Strengthening the governance of local communities’ territories in the context of the Global Support Initiative for Indigenous Peoples and Community-Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA-GSI)

Background of the GEF SGP and ICCA-GSI: The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992. SGP grant-making in over 125 countries promotes community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable development projects of communities, and local civil society organizations with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth. In particular, SGP projects support biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, prevention of land degradation, protection of international waters, and reduction of the impact of chemicals, within a sustainable development framework that promotes sustainable livelihoods and citizen empowerment. One of the key actions under the SGP Strategic Direction in GEF-6 is to expand the coverage and strengthen networks of Indigenous and Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) within countries and globally. 

The Global Support Initiative for Indigenous peoples’ and Communities’ Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA-GSI) aims to expand the range and quality of diverse governance types of protected areas (PA) and sustainable livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities through improved recognition, capacity building and empowerment, and on-the ground support to ICCAs. These actions will contribute to achieving the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi 2020 targets: Target 11 – increasing protected areas coverage, Target 14 – safeguarding essential ecosystem services, and Target-18 protection of traditional knowledge. 

The initiative is implemented through three distinct but mutually reinforcing “Work Packages” (WP): WP1 - Provide direct support to community-based action and demonstration on sound ICCA stewardship for the purposes of ecosystem protection, sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction; WP2 - Legal, Policy and other forms of support for ICCA recognition and conservation (including governance assessments of PA and landscapes); and WP3: Networking, knowledge production and exchange between national CSO initiatives at regional and global levels. 

The Small Grants Programme (SGP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and ICCA GSI are implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

Objectives for the Call for Proposals 

To this end, SGP is calling for proposals from competent not-for-profit organisations based in Brazil to strengthen the governance of local communities’ territories and develop the SGP strategy in Brazil for the next operational phase. Grant funding available for the activity is up to a maximum value of US $130,000.

For further information and details on how to submit proposals, please refer to the attached CFP document.