Overview : - Background:
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the GEF, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and it is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Grants are made directly to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including national and local Non-Governmental Organizations with priority for Community Based Organizations, Farmers Associations, Scientific Community, Women Groups and Youth and Children Organizations and other recognized community entities. These entities should be involved directly or indirectly in natural resources management and other activities that support livelihoods, empower communities and most importantly contribute towards environmental protection. Experience of the implementation of the GEF SGP globally over a period of 25 years, points to the fact that nature-based businesses – such as those involving the land, forest, garden, or rural environment – are industries with significant growth potential and that a large portion of SGP projects include an element of entrepreneurship as an alternative income activity and that many of them are led by women. However, according to UN Women, women continue to participate in labor markets on an unequal basis with men: women are paid less than men, bear disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care work, work in vulnerable, low-paid, or undervalued jobs, and are more likely than men to work in informal employment. To close this glaring gap and also in a bid to uphold the goal of “inclusion and innovation for greater impact”, the SGP has launched an Innovation Programme for targeting Women-led nature-based or Green Enterprises. Lesotho is among the ten countries selected to pilot the Programme. This call for proposals is to solicit civil society organizations to submit proposals that will help GEF SGP to roll-out the Innovation Programme in Lesotho. - Scope of the assignment:
The CSO (s) will undertake all of the activities required for delivery of the stipulated outputs, in a professional and timely manner. Preparations for and facilitation of the envisaged consultations, assessments, research and documentation thereof, is the responsibility of the CSO(s). The CSO(s) will work closely with the SGP National Coordinator and National Steering Committee and in compliance with the SGP rules and procedures throughout the project cycle. - Who may submit proposals:
A Suitably qualified national civil society organization or a consortium of no more than two national civil society organizations may submit proposals for a grant, with a detailed account of the experience and track record of the CSO(s), their paid staff complement and physical address for the CSO(s). - Budget:
Applicants are required to provide a detailed budgetary estimate. For proposal submission and more information, contact Nthabiseng Majara, National Coordinator, GEF SGP - Lesotho; and follow this link for further details proposal formats and supporting documents: http://www.ls.undp.org | 
