LocationsUNDP and GEF Small Grants Programme Support Community-Led Environmental Action in Selenge
September 25, 2026
Selenge Province, Mongolia, 25 September 2026: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) are spotlighting how community-led solutions can help protect nature, strengthen food security and expand livelihood opportunities in rural Mongolia during a field visit to Baruunkharaa, Selenge Province.
Across Mongolia, local communities are at the front line of environmental change, managing the landscapes, forests, soils and food systems that sustain their lives. With small grants, technical support and local partnerships, GEF SGP Mongolia helps civil society and community-based organizations turn their locally-led initiatives into practical action that conserves ecosystems, supports sustainable agriculture and improves livelihoods.
GEF SGP’s eighth phase in Mongolia was launched in November 2025. One of the grantees is the Partnership for Development NGO, which has established a fruit tree training and demonstration garden. With GEF SGP support, the Selenge Province-based NGO is organizing training in climate-resilient fruit cultivation to strengthen local skills, improve food security and create new livelihood opportunities for interested community members. The NGO also helped local organizations join forces to establish the Network of Community-Based Organizations, which currently connects over 40 community groups across 13 provinces, fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration and community-led sustainable development.
Among these community organizations is the Mongolian Organic Product Promotion Association NGO, which is piloting the production of organic fertilizer from livestock manure. The initiative aims to reduce agricultural waste, improve soil fertility and promote more sustainable farming practices. In addition, the Air for Breathing NGO is strengthening Forest User Groups in the buffer zone of Noyon Mountain Strictly Protected Area, supporting community livelihoods while contributing to biodiversity conservation and the protection of ecosystem services.
“Communities are at the heart of environmental stewardship in Mongolia,” said Lionel Laurens, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia. “Through the GEF Small Grants Programme, we are supporting local organizations to turn knowledge, initiative and partnerships into practical solutions that protect ecosystems, strengthen food security and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. When communities lead by example, every local action—however small—can inspire others. Together, these actions grow into a powerful movement, delivering inclusive, lasting impact for people and planet.”
GEF SGP Mongolia is currently supporting 20 projects across 13 provinces, contributing to biodiversity conservation, protected area management, sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient rural development.
About GEF
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a family of funds for the environment and serves as a financial mechanism for major multilateral environmental conventions. It supports countries in tackling the root causes of environmental degradation and advancing global goals for nature, climate and pollution through country-driven projects and partnerships.
About GEF SGP
Established globally in 1992 and launched in Mongolia in 2002, the GEF Small Grants Programme supports community-led initiatives that address global environmental challenges while improving people’s well-being and livelihoods. Implemented by UNDP, SGP provides financial and technical support to civil society and community-based organizations to conserve and restore the environment through locally driven action. In Mongolia, the programme has supported over 500 community projects, helping local organizations advance practical solutions for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries and territories, UNDP helps nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
Contact
Khulan Bayarsaikhan | Communications Analyst, UNDP Mongolia | khulan.bayarsaikhan@undp.org | 976-99096434
