The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme is inviting proposals under the Global Support Initiative to territories and areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ICCA-GSI) phase 2 programme.  Accordingly, UNDP Ghana announces the 2026 two-in-one "Call for Proposals" to award grants to a maximum of US$50,000 to Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and Community-Based Groups for the most innovative initiatives in the following GEF Strategic Initiative Areas: 

1. Community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species
2. Sustainable agriculture, fisheries and food security
3. Low-carbon energy access co-benefits
4. Local to global coalitions for chemicals and waste management
5. Catalyzing sustainable urban solutions through CSO-Government-Private Sector Policy and Planning Dialogue Platforms

The priority geographic areas are communities along the Black Volta Basin, particularly in the Wa-West district (Upper West Region), Banda district (Bono region), Bole, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba districts and the Central Gonja Municipal (Savannah Region). 

In alignment with the Country Programme Strategy developed in Ghana for the 8th SGP Operational Phase (OP8), applications from qualified organizations to support the effort towards improving the recognition and overall effectiveness for biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods and resilience to climate change effects in ICCAs through the underlisted separate assignments, under the two-in-one Call

1. Catalytic NGO - Monitoring and evaluation activities based on the ICCA-GSI methodology and tools (PROPOSAL TEMPLATE)
2. Community-Based NGOs/CSOs (Regular Grants) - Implement community-led projects towards the achievement of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in line with the ICCA programme. (PROPOSAL TEMPLATE)

The call is opened to local non-governmental or non-profit organizations operating in Ghana with valid Registrar General’s Department and Social Welfare certificates; or Community Groups/ Community-Based Organizations, and/or Social Enterprise Organizations recognized by the relevant District Assemblies and Environmental Protection Authority of Ghana. For more details on the eligibility, kindly refer to the Call for Proposal.

Interested organizations are expected to submit their proposals using the respective Proposal Template within the advertisement period, Friday 16 September 2026 until Friday 3 October 2026 (5pm). Applications should be submitted electronically to helpdesk.gh@undp.org and successful applicants would be notified after review and selection.

A virtual proposal workshop will be held to provide more details on the proposal on Tuesday 22 September 2026. Check the Call for Proposal for more details on the workshop.

For any further information, please send request to akosua.bireduaa.aninakwa@undp.org 

About ICCA-GSI

The Global Support Initiative on territories and areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (GSI-ICCA), is a flagship initiative under the GEF SGP, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and climate resilience.

Funded by the Government of Germany through its Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), ICCA-GSI recognizes the important role of vulnerable local communities in conserving ecosystems through customary governance and traditional knowledge.  Globally, ICCAs cover nearly one-third of the world’s land and contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and community wellbeing. The initiative supports communities through small grants, policy engagement, and knowledge sharing, contributing to the achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), particularly Targets 3, 21, 22, and 23.