Call for Regular Grant Proposals for Local Community Initiatives under the Small Grants Programme in Thailand

Within the framework of the Eighth Operational Phase of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP OP8)

June 10, 2026

Aerial view of a swampy pond with green floating vegetation on dark water.

A. BACKGROUND

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in approximately 170 countries and territories, supporting efforts to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience so that people and the planet can thrive. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a central role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by delivering integrated, inclusive, and sustainable development solutions.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)–funded Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP, is a flagship global initiative that empowers civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) to develop and implement innovative, locally led solutions that generate global environmental benefits while improving livelihoods and strengthening socio-ecological resilience. In the context of an increasingly complex and interconnected planetary crisis—including climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution—SGP recognises that while these challenges are global, their impacts and solutions are inherently local. Local communities and ethnic groups are often disproportionately affected, yet they are also key agents of change with deep knowledge, adaptive capacity, and stewardship of natural resources.

SGP adopts a participatory, inclusive, and landscape-based approach, which places local actors at the center of decision-making and implementation. Through this approach, landscapes and seascapes are treated as integrated socio-ecological systems where environmental, social, and economic dimensions are addressed holistically. The programme promotes coordination among stakeholders, strengthens local capacities, facilitates access to knowledge and finance, and fosters partnerships that enable collective action. By linking individual community-level initiatives, SGP aims to generate synergies, avoid fragmentation, and scale up impacts toward landscape-level transformation and policy influence.

In Thailand, the SGP Operational Phase 8 (OP8) builds on this approach by focusing on selected priority landscapes and seascapes, where targeted support can catalyse community-led solutions and deliver measurable environmental and socio-economic outcomes. Within these landscapes, SGP will provide grant financing and technical support to CSOs and CBOs working across key thematic areas, including:

Community-based management of threatened ecosystems and species, including conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of natural resources;
Sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and food systems, promoting climate-resilient practices and sustainable livelihoods;
Low-carbon energy access and climate co-benefits, supporting community-level renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions;
Chemicals and waste management, including initiatives that contribute to local-to-global coalitions addressing pollution and hazardous substances;
Sustainable solutions in targeted landscapes and seascapes, including integrated approaches that address environmental challenges in both rural and emerging urban contexts.

SGP places strong emphasis on strengthening the capacities of local organisations through learning-by-doing, facilitating knowledge exchange, and promoting innovation and replication of successful models across landscapes and beyond. By empowering local actors with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources, the programme seeks to enhance long-term resilience, sustainability, and inclusive development.

For Thailand’s OP8 country programme, the selection of target landscapes and seascapes was conducted during November 2025 – February 2026 through a comprehensive process involving document review, data analysis, and multi-stakeholder consultations. The selection applied criteria including ecological significance, level of environmental and socio-economic threats, dependency of local communities on natural resources, potential for scaling and networking, and the need for targeted grant support.

Based on the decision of the National Steering Committee (NSC), three priority landscapes/seascapes have been identified for implementation:

Lower Andaman Coast (Krabi, Trang, Satun)

This coastal and marine landscape is globally significant for biodiversity, including critical habitats for dugongs and sea turtles, with extensive seagrass meadows and mangrove ecosystems that provide blue carbon storage and coastal protection. The area faces increasing pressures from unsustainable tourism, marine debris, land-based pollution, and climate change impacts such as coral bleaching and seagrass degradation. It is also home to sea-nomadic and coastal communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on small-scale fisheries and marine ecosystems.

Phetchabun Mountain Range (Phetchabun and Loei)

This highland and forest landscape serves as an important ecological corridor supporting biodiversity connectivity. Key challenges include monoculture expansion on steep slopes, recurrent wildfires, land degradation, and unregulated tourism. Local and ethnic communities depend on forest resources and possess valuable traditional ecological knowledge. There is strong potential for scaling community-based forest management and sustainable livelihoods through existing networks and academic partnerships, although financing and technical support gaps remain.

