GEF Small Grants Programme- Saint Lucia

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) provides non-governmental and community-based organizations (NGOs/CBOs) in developing countries with grants to enable them to address global environmental challenges at the community level, while meeting local sustainable development needs. SGP is a GEF corporate programme, implemented by UNDP and executed by UNOPS. Launched in 201

3 but operating from 2012, GEF SGP UNDP (Saint Lucia Country Programme) supports activities of nongovernmental and community-based organizations in Saint Lucia towards climate change mitigation and adaptation, conservation of biodiversity, protection of international waters, reduction or elimination of the use of persistent organic pollutants and prevention of land degradation while generating sustainable livelihoods. The programme operates on the premise that people will be empowered to protect their environment when they are organised to take action, have a measure of control over access to the natural resource base, have the necessary information and knowledge, and believe that their social and economic well-being is dependent on sound long-term resource management. Since October 2012, the Saint Lucia Country Programme has invested US $1,042,961.00 in over 45 projects with at least one project in every administrative quarter in Saint Lucia. The programme works significantly with the poor and marginalised groups, and communities, while trying to achieve environmental sustainability, reducing poverty and building capacity. Worldwide, since its creation in 1992, SGP global has provided grants to over 20,000 communities in 128 countries.