For the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2024 is a year that is ending on a high note after three major UN global conferences that brought together governments, donors, international organizations, civil society and local communities to discuss the most urgent environmental crises our world currently faces: biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation.
This planetary emergency is global, but its impacts are experienced locally, with vulnerable communities in developing countries bearing the brunt of impacts, especially those that depend on agriculture, grasslands, fisheries and forests for their livelihoods.
As these interconnected crises can only be solved with interconnected solutions, SGP took the opportunity provided by these global conferences to highlight innovative, community-driven initiatives from around world that demonstrate the power of local action to promote environmental conservation, while improving local livelihoods for a more sustainable future.
Biodiversity COP – Cali, Colombia
In October, SGP was at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16), where governments reviewed progress made to implement the Global Biodiversity Plan and assessed alignment of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans with the Biodiversity Plan. In what was the biggest biodiversity COP to date, SGP participated in multiple events to highlight the role of local communities, civil society and Indigenous Peoples as key actors in the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). SGP, the Ministry of Environment Japan, the Keidanren Nature Conservation Council and partners also hosted an event on COMDEKS Phase 4 and the Satoyama Initiative. Several events included discussions on direct access to finance for Indigenous Peoples and local communities and the role of other effective area-based conservations measures (OECMs) and GBF implementation. SGP also supported the Nia Tero Foundation on a COP16 friendly football match between a mixed team of Indigenous Peoples and a professional Colombian women’s team to raise awarenss on the SDGs and biodiversity.
One of SGP's side events at the CBD COP16 in Colombia focused on increasing direct financial support to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Climate COP – Baku, Azerbaijan
In November, SGP was at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29), where delegates agreed on a new finance goal to help developing countries protect their people and economies against climate disasters. SGP held a joint event with the GEF, UNDP and the International Climate Initiative (IKI) from the Government of Germany to discuss the role of local communities and civil society as key agents of change in advancing climate and sustainable development goals together.
SGP also participated in multiple other events that covered various topics, such as youth-led climate action, climate finance, Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives, and mountain ecosystems.
Land COP – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In December, SGP was at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) with a large delegation that included community representatives and National Coordinators from around the world who know first-hand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought. SGP had its own local action pavilion in the Green Zone, where it showcased SGP community-based market products and handicraft, knowledge products and videos, besides hosting a series of daily side events.
Members of the SGP delegation at the UNCCD COP16 in Saudi Arabia.
SGP also held a large event in the Green Zone on locally-led restoration and two events in the Blue Zone: the first to showcase the contribution of local actors to the Great Green Wall Initiative, and the second to discuss locally-led landscape management for land degradation neutrality, sustainable development and socio-ecological resilience.
Local Action = Global Impact
Launched in 1992, SGP has over three decades of experience in providing financial and technical support to civil society and community-based organizations at the local level to drive initiatives that address global environmental issues while improving livelihoods, with a special focus on women, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and persons with disabilities. Since its establishment, SGP has delivered over $838 million in project funding to nearly 30,000 community-based projects in 136 countries around the globe. To find out more about SGP’s impact around the globe, check out our latest Results Report here.