Small Grants Programme (SGP)

The Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a global initiative established to support community-level actions that address environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development. It operates under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Since its inception in 1992, the SGP has empowered thousands of local communities, indigenous peoples, and civil society organisations to implement projects that conserve biodiversity, mitigate climate change, combat land degradation, and protect international waters, among other global environmental priorities.

Background and Establishment

The Small Grants Programme was launched in 1992, coinciding with the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, popularly known as the Earth Summit. It was designed to translate the principles of Agenda 21 into practical, community-based actions by supporting small-scale projects that contribute to both environmental protection and local livelihoods.
The SGP was conceptualised under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which provides financial resources to developing countries for activities addressing global environmental issues. The UNDP serves as the implementing agency, working in partnership with other UN organisations, national governments, and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The programme operates on the principle that small, well-targeted grants to grassroots initiatives can produce significant and lasting environmental benefits.

Objectives and Guiding Principles

The SGP’s central objective is to support community-driven solutions to global environmental problems by providing financial and technical assistance for projects that integrate environmental sustainability with social and economic development.
Its guiding principles include:

• Community empowerment: Strengthening the capacity of local people to design, implement, and manage their own projects.
• Partnership and participation: Promoting collaboration among communities, NGOs, government agencies, and the private sector.
• Innovation and demonstration: Encouraging creative, replicable, and scalable approaches to environmental management.
• Sustainability: Ensuring long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits.
• Inclusivity: Giving special consideration to indigenous peoples, women, and marginalised groups, recognising their vital role in environmental stewardship.

The SGP thus acts as a bridge between global environmental objectives and local action, ensuring that communities are active participants rather than passive recipients in sustainable development processes.

Thematic Areas and Focal Sectors

The Small Grants Programme focuses on activities aligned with the GEF’s main focal areas, which represent the most pressing global environmental concerns. These include:

1. Biodiversity Conservation – Protecting and restoring habitats, promoting sustainable use of biological resources, and safeguarding threatened species.
2. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation – Supporting renewable energy initiatives, energy efficiency measures, and resilience-building in vulnerable communities.
3. Land Degradation and Sustainable Land Management – Combating desertification, promoting soil conservation, and restoring degraded ecosystems.
4. International Waters – Protecting transboundary water systems through improved community-based management and pollution control.
5. Chemicals and Waste Management – Reducing the use of hazardous chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and promoting waste reduction and recycling.

In addition, cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, sustainable livelihoods, indigenous knowledge, and youth engagement are integrated into all project activities.

Operational Framework and Grant Mechanism

The SGP operates through a decentralised structure that allows for flexibility and responsiveness to local needs. Each participating country has a National Steering Committee (NSC) composed of representatives from government agencies, NGOs, academia, and community organisations. The NSC is responsible for reviewing and approving grant proposals and ensuring alignment with both GEF priorities and national development strategies.
Projects are typically funded through small grants of up to USD 50,000, though in exceptional cases, strategic or “upscaling” projects may receive higher funding. The SGP also supports planning and capacity-building grants to help communities develop viable project proposals.
The grant cycle generally involves the following stages:

1. Project identification and proposal preparation.
2. Technical and financial review by the NSC.
3. Implementation and monitoring with local participation.
4. Evaluation and knowledge sharing to disseminate lessons learned and best practices.

This participatory approach ensures that projects are locally relevant, community-owned, and sustainable beyond the period of grant support.

Global Reach and Achievements

Since its establishment, the SGP has grown into one of the most extensive grassroots environmental programmes in the world. It currently operates in over 125 countries and has supported more than 27,000 community-based projects globally.
Key achievements include:

• The protection of millions of hectares of forests, wetlands, and marine ecosystems.
• Promotion of renewable energy technologies such as solar, biogas, and micro-hydropower in rural areas.
• Restoration of degraded lands through sustainable agricultural practices.
• Empowerment of indigenous and local communities to manage natural resources sustainably.
• Creation of income-generating activities that align with conservation goals, such as eco-tourism, organic farming, and handicrafts.

In addition to environmental benefits, the SGP has strengthened social cohesion and governance by enhancing local capacities for collective decision-making and resource management.

Implementation in India

In India, the Small Grants Programme was launched in 1996 under the name India-UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme. It is implemented through the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), which serves as the National Host Institution. The Indian SGP supports projects that address local environmental issues in line with national priorities such as biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable agriculture.
Projects have been implemented across various states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, and Meghalaya, focusing on activities such as:

• Community-based forest and wetland conservation.
• Promotion of solar and biogas energy in rural households.
• Restoration of degraded lands and water bodies.
• Livelihood enhancement through sustainable resource use.

The programme has been instrumental in promoting eco-friendly community enterprises and encouraging local innovations that can be replicated in similar ecological and socio-economic settings.

Impact on Local Communities

The SGP’s community-oriented model has demonstrated that environmental conservation can be effectively achieved when it aligns with local development needs. Beneficiary communities often experience multiple gains, including:

• Improved access to energy and water resources.
• Enhanced food security through sustainable agriculture.
• Increased income from eco-friendly livelihood activities.
• Strengthened role of women and indigenous groups in local governance.

Furthermore, the programme helps build resilience to climate change impacts by promoting adaptive strategies such as water harvesting, agroforestry, and climate-resilient crop varieties.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Knowledge Sharing

A strong emphasis is placed on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to ensure transparency, accountability, and learning. Each project includes measurable indicators related to environmental impact, social inclusion, and financial management.
The SGP also facilitates knowledge-sharing platforms where successful community experiences are documented and disseminated through reports, workshops, and digital networks. This process encourages replication and scaling up of effective approaches, influencing policy at national and international levels.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The success of the Small Grants Programme depends heavily on partnerships among multiple stakeholders. These include:

• Local NGOs and community-based organisations, which act as implementing partners.
• National governments, which provide policy support and co-financing.
• Private sector entities, which contribute technical expertise and market access.
• International donors and academic institutions, which provide research inputs and funding assistance.

Collaborations of this kind ensure that projects benefit from diverse perspectives, technical soundness, and sustainability beyond the life of the grant.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its achievements, the SGP faces certain challenges:

• Limited financial resources relative to the growing demand for environmental projects.
• Difficulty in scaling up successful local models to larger regional or national programmes.
• Ensuring long-term sustainability once grant funding ends.
• Administrative delays in approval and disbursement of funds in some countries.
• Need for stronger linkages between local initiatives and national policy frameworks.

Addressing these challenges requires enhanced coordination, increased funding mobilisation, and continued capacity-building among community institutions.

Significance and Future Outlook

The Small Grants Programme exemplifies the concept of “thinking globally, acting locally.” It demonstrates that communities, when equipped with resources and knowledge, can become effective stewards of the environment. By directly linking local actions to global environmental conventions—such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)—the SGP plays a vital role in achieving international environmental goals.
As global environmental challenges intensify, the SGP’s model of community empowerment and participatory governance remains more relevant than ever. Its future priorities include greater emphasis on climate resilience, nature-based solutions, digital innovation, and youth participation.