The Global Environment Facility's Small Grants Programme aims to deliver global environmental benefits in the GEF Focal Areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, prevention of land degradation (primarily desertification and deforestation), and elimination of persistent organic pollutants through community-based approaches. Launched in 1992, SGP supports activities of non-governmental and community-based organizations in developing countries towards abatement, conservation of, protection of, reduction of the impact of and prevention of while generating sustainable livelihoods.
Funded by the GEF as a corporate programme, SGP is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the three GEF implementing agencies, and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
SGP in Iran
The GEF/Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) was launched in Iran in 2001 and projects promote environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods through local participation. They build partnerships and foster dialogue with a view to empowering and encouraging local communities to protect regions of global significance such as Caspian, the Persian Gulf and the Zagros regions.
The Programme has endeavoured to produce a supportive environment within the country for cooperation between community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), the Government and the United Nations in development issues related to GEF areas of concern. SGP has worked to raise public awareness, develop participatory pilots, promote networking and build partnerships at local, provincial and national levels, and promote policy dialogue in the country. SGP has been active in the capacity building of CSOs to the extent that the capacity of the grantee NGOs and COs is increasing in terms of project identification and formulation, budgeting, networking, reporting and monitoring of their work. Also Grantee NGOs and CSOs are conducting meetings on their project with the national, provincial and local authorities and amongst themselves and promoting a participatory approach towards decision making.
The GEF/Small Grants Programme in Iran provides grants of mainly up to US$25,000 and support to community-based groups (CBOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for activities that address local problems and for capacity building related to the GEF areas of concern.
For further information on GEF/SGP's programmes and projects in Iran:
Laleh Daraie
National Coordinator
Tel: (9821) 2860691-4 (x 320)
Fax: (9821) 286 9547
GEF/SGP , UNDP- Iran
E-mail:laleh.daraie@undp.org
