Five new community projects approved under UNDP, GEF-Small Grants Programme

Community-led initiatives to advance climate resilience and enhance sustainable rural livelihoods across five districts.

June 2, 2026

Group photo of people in traditional attire posing outdoors beside colorful SDG icon blocks. — The five community-based projects mark the first batch of investments under UNDP’s GEF Small Grants Programme’s Operational Phase 8.

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

Four community-based organisations and one civil society organisation will receive grants ranging from USD 33,000 to USD 50,000 to implement initiatives aimed at strengthening ecological, social and economic resilience of communities to climate change in five districts. They are the first cohort of investments under UNDP, GEF-Small Grants Programme’s Operational Phase 8.

The projects span sectors from poultry farming and dairy production to sustainable agriculture, water resource management, and bamboo-based enterprises, reflecting a growing emphasis on locally driven solutions to climate challenges.

UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus with Sampheling Medai Bja Nyamdrup Detshen team

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

In Sampheling, Chhukha district, the Sampheling Medai Bja Nyamdrup Detshen has secured USD 50,000 to expand its broiler farming operations. The project will introduce a waste rendering system that converts poultry waste into organic fertilizer, reducing pollution while creating an additional income stream.

Alongside strengthening cold storage and processing facilities, the initiative is expected to more than double annual production from 100 metric tonnes to 240 metric tonnes. It will also create jobs for at least 30 youth and women, while supporting Bhutan’s efforts to reduce poultry imports.

Photo: four people in a meeting room before a UN emblem; central man in blue holds a document. — UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus with Khanduzhi-Kydsa Gonor Detshen group

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

A dairy-focused project in Khanduzhi-Kydsa Gonor Detshen will work to boost milk production by 80 percent and enhance rural incomes through improved livestock management and the introduction of high-yield Jersey cattle. With a grant of USD 33,684, the initiative will also promote fodder cultivation, reduce reliance on forest resources, and introduce biogas systems in 30 households to support clean energy use. A livestock “pass-on” mechanism will ensure that benefits are shared equitably, particularly among women farmers.

UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus with Tsheten Dorji, Royal Society for Protection of Nature

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

The Royal Society for Protection of Nature will lead a USD 50,000 initiative in Drakteng Gewog, Trongsa district, focusing on water resource management. The project aims to restore degraded catchment areas, revive a local lake, and support a 250,000-litre reservoir tank to ensure reliable water systems for both drinking and irrigation. By improving water access, the initiative will enable small-scale green businesses, including tea cultivation, and rehabilitation of 10 acres of fallow land, while strengthening community-led water governance.

UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus with Palden Wangchuk, Pema Pineapples

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

In Pema Gatshel district, the Pema Pineapples group is taking a biodiversity-friendly approach to farming. Backed by USD 40,555, the project will restore 20 acres of degraded land through organic farming while diversifying crops with pineapple, maize, and passion fruit. Pineapple production alone is expected to double, significantly increasing household incomes and strengthening food security in the area.

UNDP Resident Representative Mohammad Younus with Maedwang Tsazor Tshogpa

UNDP/Dechen Wangmo

In Zhemgang district, a bamboo-based enterprise project will support the Mewangang Tsharzo Tshogpa to modernize its production systems. Through the introduction of machinery, improved storage and treatment facilities, and product development training, the initiative is expected to cut processing time by half and increase production capacity significantly. Annual income from bamboo products is projected to rise from USD 17,000 to USD 25,000, supported by expanded market access and branding efforts.

Together, these five projects highlight the critical role of community-driven innovation in addressing climate change while improving rural livelihoods. By combining sustainable resource management with income-generating opportunities, the initiatives aim to build resilience where it matters most at the local level.