Launched in 1992, the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF Partnership, is a GEF Corporate Programme that finances community-led initiatives to address global environmental and sustainable development issues. SGP was specifically designed to generate innovative and impactful local actions by empowering civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations with a strong focus on social inclusion, including Indigenous Peoples, youth, women and girls, and persons with disabilities.

The Eighth Operational Phase of the Small Grants Programme (SGP OP8) builds on 30 years of successful experience in empowering local civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in designing and leading community driven initiatives that have enhanced household well-being, increased awareness and resilience regarding environmental threats, and generated global environmental benefits. The objectives of the SGP OP8 is to engage local CSOs/CBOs in landscape-seascape approaches across the world, providing them access to knowledge and information, capacitating them through learning-by-doing, skills development, and delivering technical and grant assistance for interventions that enhance well-being and socioeconomic conditions and generate global environmental benefits.

The GEF SGP supports projects that are relevant, effective and efficient in achieving global environmental benefits, while addressing issues of livelihoods, poverty reduction, social inclusion, gender equality, women’s empowerment and persons with disabilities.

The GEF Small Grants Programme believes that global environment problems can be addressed effectively if local people are involved in decision-making at all levels within projects and have control over resources. It has demonstrated that with a small amount of funding, communities at the grassroots level can make a significant difference in their livelihoods and the environment. 

The GEF SGP CORE fund under 8th operational phase (OP8) is now available to support relevant projects. In this regard, the SGP Ethiopia hereby invites eligible Civil Society Organizations, Non-Government Organizations and Community Based Organizations to submit their Project Proposals until 31st October 2025.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

This is a standard Small Grants Programme project template for civil society and/or community-based organizations to apply for grants. The template can be adapted and customized with further details and information as needed in accordance with the country’s needs and context.  All information is required, while some sections of the template are expected to be filled with support from the National Coordinator and National Steering Committee.

The Project Proposal should be as brief as possible. The proposal should be submitted in typed form. The blue font texts in this template are guidance and explanation and can be deleted once the proposal is prepared.   

Additional attachments may be submitted, including documents certifying the status of the organization, endorsements of the proposed project, funding commitments or other indicators of participation and support from other institutions, and evidence of community support and participation.

Please submit a copy of the proposal to the National Coordinator, GEF Small Grants Programme in your country.

Eligible Criteria

Eligible Organization:

•         GEF SGP Ethiopia grants are available ONLY for not-for-profit NGOs, CBOs, CSOs, etc.

•         Locally registered Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/ Civil Society Organization (CSO), and Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

•         The organization must have a strong organizational capacity to implement SGP grant projects and meet SGP requirements.

•         Promote innovative community-based initiatives to reduce local environment threats,

•         Build local capacity to implement sustainable development strategies creating “local ownership and institutional capabilities”

•         Demonstrate high replicability,  and scaling up potentials well as  co-financing capacity

•         Foster public awareness on environmental issues as an integral part of the project

•         Address livelihood, equality and gender concerns and sensitivities

•         Involve women, Youths, persons with disabilities and marginalized populations and isolated communities as equal partners in programme implementation,

•         Create an impact, influence policies and partnership at the National, regional and local levels in the country,

·       Generate local knowledge and involvement of communities in planning, flexibility, partnerships and transparency in their approach during implementation of activities in projects.

Focus Areas: - the proposals should meet the criteria under the following GEF thematic areas 

1)      Biodiversity Conservation,

2)       Land Degradation restoration and rehabilitation

3)      Sustainable Forest Management,

4)      Climate Change  ( mitigation and adaptation)

5)      Chemicals and Waste management; plastic / solid waste management and circular economy

6)      Capacity Development

The Landscapes/ Waterscapes:

The prioritized and selected landscapes are the Central Rift Valley; Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha district East Shewa zone of Oromia National Regional State, Hawassa Zuria district of Sidama regional state including Hawassa City in Sidama National Regional State, and Mareko district East Guraghe zone of Central Ethiopia Regional State. However, 30% of the total grant allocated is to be committed to implement innovative, inclusive and impactful projects outside of the priority landscapes.

Budget: The maximum grants amount per project will be up to $75,000, based on the implementation capacity of the organizations (NGOs, CSOs, CBOs), the applicants are required to provide rough budget estimation against the activities.

Project Duration; - The duration of projects proposed should not exceed 24 months.

To obtain more details on GEF Small Grants call for Proposals please contact:

Dejene Biru (Mr.)

National Coordinator

GEF Small Grants Programme - Ethiopia

Email – Dejene.biru@undp.org

Mobile - +251911935912