Honolulu, Hawaii, September 10h, 2016 
The Small Grants Programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme-UNDP and funded by the Global Environment Facility, participated at the 2016, IUCN World Conservation Congress that took place in Honolulu Hawaii. The congress is held every four years and helps shape the agenda on environmental conservation around the world by bringing together thousands of civil society organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, governments, leaders and decision makers to engage in constructive dialogue and set the path for the 4 years. The theme of this year is Planet at a Crossroads, an invitation to reflect on the human actions and activities that cause environmental degradation and are limiting the ability of the planet to support human’s needs in the long run and come up with solutions where progress and environmental conservation can be both achieved.

Throughout the congress, global leaders and governments recognized the importance of indigenous people and local communities in conservation. In this context, SGP participated in over 15 events including side events, knowledge cafes, and workshops to share good practices and results emerging from the innovations supported by its portfolio.

Helping to build resilience and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the Pacific
Recognizing the importance of improving the climate change adaptation and resilience of Small Island Development States in the Pacific, SGP joined the Global Island Partnership-GLISPA and is supporting the Aloha+ Challenge, an initiative to help the Pacific Islands to scale up the Hawaiian experience on tracking and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals-SDGs. This support was acknowledged in a reception on August 30th, during the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders. (See more here).

On September 4th, Delfin Ganapin, Global Manager of the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme, presented the commitment of SGP to the Pacific at the event Island Commitments. In particular, Mr. Ganapin explained the importance of supporting the Aloha+ Challenge experience and its Community-based Monitoring and Database for the SDGs in 3 pilot Pacific countries (Samoa, Marshall Islands, and Fiji) along with GLISPA and Hawaii Green Growth. The project is expected to provide a model for community-based monitoring and database system for the SDGs that is adaptive to all other SIDS.

Supporting Indigenous Peoples and communities protect the world’s biodiversity
SGP participated in over 10 events related to the role of indigenous and communities in biodiversity conversation. Through these events, SGP highlighted the importance of indigenous peoples and local communities in conservation efforts in and around important biodiversity hot spots, the importance of tapping into their ancestral practices and traditional knowledge, as well as the importance of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas-ICCAS in the overall governance of biodiversity rich areas.

Highlighting the importance of women in conservation
SGP also shared its efforts in promoting gender equality and women empowerment in its conservation efforts with communities around the world at a workshop organized by the GEF on Gender Responsive Financing for the Global Environment. The event started with welcoming remarks from the GEF CEO Naoko Ishi, and included the participation of panelist from, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Climate Investment Fund, UNDP, UNEP, Conservation International and Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture & Natural Resource Management-WOCAN.

Bringing local voices
More than 7 civil society organizations and SGP grantee partners from Jamaica, Panama, and Nigeria participated in events sharing their knowledge and expertise in natural resource management and helping to inform the work IUCN commissions and discussions.