Cabinet has given approval for the establishment of a local office for the Small Grant Programme (SGP). The SGP falls under the global environment facility that is managed and administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project focuses primarily on biodiversity, climate change, international waters, climate change adaptation, sustainable land management, and persistent organic pollution.
The SGP is mainly a non-governmental organisation (NGO)- driven initiative, but government is contributing some US$750,000 to assist in funding of the programme over a three-year period. The SGP channels financial and technical support directly to community-based organisations and NGOs for activities that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing people’s well-being and livelihoods.
The SGP was established by the UNDP in 1992.
For almost two decades, the SGP has been working with communities around the world to combat the most critical environmental problems, and has successfully demonstrated that supporting communities in their efforts to achieve more sustainable livelihoods is not only possible, but extremely important in bringing change and achieving global environmental benefits.
With presence in 122 countries and more than 12,000 grants awarded worldwide, SGP supports projects of non-governmental and community-based organisations in developing countries, demonstrating that community action can maintain the fine balance between human needs and environmental imperatives.
