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By Staff Reporter
THE Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program which is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to roll out 1,600,000USD (equivalent to 4.04bn/-) meant to empower a total of 44 Civil Society Organizations across Tanzania mainland to undertake biodiversity conservation projects under the 7th Operational Phase of GEF funding.
The timely signing ceremony was held on Thursday (4th April, 2024) in Dar es Salaam, led by UNDP Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara and the event saw the participation of representatives from the Vice President’s Office, respective Civil Society Organizations, as well as those from the National Steering Committee for the GEF Small Grants Programme.
As per the signed MoU, over the next 20 months, the grants will enable communities to implement biodiversity conservation actions, empowering them to manage their environment, generate alternative income sources, as well as addressing local environmental challenges.
In his remarks during the Agreement signing ceremony, the UNDP Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara unveiled that the projects encompasses an array of activities, including tree planting, beekeeping, forest conservation, conservation, water source preservation, livestock management, beach management and sea turtle conservation, wetland management, ecotourism and agroforestry activities among others.
“These initiatives aim to build the capacity of local communities to address environmental issues with locally driven solutions,” he informed, emphasized the vital role of community participation in natural resource management.
“Tanzania’s vast natural resources require active community involvement for conservation and sustainable utilization, essential for local and national development,” he observed.
Together with that, he highlighted the Small Grants Programme’s role as a catalyst for change, attracting partners to invest strategically in community-led initiatives.
Representing The GEF Operational Focal Point from the Vice President's Office, Lilian Lukambuzi congratulated CSOs qualified for the SGP program and encouraged more CSOs to apply for the funding.
“We urge all CSOs to utilize the funds to realize their set objectives. The project's implementation will create value for money, quality, and tangible outputs." She said.
The 44 projects will benefit approximately 5,000 Tanzanians residing in rural areas, with a targeted emphasis on key landscapes including the Serengeti ecosystem, West Kilimanjaro/Lake Natron, and the Jozani ecosystem in Zanzibar.
The Vice President’s Office oversees the Small Grants Programme in Tanzania; in 2023 it allocated USD 2 million for community-based projects on Biodiversity conservation, climate change and sustainable land management during the 8th Operational Phase of GEF.
The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate program of the Global Environment Facility that provides financial and technical support to local civil society and community based organizations to develop and implement innovative local actions that address global environmental issues, while also improving livelihoods and reducing poverty.
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