Small Grants Programme (SGP)

SGP is rooted in the belief that global environmental problems can best be addressed if local people are involved and there are direct community benefits and ownership. SGP is convinced that with small amounts of funding, members of local communities can undertake activities that will make a significant difference in their lives and environments, with global benefits, in contrast with top-down, expert-reliant development interventions. Participation, democracy, flexibility, and transparency are concepts informing SGP's selection of award recipients and subsequent involvement with grantees; the programme encourages and supports the participation of communities, local people, NGOs, CBOs, and other stakeholders in all aspects of programme planning, design and implementation. Core principles informing SGP's communication strategy include:

• formulating country-specific programme strategies - visit the SGP website to read more about these strategies
• developing, executing, and disseminating project concept papers and proposals
• building partnerships to broaden the scope of the programme and to communicate and replicate successful SGP initiatives, through such publications as "Responding to Climate Change, Generating Community Benefits" [PDF]
• raising public awareness of global environmental issues and changing public attitudes and practices
• influencing government environmental policies and programmes (advocacy)
• mobilising in-kind and monetary resources to support project and programme sustainability.

SGP is described as having a "flexible decentralized structure...[which] encourages maximum country and community-level ownership and initiative." In this sense, communication strategies of the grant recipient projects vary. On a macro level, SGP uses communication in an effort to help its grantees learn from each other - hopefully supporting sustainability. SGP focuses on building the capacity of project grantees, managing knowledge, networking among programme entrepreneurs, carrying out stakeholders' dialogues, hosting training seminars, fostering information exchanges, working with the media, disseminating information, and sharing lessons learned.

In addition to face-to-face capacity building and dialogue, one of the key tools for creating and sustaining these communication channels is the SGP website, which is designed to foster exchange of experiences and strategies among country programmes and other interested parties. The site features a searchable database of SGP projects, photo galleries, and country programme newsletters. Free access is offered here to SGP's "Acting-Learning-Acting" series, which aims to document and evaluate SGP projects around the world. In the words of the organisers, "Conceived to promote knowledge exchange and facilitate learning, the series demonstrates that innovative action to protect the environment at the local level, community by community, can lead to global impact." In addition, a password-protected Intranet is designed to foster interaction among grantees.

Environment, Economic Development.

Some facts about SGP:

• As of this writing, 80 countries that have ratified the conventions on biological diversity and climate change participate in SGP.
• The overall SGP project portfolio comprises 60% biodiversity, 20% climate change, 6% international waters, and 14% multi-focal issues.
• The maximum grant amount per project is US $50,000, but averages around US $20,000. Grants are channeled directly to CBOs and NGOs.
• More than 5,000 grants have been awarded worldwide to date, with many (according to SGP) benefiting multiple communities.

To provide a snapshot on a particular SGP programme: Within the 2 years of SGP's pilot phase in Mozambique, 28 projects have been approved that will be implemented by various NGOs, CBOs, and community groups in the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, and Sofala. The grant allocation supports activities that address livelihoods support, promotion of income generation activities, control of land degradation, watershed protection, pollution control, water conservation, and climate change abatement. Special issues of concern are soil erosion, deforestation, biodiversity loss, bushfires, slash and burn farming practices, and overproduction of charcoal and firewood. Projects have also focused on environmental education, capacity building, and training on community-based natural resource management.