Call for Proposals

UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme

Eighth Operational Phase (Tranche 1) 

Deadline for submission of Proposals: 5^th June 2026

Launched in 1992, the Small Grants Programme (SGP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a GEF Corporate Programme that finances community-led initiatives to address global environmental and sustainable development issues. The programme is specifically designed to generate local action by empowering civil society organizations (CSO) and poor and vulnerable communities, including indigenous peoples, women, youths and people with disabilities (PWD). SGP supports community-based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and research institutions in developing countries to address global environmental challenges and local sustainable development needs. Funding is focused on GEF’s Focal Areas of Biodiversity Conservation (BD), Climate Change (CC), Land Degradation (LD), International Waters (IW), and Chemicals and Waste (CH).  

The programme is currently in the first year of the Eighth Operational Phase (OP8) which runs from1 July 2024 to 30 June 2028, and is directly implemented by UNDP. The objective of the SGP OP8 is to engage local CSOs/CBOs in landscape-seascapes approaches across the world, providing them access to knowledge and information, capacitating them through learning-by-doing, skill development, and delivering technical and grant assistance for interventions that enhance wellbeing and socioeconomic conditions and generate global environmental benefits. In addition, it fosters innovation, scaling up, catalyze multi-stakeholder cooperation through CSOs, while aligning with GEF strategies, UNDP Strategic Plan (2026-2029), and national environmental priorities to maximise impact. 

During OP8, SGP County Programme Strategy prioritises three strategic initiatives including (i) Community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species; (ii) Sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and food security (iii) Low-carbon energy access co-benefits; and three mandatory SGP initiatives namely, (iv) Enhancing Social Inclusion; (iv) Knowledge Management as well as (vi) Result Management, Monitoring & Evaluation. The programme will continue to prioritize three landscapes/seascapes, namely communities around Kiang West National Park, Jokadou National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve building on gains achieved under OP7. 70% of funding will be committed to these 3 landscapes/seascapes, while the balance of 30% will be committed to the rest of the country.

Accordingly, UNDP through GEF OP8 is inviting eligible CBOs/NGOs/CSOs to submit project proposals for small grants to address environmental challenges in The Gambia. This batch of proposals will to be funded from the first Tranche of the resources through innovative and scalable initiatives at the local level in line with the OP8 Country Programme Strategy.

Grant Amount

Maximum Amount to be requested from UNDP is Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (USD50,000).

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Should be a Non-profit national organization (CSO/CBO/NGO/Foundation/Academia) registered in The Gambia. Applications must attach valid legal registration certificate and any other relevant document.

2. Eligible organization must be engaged development work particularly at the community level and have specialized expertise / or appropriate skilled personnel to form a dedicated project team including Finance Officer or Accountant. 

3. Applicants MUST raise co-finance in CASH or KIND equal to or exceeding the requested grant amount.

4. The proposal must be aligned with at least one or more of the GEF SGP OP8 global environmental initiatives / Focal areas and should be technically sound, replicable and have the potential to make impact. (Annex 1 of the proposal template).

5. Must demonstrate financial sustainability and cost-effectiveness, as well as show evidence of community / beneficiary participation in project design and management.

6. Project duration should not exceed 24 months.
7. All proposals must demonstrate concrete gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches targeting Women, Youth and People with Disabilities.
8. All proposals will be subjected to UNDP Social and Environmental Screening. Projects involving resettlement, significant environmental harm, or prohibited activities will not be considered.

Women or women-led organizations and youth applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Procedures of Grant Proposal Submission 

Interested organizations should download the following application documents and additional details from link: 

1. SGP OP8 Grant proposal template for you to complete   

   1. SGP OP8 Country Programme Strategy for your reference 

Click on this link to apply

Please your completed and signed proposals and supporting documents must be submitted electronically (in pdf format) and a copy emailed to kebba.l.jarju@undp.org. You should also complete the online Proposal Registration Form. For more information, please call 7994392 / 3451114.

Only one submission per organization or a joint proposal is permitted for this call. Once the application is complete and submitted, revised versions of proposal documents will not be accepted. 

The deadline for submission of all applications is Friday, 5^th June 2026. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.