08 Mar 2016

The Global Environment Facility/ Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) has embarked on a countrywide tour to sensitise stakeholders about the funding they offer.

Addressing government stakeholders in Francistown on Monday, GEF/SGP programme assistant, Ms Abigail Engleton said they want Batswana to understand their process, governance structure, grant eligibility, guidelines for project proposals and all the necessary information to apply for funding.

She said they were targeting non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community based organisations and academic and research institutions. 

They fund projects addressing an identified environmental problem, or utilising opportunities presented by the environment to enhance people’s well-being and livelihood.

Ms Engleton said Batswana were not utilising the opportunity in expected numbers given the high unemployment. She also added that the proposals they have been getting show that interested parties do not understand their guidelines. 

Furthermore, she said they were addressing the issues so that communities could benefit from the grants through capacity development workshops, adding that most proposals fail because people do not pay attention to details. She said GEF/SGP was committed to mentoring their funded projects, adding that they exist in over 127 countries. 

GEF/SGP was established in 1992 and has funded 179 projects with up to US$150 000 (approximately P1.2 million) of varying successes within different focal areas to solve environmental problems at the grassroots level with the slogan: Community action, global impact. ENDS