Iran
“The GEF Small Grants Programme represents one of the many concrete ways UNDP works with the Iranian people and their government in order to find solutions to development challenges"”
Haoliang Xu
Former UNDP Resident Representative, IR Iran
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Country Programme Snapshot

Start Date 2000
# of Projects 241
Total Grant Amount US$ 5,484,760
Total cash Co-Financing US$ 4,953,673
Total In-Kind Co-Financing US$ 22,137,829
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Country Portfolio by Area of Work

Biodiversity
Chemicals
Climate Change Mitigation
International Waters
Land Degradation
Global Publications
sgp international waters-1.jpg
Experiences from SGP: Protecting International Waters through climate change resilient and community-based actions

This publication highlights the work of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) in the international waters focal area that not only generates global environmental benefi ts through community-based management approach to international waters issues, while assisting communities to increase theirresilience and adapt to climate change.

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Examples of Successful Projects
Bam garden city
Maintenance and revival of Bam garden city as an Oasis through community empowerment

Goal: Reduce sale of the date gardens and change of land use
Main Activities: Introducing alternative livelihoods and/or supporting gardening activities including loans to purchase gardening facilities, integrated pest management techniques to protect products, Development of 3 localized credit funds in different locations.
Key Results: Save 542 hectares (nearly 10%) of the date gardens in Baravat. Developed 3 localized credit funds with 572 members, 592 loans approved with total amount of $278,600. 96% of the loans were returned, 60% of members of livelihood groups are women including single women as heads of families after the losses in the earthquake. Micro banking and collective collateral was accepted by a pilot national micro banking project using the project site as its demonstration site. This GEF SGP project and the GEF Carbon Sequestration project resulted in inclusion of Micro credit for development as work and poverty alleviation in the 5th National Development Plan.

 
Removal of Barriers in Usage of Intelligent Controllers of Central Heating and Cooling Systems

Goal: Increase in usage of the automated heating/cooling controller technology
Main Activities: Promoting private and public utilization of the system, awareness raising and training for servicemen, building managers, schools and municipality officials
Key Results: Partnership with private sector contributes 10% of its sales to educational programmes in energy savings in buildings and training programmes. 17,000 units have been equipped with automated system and had savings in natural gas consumption between 15 to 40% based on the gas bill. The unit is also installed in UN Common Premises and has resulted in 20 to 25% savings. Based on reports by mid 2011, as a result of installing automated control system prevented emission of 420,000 tonnes of CO2 and has had energy saving equal to gas consumed in four winter days in Tehran or production of a refinery in size of Masjid Soleyman.

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Country Impact

SGP projects supported , documented and influenced:

  • Initiated participatory conservation and first pilot site in the country

  • Development/ innovative localized credit funds has been legislated as a mean of sustainable development in the Fifth National Development Plan

  • Developing trust between the officials and the working NGOs and inclusion of women in many of the projects through their natural role in production in their communities

Successful projects scaled up and replicated:

  • A Ramsar convention internationally important site listed in Montreux record (Dorge Sangi or Sirangoli) is rehabilitated and other two wetlands are being revitalized (replication and scaling up through linkage with GEF wetlands project (CIWP))

  • Eco-agriculture and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has officially been adopted by the government and is being funded in 30,000 sites by the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad covering 22 agricultural products in the country

  • Formation of a farmers Network between GEF SGP and FAO projects for eco-agriculture and IPM products nationally on over 20 crops

  • Partnerships with private sector to promote and wider usage of energy savings technologies has been appreciated and encouraged by authorities

  • Up-scaling the agricultural projects in dry areas to include the Evolutionary Participatory Plant Breeding in partnership with a grantee working with ICARDA and using GEF SGP project sites as pilots to upscale the work nationally

SGP activity in figures:

  • Contributed to conserving 9 endangered animal species, 2 vulnerable plant species protected

  • Ecotourism thematic cluster has got a permanent member in National Tourism Committee and 81 items of the cluster's suggestions have been inserted into the national tourism strategy

Awards
September 2015 - Equator Prize 2015

The SGP grantee partner Umbrella Group of Naghadeh NGOs is one of the Awardees of Equator Prize 2015.

Umbrella Group of Naghadeh has implemented the GEF SGP funded project IRA/SGP/OP5/Y3/STAR/CC/13/11(187).

