Multi-Stakeholder cooperation and partnerships at every level are at the core of SGP success. From management structures and funding mechanisms to grassroots action, partnerships permeate all aspects of SGP operations. The synergies created by these collaborations are critical to the wide impact of grant activities. SGP has collaborated with over 250 partner organizations worldwide, and thousands of partner organizations at the country level that have provided co-funding and other forms of co-operation.

While SGP considers grantees as the core partners, others include bilateral donors, foundations, international NGOs, national and local government agencies, national environment funds, national poverty programmes, service organizations, universities, the private sector, and GEF large and medium scale and UNDP core programmes. These partners are key for all stages of SGP operations, including programme management; capacity development; grant implementation and monitoring; resources mobilization and co-financing; advocacy; and communications.

Governments

SGP partners with local and national Governments to allow for a multi-stakeholder approach and national ownership. Governments dedicate funds and other resources, participate in the National Steering Committee, incorporate good practices and lessons from SGP, and facilitate replication, scaling up, and policy change. In turn, SGP produces global environmental benefits by addressing local environmental and development needs, targeting marginalized, poorer, and indigenous populations, and creating job opportunities and generating incomes, while helping governments to meet their international convention obligations.

Civil Society Organizations

NGOs and CBOs at the local and national levels support SGP’s work with communities virtually in every project funded to date. SGP partners with civil society organizations and help establish and nurture networks that enable improved natural resource management, capacity development, knowledge exchange, policy advocacy, and sustainability of SGP and related initiatives. These networks expand SGP’s reach, involving greater numbers of organizations and communities in activities related to SGP objectives, and lead to greater impacts through replication and policy change.

Private Sector

SGP partnerships facilitate links with private sector companies and fair trade networks that can provide technical assistance and advice, as well as significant cofinancing to either match the SGP contribution or to replicate and upscale successful practices from SGP.

Academia

Universities and research institutions have supported the development of new technologies and methodologies for community-based application. They have provided capacity development, technical assistance, and monitoring of project activities, working in tandem with community partners.

SGP builds partner capacity and knowledge about global and local environmental and sustainable issues as well as encourages the adoption of community-based, participatory approaches by serving as a proven example.