Yuam–Salween River Basin (Mae Hong Son and Tak)

This upstream landscape forms part of the largely intact headwaters of the Salween River, one of Southeast Asia’s last free-flowing rivers. The area is characterised by rich biodiversity and strong dependence of ethnic communities on forest and watershed resources. However, it faces pressures from steep-slope agriculture, soil erosion, wildfires, and increasing climate variability. While participatory watershed management initiatives are emerging, there remains a need for strengthened coordination, restoration efforts, and sustained investment at the landscape level.

In addition, SGP Thailand OP8 will support targeted interventions in an additional landscape through complementary partnership support:

Phetchaburi–Prachuap Khiri Khan River Basin

This integrated river basin landscape connects headwater forests, agricultural areas, urban settlements, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems, forming a continuum from upstream to coastal zones. It is ecologically linked to the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Sam Roi Yot Wetland (Ramsar Site), and plays a critical role in supporting brackish-water ecosystems, coastal fisheries, and key ecosystem services such as water supply, flood regulation, and water quality.

Building on this foundation, SGP Thailand OP8 aims to catalyse community-led, landscape-level transformation by strengthening local capacities, fostering partnerships, promoting innovation, and enabling access to finance and knowledge, contributing to both national priorities and global environmental benefits.

B. PURPOSE OF THE CALL FOR REGULAR GRANT PROPOSALS

Building on the landscape-based approach of SGP OP8 in Thailand, this Call for Grant Proposals aims to support community-driven initiatives that address environmental challenges while promoting sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion, and local resilience within the selected landscapes and seascapes, including areas receiving complementary support through partnerships.

Recognising that local communities, civil society organisations (CSOs), and community-based organisations (CBOs) are key agents of change, this call seeks to provide direct financial and technical support to enable these actors to design and implement innovative, locally grounded solutions. Through a “learning-by-doing” approach, the programme will strengthen local capacities, empower communities, and generate tangible environmental and socio-economic benefits.

Under this call, multiple grants will be awarded across each selected landscape/seascape to support a portfolio of complementary initiatives aligned with SGP thematic priorities, including biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable food systems, and pollution reduction. Collectively, these initiatives are expected to contribute to coherent, landscape-level outcomes and foster synergies among local actors.

The total grant allocation for each of the three priority landscapes/seascapes is expected to be approximately THB 12,000,000–14,000,000, which will be distributed among several selected projects. For initiatives within the Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan River Basin, the support of up to THB 2,000,000 will be provided through complementary partnership support. These indicative allocations are subject to adjustment depending on the availability of funding and partnership contributions.

Individual grant amounts are expected to range from approximately THB 800,000 to THB 2,000,000 per project, depending on the scope, scale, and complexity of the proposed intervention.

Applicants are expected to propose practical, community-based solutions that are technically sound, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. Proposals should demonstrate clear linkages to local needs and priorities, as well as potential for replication, scaling up, or contribution to broader policy and planning processes.

In line with SGP requirements, co-financing of at least 50% of the requested grant amount is mandatory, which may be provided in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants are expected to clearly demonstrate and justify their co-financing in the proposal and budget.

C. SCOPE OF THE REGULAR GRANTS

Under this Call for Grant Proposals, selected CSOs and CBOs will implement community-driven projects within the designated landscapes and seascapes, contributing to SGP Thailand OP8’s objective of generating environmental benefits while strengthening local livelihoods, resilience, and social inclusion.

Projects are expected to adopt an integrated, participatory, and landscape-based approach, ensuring that interventions are grounded in local needs, knowledge systems, and socio-ecological contexts. While applicants have the flexibility to design proposals based on their priorities and capacities, proposed initiatives should align with SGP thematic areas outlined in Section A and contribute to coherent, landscape-level outcomes.