2014 - National Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Organization Award for Beekeeping

The receiver of this Award is  MS. Mina Rameh of  SGP grantee parnter Women CBO of Rameh village. 

Women CBO of Rameh village has been supported by SGP for the project IRA-G52-2002-020

2014 - National Department of Environment Award for Women's Day for Art and Conservation

The receiver of this Award is Ms. Afsaneh Ehsani of SGP grantee parnter Moaseseh Avayeh Tabiyate Paydar (MATP), that have implemented the GEF SGP funded project IRA/05/19 .  

2014 - National Department of Environment Award

The receiver of this Award is SGP grantee partner ANJOMANE SABZ CHIYA .

ANJOMANE SABZ CHIYA has implemented the GEF SGP funded project IRA/SGP/OP5/STAR/CC/11/04

2014 - International Award of Paul K Feyeraben Foundation

The receiver of this Award is SGP grantee partner Abolhassani ICCA that have implemented the GEF SGP funded project IRA/SGP/OP4/RAF/Y2/09/15

2011 - Finalist in the 1st International Kish Film Festival

Won by GEF SGP Project Knowledge Development and Networking for the Exchange of SGP Experiences & Lessons Learned.

2011 - 8th Environment Fair Award

Won by GEF SGP Iran

2010 - Environmentalist of the Year 2010

Won by Mr. Bijan Farhang Darehshouri- Member of GEF SGP National Steering Committee (NSC).

2010 - Diploma Awarded in Moscow International Festival “Golden Dolphin”

Won by Mr. Ali Abdipour- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "planning grant for developing a documentary on Endangered Species focusing on Dolphins and Turtles."

2009 - Superior Craftsmanship Award for Gholabtun Doozi (Traditional Handicraft)

Won by Ms. Jamileh Mohammadzadeh- Grantee of GEF SGP Project: Promoting and Empowering Local Community Women to get Sensitized to Turtle Preservation and Sea Resources through Production and Marketing of Conservation Art.

2009 - Special Jury Award in 13th International Underwater Film Festival, Belgrade

Won by Mr. Ali Abdipour for RED KILLERS documentary film- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "planning grant for developing a documentary on Endangered Species focusing on Dolphins and Turtles."

2009 - Nomadic Elite Award

Won by Mr. Reza Salehi- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "Abolhassani Nomads Tribe territory Management (ICCA) dealing with Climate Change effects and defining A life cycle for Agriculture and Pasture Management."

2009 - National Project from Ministry of Jihad Agriculture on World Land Degradation Day

Won by GEF SGP Project "Empowerment of Local Community of Nardien in Semnan Province for Preventing Flood Through Participatory Land Management."

2009 - Gold Award in ROPME Environment Prize- National Journalism Contest for photo, video and reportage

Won by Mr. Ali Abdipour- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "planning grant for developing a documentary on Endangered Species focusing on Dolphins and Turtles."

2009 - 2nd Selected Documentary Movie in 3rd International Iran Documentary Festival, Haghighat Cinema

Won by Mr. Ali Abdipour for RED KILLERS documentary film- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "planning grant for developing a documentary on Endangered Species focusing on Dolphins and Turtles."

2008 - Young Professionals Award- SMD
2008 - Wetland’s Champion Award

The GEF SGP project, "Rehabilitation of the Sirangoli and Hassanlou Ramsar Site Wetlands through Community Participation" received the national Wetland's Champion Award as one of the most successful experiences relating to optimized preservation of wetland ecosystems and promotion of wetland preservation culture across the country.

2007 - Wetland’s Champion Award

Won by GEF SGP Project "Rehabilitation of the Sirangoli and Hassanlou Ramsar Site Wetlands through Community Participation."

2007 - Innovation and Commitment Award
2007 - Award of Best National Project on Natural Resources

Won by GEF SGP Project "Traditional Forest Management in Havareh-Khol Village (Kurdistan Province)."

2007 - 3rd rank in 8th National Environment Award

Won by Pishrun Energy Institute- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "Increasing Energy Efficiency/Productivity in Buildings."

2006 - 3rd rank in 20th Kharazmi International Festival

Won by Pishrun Energy Institute- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "Increasing Energy Efficiency/Productivity in Buildings."

2003 - National Environment Award

Won by Green Message NGO- Grantee of GEF SGP Project "People's Participation for Plant Biodiversity Protection in Central Zagros Region."

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