| Overview : The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) provides Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in developing countries with grants to enable them to tackle conserve biodiversity, climate change mitigation, protect international waters, reduce the impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and prevent land degradation. With these environment-centred “grant projects” the programme also seeks to generate sustainable livelihoods and reduce poverty in the world’s neediest countries and regions. With the notion “community action with global impact”, the programme recognizes that grassroots communities are better placed to tackle global environmental problems and come up with lasting solutions. Therefore, community based initiatives and actions that bestow stewardship, generate benefits and instill a sense of ownership of the resources are supported as they contribute to sustainable management. The GEF Small Grants Programme works in 126 countries all over the world. SGP Botswana was launched in 1992. Since then, it has succeeded in funding and providing technical support for more than 147 grantee projects. The Programme is a GEF corporate programme, implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme and UNDP; executed by United Nations Office for Project Services. The Botswana programme recognizes effective partnerships with the CSOs as paramount in ensuring its success as grantees and beneficiaries. From management structures and funding mechanisms to grass-roots action, partnerships permeate all aspects of SGP operations. CSOs are therefore, viable channels to promote community empowerment, ownership and participation in development and can thus be considered as the most significant SGP partner. They can play an effective role in better understanding the local community's needs and demands and must be given a full chance to fulfill their responsibilities towards those communities. |