Informed by stakeholder consultations conducted in each landscape/seascape, the following priority focus areas are identified to guide project development. Proposals addressing these areas will be prioritised:

Yuam–Salween River Basin

Projects in this landscape are encouraged to focus on:

Watershed restoration and nature-based ecosystem management, including forest restoration, soil conservation, and protection of upstream ecosystems;
Sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems, promoting agroecological practices, crop diversification, and local food security;
Community-based water resource management, including integrated watershed management, water governance, and climate adaptation at the local level;
Pollution management and transboundary environmental issues, including reduction of agricultural runoff, waste management, and addressing cross-border environmental risks where relevant.
Conservation and community stewardship of iconic species and biodiversity particularly the Indochinese Tiger and Great Hornbill, including habitat protection, restoration, and community awareness initiatives.

Phetchabun Mountain Range

Projects in this landscape are encouraged to focus on:

Integrated water resource management at sub-basin level, strengthening local water governance, water use efficiency, and climate resilience;
Transition to sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, including reduction of chemical inputs, soil restoration, and alternative livelihood models;
Forest and ecosystem restoration, including community forestry, fire management, and promotion of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) where appropriate.
Conservation and restoration efforts supporting key wildlife habitats and iconic species, particularly the Indochinese Tiger, through community-based ecosystem management approaches.

Lower Andaman Coast

Projects in this seascape are encouraged to focus on:

Sustainable livelihoods and food security, particularly for coastal and marine-dependent communities (e.g. sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, eco-tourism);
Integrated water and land management, addressing freshwater availability, watershed–coastal linkages, and climate resilience;
Ecosystem restoration and sustainable land use, including mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs, and coastal habitats;
Community-based coastal and marine resource management, strengthening local governance, conservation, and sustainable use of marine resources;
Pollution and waste management, particularly marine debris, plastic waste, and land-based sources of pollution affecting coastal ecosystems.
Conservation and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems associated with iconic species, particularly dugongs, green turtles, and seagrass ecosystems, through community-led conservation and sustainable resource management.

Phetchaburi–Prachuap Khiri Khan River Basin

Projects in this landscape are encouraged to focus on:

Community-based management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems across the river basin, including headwater forests, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems;
Sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and food systems that enhance water efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods;
Integrated and community-based water resource management, strengthening upstream–downstream–coastal linkages, water governance, and ecosystem-based approaches;
Low-carbon and climate-resilient solutions at the community level, including renewable energy access and energy efficiency where relevant;
Strengthening local institutions, stakeholder coordination, and cross-sectoral collaboration for integrated river basin management.
Conservation and restoration of wetland and freshwater ecosystems associated with iconic species, particularly the Fishing Cat, Lotus wetlands, and Purple Swamphen, through community-based conservation and ecosystem management approaches.

Types of Eligible Activities

Proposed projects may include, but are not limited to:

Community-based conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of natural resources;
Promotion and demonstration of sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and livelihood practices;
Local climate change adaptation and mitigation actions, including nature-based solutions;
Small-scale pilot or demonstration initiatives that can be replicated or scaled up;
Capacity building, awareness raising, and community mobilisation;
Strengthening of local institutions, networks, and community governance mechanisms;
Knowledge generation, documentation, and sharing of good practices.

Cross-cutting Considerations

All proposals are expected to:

Apply inclusive and participatory approaches, ensuring meaningful engagement of women, youth, and ethnic groups (where relevant);
Demonstrate environmental sustainability and social benefits, including contributions to livelihoods and resilience;
Promote innovation, learning, and potential for replication or scaling up;
Ensure alignment with relevant national and local policies, plans, and regulations.
Proposals that demonstrate potential to contribute to broader awareness raising, storytelling, or public engagement initiatives related to iconic species and ecosystems—including relevant UNDP SGP partnership initiatives—may be considered favorably where relevant.

Implementation Modality

Selected grantees will be responsible for the full implementation of project activities, including planning, execution, financial management, monitoring and reporting, in accordance with UNDP/SGP requirements.

Projects are expected to collaborate with other stakeholders within the landscape/seascape—including communities, local authorities, academia, and the private sector where relevant—to enhance synergies and collective impact.

D. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

This Call for Grant Proposals is open to civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), and local community groups, including both legally registered and non-registered entities, that are actively engaged in environmental conservation, sustainable development, and/or community development within the selected landscapes and seascapes.

Eligible applicants may include non-governmental, not-for-profit organisations (e.g. NGOs, foundations, associations, and networks), as well as informal community groups, grassroots initiatives, and indigenous or ethnic community organisations with demonstrated engagement at the local level.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to effectively implement project activities within the target landscape/seascape, including established local presence, community engagement, and relevant experience or capacity. Applicants are also expected to have sufficient proficiency in the Thai language to ensure effective communication, coordination, and implementation at the community level.

Special Provision for Non-Registered Groups

Non-registered organisations or informal community groups are eligible to apply under this call. However, to ensure accountability and credibility, such applicants must:

Provide at least two (2) contact persons for reference checks from a recognised and reliable local authority or institution familiar with the applicant’s work, such as:
Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO);
Village Head/Chief;
Local government agency; or
Other reputable organisation with knowledge of the applicant’s work;
Clearly demonstrate community legitimacy, track record, and local presence, including prior experience in implementing community-level activities;
Identify a designated focal person or responsible individual who will be accountable for project implementation, coordination, and reporting.

UNDP/SGP may request additional information or apply specific risk mitigation measures, where necessary, to ensure compliance with financial and operational requirements.

Minimum Profile Requirements

Applicants are expected to demonstrate the following:

Proven experience or strong potential in implementing community-based environmental or livelihood initiatives;
Demonstrated understanding of the local socio-ecological context and relevance to the selected landscape/seascape;
Capacity to plan, implement, and monitor project activities, including basic financial management;
Ability to engage with local stakeholders, including communities, local authorities, and other partners;
Commitment to inclusive approaches, including the engagement of women, youth, and ethnic groups (where relevant).

Partnerships and Consortia

Joint proposals or partnerships are encouraged where they add value (e.g. combining technical expertise with strong community engagement). In such cases:

A lead applicant must be clearly identified and will assume overall responsibility for implementation, financial management, and reporting;
Roles and responsibilities of each partner must be clearly defined.

Partnerships between experienced organisations and emerging or informal community groups are particularly encouraged to strengthen capacity and inclusiveness.

Government agencies, private-sector companies, and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply as direct recipients; however, they may participate as cooperating partners (e.g. as technical partners, or learning partners), provided the applicant and grant manager remains an eligible civil-society/non-profit institution.

Conflict of Interest and Eligibility Restrictions

Conflict-of-interest and integrity requirements apply in line with UNDP policies. Members of the NSC, as well as their affiliated institutions, are not eligible to receive funding under this call.

Applicants must disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest in their submission, including relationships that may affect their ability to provide impartial support to prospective and awarded SGP grantees.

In addition, to ensure transparency and avoid any conflict of interest, organisations selected under the call for strategic grants (Landscape/Seascape Support Organisations) will not be eligible to apply for these regular grants under OP8 in Thailand. This is due to their role in supporting proposal development, project implementation, and monitoring of regular grant recipients.

E. PROCEDURES OF GRANT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

Applicants are required to submit a complete application package that enables an objective and transparent assessment of:

organisational capacity and relevant experience;
the proposed technical approach and workplan; and
cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and value for money.

Application Package Requirements

At a minimum, the submission package must include:

Proof of legal registration (for registered organisations only);
Organisational structure and governance arrangements (including key management and financial functions);
CVs of the proposed core team and key personnel;
Evidence of relevant past experience (e.g., annual reports, knowledge products, training materials, evaluation reports, or similar outputs);
Technical Proposal and Work Plan (Annex A);
Budget Proposal (Annex C), including details of co-financing.

