GEF Corporate Programs

Small Grants Programme

Launched in 1992, SGP supports activities of non-governmental and community-based organizations in developing countries towards climate change abatement, conservation of biodiversity, protection of international waters, reduction of the impact of persistent organic pollutants and and prevention of land degradation while generating sustainable livelihoods.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as a corporate programme, SGP is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership, and is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

At present, 101 countries participate in SGP having ratified the conventions on biological diversity and climate change. There are 84 country offices, two regional offices, and two sub-regional offices with day-to-day management by SGP National Coordinators

The overall SGP project portfolio comprises 60% biodiversity, 20% climate change, 6% international waters, and 14% multi-focal issues. The funding to date comprises US$247.2 million from GEF and US$242.8 million from other partners in cash or in-kind equivalents.

Country Support Program

The GEF Country Support Program (CSP) is a four-year program (2006-2009) approved by the GEF Council in November 2005. Its main objective is to strengthen the capacity of GEF Focal Points to carry out effectively their mandates for supporting global environmental programs in their countries and constituencies, including the improvement of overall national and constituency coordination of global environmental issues.

The CSP provides support to Focal Points through the following activities:

1. 1. Direct Support to Focal Points
2. 2. Sub-regional Workshops for GEF Focal Points to provide a forum for information and experience exchange
3. 3. An online Knowledge Facility for GEF Focal Points

The program is jointly implemented by UNDP and UNEP under the strategic guidance of an inter-agency Steering Committee composed of the GEF Secretariat and the Implementing and Executing Agencies (IAs/EAs).

The CSP complements and closely coordinates its activities with the GEF National Dialogue Initiative which facilitates a series of country level dialogues with a range of national stakeholders on GEF related issues and themes.

The CSP in conjunction with the GEF Secretariat also supports GEF Familiarization Seminars for new Council Members and new Focal Points.

National Dialogue Initiative

The GEF National Dialogue Initiative (NDI) is designed to facilitate a series of country level dialogues on GEF related issues and themes. National Dialogues aim to raise awareness about the GEF, strengthen country level coordination and ownership, and clarify and address country GEF needs and priorities linked to national development strategies.

National Dialogues provide a forum for consultations on global environmental management and national sustainable development issues in GEF recipient countries. They provide an opportunity for GEF partners to dialogue with key stakeholders representing a wide range of national and local interests and areas of expertise. At the country level, each National Dialogue is managed as a collaborative effort involving the national GEF Focal Points, the GEF Secretariat, and the Implementing Agencies.

The main objectives of the GEF NDI are to assist participating countries by:

1. 1. Promoting in-depth understanding of the GEF's strategic directions, policies and procedures;
2. 2. Strengthening country coordination and ownership in GEF operations and sharing lessons learned from project implementation; and
3. 3. Achieving greater mainstreaming of GEF activities into national planning frameworks and coordination and synergies amongst the GEF focal areas and convention issues at the national level.

Past dialogues have enabled countries to address a number of different objectives including: increasing understanding of the GEF's strategic directions, policies and procedures; strengthening country coordination and ownership in GEF operations; sharing lessons and experiences from GEF portfolio and projects; enhancing synergy and linkages among GEF and Convention related activities at the national level; and facilitating greater integration of GEF in national planning and policy frameworks.