JavaScript and Cookies need to be supported in order to use the website.

To be able to use all of the website & navigator's functions, download and install one of the following browsers:

Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Small Grants Program

The Small Grants Program (SGP) is a corporate program of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) since 1992. GEF SGP grantmaking in over 125 countries promotes community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment of local communities and civil society organizations (CSOs) with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth.

The GEF SGP provides grants of up to USD 50,000 directly to CSOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) to undertake local projects that contribute to the global environment while generating sustainable livelihoods.

Since the programme’s inception, the SGP has provided more than USD 541.7 million in grants, complemented by more than USD 686 million in cash and in-kind co-financing.

Support provider

Global Environment Facility

Purpose of support

Project and program implementation

Eligible countries and regions

Click here to see a list of SGP participating countries.

Please go through the eligibility test if you want to seek funding from this grant.

Eligibility criteria

SGP grants are made directly to community-based organizations (CBOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in recognition of the key role they play as a resource and constituency for environment and development concerns. All project proposals submitted to SGP country teams need to demonstrate:

How the project proposal meets the GEF SGP criteria by articulating how project objectives and activities would have an impact in the SGP areas of work.
How they respond or are aligned to the targets and objectives of the SGP Country Program Strategy (CPS) of their country. Please visit your country page to download a copy of the CPS or contact the National Coordinator (NC).
Be proposed by national CBOs and NGOs.

The Country Program Strategy (CPS) adopted by the National Steering Committee (NSC) contains country-specific project eligibility criteria.

You can take the eligibility test if you want to seek funding from this grant.

Financial instruments

Grants

Decision-making information

The SGP is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

At the global level, the Central Program Management Team provides global oversight to SGP's global operations and decentralized country programs. Since 2011, the most mature SGP country programs have upgraded to full-sized projects and are managed by UNDP's Communities, Livelihoods and Markets cluster. These countries are: Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

At the national and local levels, SGP operates in a decentralized and country-driven manner through country program teams composed of a National Coordinator (NC), often a Program Assistant (PA), and a National Steering Committee (NSC) in each participating country. SGP country programs are hosted primarily by UNDP Country Offices, but also by national host institutions (NHI).

Monitoring and reporting procedures

Recipients of grant support are responsible to conduct monitoring and evaluation (M&E) at three key stages of project implementation (i.e. project concept planning and proposal, project implementation, and project completion). They are also obliged to submit an annual report to SGP (UN-Environment) that includes the details from the M&E activities. More information about monitoring and reporting procedures here.

Information on how to...

Understand steps to access

Submit a Funding proposal

Access support for capacity building

Climate objective

Adaptation, Mitigation, Cross-cutting

Sectors and themes

Agriculture, Cities, Disaster risk reduction, Education, Forestry and Land-Use, Gender, Health, Industry and Infrastructure, Jobs, Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem Services, Rural Development, Youth

Type of support provider

Multilateral

Type of recipient

Non-profit or civil society organization, Community-level organization

Fund size

The SGP has provided over $612 million to 22,592 projects, leveraging more than $919 million in co-financing, in cash and in kind, since its inception in 1992.

Co-financing required

Application timeframe

There is no specific timeframe.

Trustee or administrator

World Bank

Contact information

https://sgp.undp.org

sgp.info@undp.org

You are here

Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Small Grants Program

Sign-up for the NDC Partnership monthly newsletter and receive updates on country work, upcoming events, resources, and more.