For non-registered organisations or informal community groups, applicants must additionally provide:

At least two (2) contact persons for reference checks from a recognised local authority or organisation (e.g. Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, Village Head/Chief, or other reputable institution);
A clear indication of the designated focal person responsible for project implementation and reporting.

Proposals may be submitted in either Thai or English language.

Co-financing Requirement and Grant Ceiling

Individual grant amounts are expected to range from approximately THB 800,000 to THB 2,000,000 per project, depending on the scope and complexity of the proposed intervention.

Applicants are required to demonstrate co-financing of at least 50% of the requested grant amount, which may be provided in cash and/or in-kind contributions. Co-financing should be clearly described and justified in the proposal and budget.

Submission Format and Method

The completed Technical Proposal (Annex A) must be submitted electronically a signed PDF and Word file to the following email address: LowValueGrants.th@undp.org with copy to nuttawat.suwattanapongtada@undp.org with the subject (Submission of Proposal for GEF SGP OP8 – Name of Organisation).
The Budget Form (Annex B) must be submitted as a separate document in editable format (Excel).
The deadline for submission is 31 July 2026, 23:59 hrs (Bangkok time). Late submissions will not be considered.

Clarifications and Pre-Call Session

Requests for clarification may be submitted to the email address above. Responses will be provided within two (2) working days.
An online pre-call Q&A session (via Zoom) will be held on 2 July 2026, 14:00–16:00 hrs (Bangkok time). Meeting ID : 878 6292 9981 Passcode : 008800

https://undp.zoom.us/j/87862929981?pwd=Tzwec6Lap5Lol1tMbS7WYIopk8kTK0.1

Eligible Costs

Eligible costs should be directly related to the implementation of the proposed scope of work and may include, but are not limited to:

personnel costs (e.g. honoraria or salaries);
workshops, trainings, and capacity-building activities;
travel and field-related costs (including for outreach and quarterly monitoring);
small-scale equipment, materials, or inputs necessary for project implementation;
venue rental, materials, and logistics;
communication, knowledge products, and translation;
development of tools, systems, or resources relevant to the assignment.

Applicants are expected to ensure that all proposed costs are reasonable, justified, and aligned with the proposed activities, taking into account the geographic scope and operational requirements of the landscape/seascape.

Administrative and operational support costs should be kept to a minimum and must not exceed 25% of the total budget.

Co-financing is strongly encouraged, including both financial and in-kind contributions, to enhance the sustainability and impact of the proposed activities.

Costs that are not directly attributable to the implementation of the proposed activities will not be supported. This includes, but is not limited to:

infrastructure development, construction, or major physical improvements (e.g. buildings, offices, or permanent facilities);
utilities and recurrent operational costs (e.g. electricity, water, internet, office rent not directly tied to specific activities);
any other costs not clearly justified as necessary for achieving the objectives of the grant.

Confirmation of Receipt

Applicants will receive an acknowledgment email confirming receipt of their application within three (3) working days after submission.

If an applicant does not receive a confirmation within this timeframe, they are advised to contact UNDP within the following two (2) working days to verify receipt of their submission.

Please note that UNDP will not be responsible for applications that are not received due to technical issues or failure to follow up within the indicated timeframe.

F. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION TIMEFRAME

The implementation period for approved projects is expected to commence in July–August 2026, subject to the timing of the grant award and contract signature.

Individual projects are expected to be implemented within a duration of 6 to 18 months, depending on the scope, scale, and complexity of the proposed intervention. All project activities must be completed within the overall timeframeof the SGP OP8 programme.

Applicants are therefore expected to design their work plans and activities to be implemented over this period, taking into account the scope of work, geographic coverage, and operational requirements of the selected landscape/seascape.

G. SELECTION PROCESS

All funding decisions under this Call for Grant Proposals will be made by the SGP National Steering Committee (NSC), in accordance with SGP governance procedures.

The NSC is a multi-stakeholder body comprising representatives from government agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), academia, and the private sector. In line with SGP principles, the majority of NSC members are drawn from civil society, ensuring a participatory, transparent, and community-oriented decision-making process.

