Why and how is SGP important for the UNDP Country Office?

"The SGP reaches to the very core of UNDP – the development of the poorest of the poor, providing livelihood options. It also creates a useful link with upstream and policy interventions. For example, the Sustainable Land Management Project also funded by GEF and implemented by UNDP, tries to model replicable approaches, and now that one of the CBOs in the pilot area will possibly access a SGP grant, this will demonstrate that the model can work if communities are afforded alternative livelihood options. Also due to SGP interventions, clear policy areas for further research are highlighted, also bringing the National University of Lesotho, which participates in the SGP National Steering Committee, closer to the people. SGP is linked with UNDP which also brings it closer to people and creates awareness of its existence."

How has the SGP benefitted your organization and/or community?

"We never thought waste could be turned into something so useful and valuable. Before installation of the biogas digester, we spent about USD 6000 annually on bottled gas to meet our energy needs for cooking. This amount has been brought down to about USD 1000 as we use several stoves during peak seasons, while we have only one connection point for the biogas. Also, worrying about sewer removal and disposal of waste from the orchard and other biodegradable waste from the kitchen are a thing of the past. Thanks to SGP, with the savings we have some cash available and we are now able to provide credit to more of our member organizations, unlike in the past where we could cater for two or three organizations only per annum. Our only wish now is for SGP to help us bottle the gas in summer, when production is high, for use in winter when it is low, and also bottle for sale."