Funding Opportunities for NGOs and LPAs Offered by the GEF Small Grants Programme

The Association of Environment and Ecological Tourism Journalists in cooperation with the GEF SGP and Regional Development Agency South organized on February 7th a workshop in Cimișlia, named "Local Initiatives and Actions for Sustainable Development.  SGP Moldova Priorities".

The event was attended by the representatives of the LPAs from the 8 districts of the Development Region South, level I and II; NGOs; universities and mass media from the region. 

The main goal of the workshop was to strengthen partnership between NGOs, LPAs, high education institutions and entrepreneurs in accessing grants from the GEF Small Grants Programme.

At the same time, given the low level of thematic approaches to environmental issues, which have been highlighted lately especially by NGOs, the organizers have sought to provide more consistent information about the Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Facility and ask the non-governmental organizations from the southern districts of the Republic of Moldova to bind partnerships with local governments and to jointly submit project proposals that would contribute to the sustainable development of communities.

"The good experience that the Regional Development Agency South has in project implementation process demonstrates that effective partnerships are the key to success. Namely, cooperation is essential for development. That is why, when it comes to investment attraction to solve local problems, public administrations have to cooperate with non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations. These can play an effective role in understanding the needs and requirements of the community and must have a chance to fully fulfil their responsibilities to these communities, "said Mrs Maria Culeşov, the director of the RDA South.

Mrs Maria Culeşov has expressed her confidence that NGOs from the Southern Region will be more active and work closely with the LPAs to use the opportunities offered by SGP Moldova and jointly solve community problems.

The participants have learned about the opportunities offered by the Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Facility in Moldova, its areas of interest and the SGP Moldova priorities.

In this regard, Mr Anatol Râşina, SGP Moldova National Coordinator, and Ala Camerzan, the Program Assistant, have described in details the SGP Moldova project cycle, application and selection procedure, ways of cooperation and partnership for ensuring co-financing within the GEF SGP Moldova projects, implementation and reporting instructions, etc., while also providing some general recommendations regarding project documentation.

At the end of the event, Mrs Lilia Curchi, the Editor-in-Chief of the "NATURA" Magazine and executive director of the Association of Environment and Ecological Tourism Journalists in the Republic of Moldova, spoke about best examples of projects implemented with the support of SGP Moldova.

Please note that the SGP is a GEF program implemented by UNDP and executed by UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services), which operates in 126 countries. SGP Moldova started financing projects in 2013. Since then, it has been successful in funding and providing technical support for more than 12 projects supported through grants.

The Small Grants Program of the Global Environmental Facility provides grants to non-governmental organizations and community organizations (NGOs / CSOs) in developing countries to enable them to cope with global environmental challenges while addressing the needs of sustainable development. The SGP motto is "community action with global impact!" The programme provides grants of up to $50,000.

So, if you represent an NGO (non-governmental organisations) or a CSO (civil society organization) and have a project idea, apply to the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility and get financial support for your project!