The selection process will involve a technical review of proposals against the established eligibility and evaluation criteria, followed by deliberation and final endorsement by the NSC.

Prior to the final award and contracting of grants, all selected organisations will be required to undergo a Partner Capacity Assessment Tool (PCAT) screening in accordance with UNDP requirements. The outcome of the assessment may inform the finalisation of grant agreements, including any required risk mitigation measures.

Decisions on funding will normally be made within four (4) weeks after the application deadline. Applicants will be notified of the outcome in writing within two (2) weeks following the NSC decision.

In cases where the total value of recommended proposals exceeds the available budget, funding will be allocated based on the ranking of proposals according to their evaluation scores, starting from the highest-scoring proposals until the available resources are fully committed.

Proposals that meet the minimum requirements but cannot be funded due to budget limitations may be placed on a reserve list, subject to NSC approval. Should additional resources become available, or if selected projects are withdrawn or deemed non-compliant, proposals from the reserve list may be considered for funding in order of their ranking.

Disqualification Criteria

Applications will be disqualified and will not be further considered if they:

Do not comply with the priorities, eligibility requirements, or submission instructions outlined in this Call for Grant Proposals;
Provide incomplete, inaccurate, or misleading information;
Present a clear conflict of interest that has not been properly disclosed;
Contradict or fail to adhere to the principles of non-discrimination, gender equality, or other relevant UNDP safeguards and ethical standards;
Propose activities that are inconsistent with applicable national laws, UNDP policies, or SGP operational guidelines.

H. SELECTION CRITERIA AND SCORING

Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in Table 1 below. The evaluation will assess the extent to which applicants demonstrate strong technical capacity, contextual relevance, and the ability to effectively support the SGP portfolio at the landscape/seascape level.

Table 1: Selection criteria and scoring (100 points in total)

No.	Selection criterion	Description	Max. points
1	Relevance to Landscape Priorities and Local Context	Alignment of the proposed project with SGP thematic areas and priority focus areas identified for the target landscape/seascape; demonstrated understanding of local socio-ecological challenges and community needs.	25
2	Quality and Feasibility of the Project Design	Clarity and coherence of the proposed approach, including objectives, activities, and expected results; practicality and feasibility of implementation within the proposed timeframe(6–18 months); appropriateness of methods and technical soundness.	25
3	Community Engagement, Inclusion, and Local Ownership	Level of participation and ownership by local communities; inclusiveness of the approach (including women, youth, and ethnic groups); evidence of community support and relevance to local livelihoods and resilience.	20
4	Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact and Scaling Potential	Potential of the project to generate tangible environmental benefits and improve livelihoods; contribution to resilience and sustainability; potential for replication, scaling up, or influencing broader practices or policies.	15
5	OrganisationalCapacity, Feasibility, and Cost-Effectiveness	Strength of team, governance, and financial managementsystems; realism and feasibility of the work plan; value for money and credibility of co-financing (minimum 50% requirement).	15
	TOTAL		100

Additional Notes on Evaluation

Only proposals that meet all eligibility criteria will be considered for scoring.
The NSC may also take into account overall portfolio balance across landscapes/seascapes, strategic relevance, and contribution to programme coherence when making final funding decisions.
Proposals from non-registered or emerging community groups will be assessed based on their local legitimacy, community support, and feasibility, in addition to formal organisational capacity;
Proposals are strongly encouraged to incorporate inclusive approaches that actively engage youth, women, and ethnic groups, particularly in capacity development, participation, and benefit-sharing.
While not mandatory, proposals that identify credible opportunities for scaling up impacts, including through innovative financing mechanisms such as carbon credit generation or access to voluntary carbon markets, will be considered favorably where relevant and feasible within the landscape context.
Grants will be awarded in accordance with the nature and relevance of the project. The payment schedule will be agreed before signing the contract.

Annex A Project Proposal Template_EN.docx
Annex B Budget template_EN.xlsx