COMMUNITY BASED CONSERVATION OF THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS AND SPECIES	LOW CARBON ENERGY ACCESS CO-BENEFITS	CATALYSING SUSTAINABLE URBAN SOLUTIONS
i. Improve management effectiveness of protected areas and community conserved areas governance efforts between civil society organisations and regulatory government agencies	i. Promote renewable and energy efficient technologies providing socioeconomic benefits and improving livelihoods to most rural and remote communities	i. Demonstration of innovative and socially inclusive urban solutions/approaches (including waste and chemical management, energy, transport, watershed protection, ecosystem services and biodiversity)
ii. improve community led biodiversity friendly practices and approaches, including promoting a blue economy e.g. agriculture, fisheries, ecotourism, green infrastructure etc)	ii. Promote off-grid energy service needs in rural and urban areas

GRANT AMOUNT

Small grants, ranging from US$5,000 to US$50,000 will be awarded to eligible organisations as stipulated in 7^th Operational Phase of the GEF SGP. A comprehensive organisational assessment will be conducted for each eligible organisation.

ELEGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applying organisations must:

Be non-governmental organisation (NGO), community-based organisation (CBO), civil society organisation (CSO) registered in Malawi. Only projects targeting Mzimba, Rumphi and Nkhata-Bay will be considered. For the strategic initiative on catalysing sustainable urban solutions, organisations in all major cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu are eligible.
Have at least three years of relevant experience and proven records of working with communities in implementing environmental and agricultural related activities.
Demonstrate strong community involvement in the planned or proposed project.
Develop project proposals that must address one or more of the following thematic areas of focus: capacity development, innovation, project sustainability, potential replication, upscaling. mainstreaming environment and climate change, gender equality and equity considerations are highly desirable and will be considered during the project proposal review process.

The maximum duration for project is 12 months.

HOW TO APPLY

Eligible organisations should prepare a project proposal using the standard GEF SGP project paper format and guidelines. The proposal should be aligned to the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) OP7.

The following documents can be obtained electronically from the National Coordinator, upon request or downloaded from ne links below :

GEF SGP Generic proposal template
OP7 Guidance Notes
Country Programme Strategy OP7 2022

Proposals not completed in the GEF SGP format and submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Complete proposal should be addressed to the National Coordinator, GEF Small Grants Programme and submitted electronically to michael.mmangisa@undp.org.