NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative, Dr Kishan Khoday, says Bahamian organizations can now access climate action grants under a new funding cycle of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP).
He said that the US$75,000 is the first since GEF SGP globally deepened its partnership with the UNDP, which is now effectively both the executing and implementing agency for GEF SGP worldwide.
The UNDP said that Bahamian non-government organizations, as well as academic institutions, can qualify for the grants by submitting project proposals during one month starting on November 9.
Khody told a ceremony attended by representatives from the Bahamas Protected Area Fund (BPAF), Smart and Strong Sisterhood (SASS), Organization for Responsible Governance (Bahamas) Foundation (ORG), FEM STEM Bahamas, Bahamas National Trust (BNT), and The Nature Conservancy, that the winning project proposals will cover at least one of four thematic areas.
He said these are community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species; sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and food security; low-carbon energy access co-benefits; local to global coalitions for chemicals and waste management; and water conservation.
UNDP/GEF SGP Senior National Coordinator in The Bahamas, Deon Stewart, said that smaller planning grants of up to US$5,000 also become available to conduct studies for the implementation of a pilot project, collect information to support the full proposal, and/or proposal development assistance.
He said UNDP/GEF SGP will be conducting proposal workshops to support interested organizations in preparing for the project proposal and submission process.
Khoday said the development marks a deepening of organizational cooperation on climate and ecosystem resilience, which are priorities under UNDP’s strategic plan.
“SGP’s work on the ground widens the base of UNDP climate partnerships in the field, where real challenges are felt and pragmatic solutions are generated. Importantly, this development also paves the way for upscaling GEF SGP projects, leveraging complementary UNDP projects and donor resources”, Khoday stated.
Since 2009, the UNDP/GEF SGP in The Bahamas has granted more than US$2.9 million to 44 local NGOs, with an equal amount in co-financing, for a total of US$6.4 million to climate projects.
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