NAN-AE-7
Project
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, June 8, 2017 (NAN) The Global Environmental Facility/Small Grant Programme (GEF/SGP) says it has spent 4 million U.S. dollars on the execution of projects across the country since 2009.
The National Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday at a National Knowledge Fair and Exhibition organised by the UNDP and GEF/SGP.
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“The GEF/Small Grant Programme is a fund that supports environmental projects all over the world and it is the largest funder of environmental projects globally.
“Then the GEF/Small Grants which I coordinate targets community-based actions and the funds are given through Non-Governmental Organnisations and Community-Based Organisations.
“To help the communities to address issues of environment that are peculiar to them with emphasis on livelihood enhancement.
“In terms of cash grant from the GEF, we have given about 4million U.S. dollars to implement about 116 projects from 2009 to now.’’
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She said the aim of the exhibition was to build partnership that would further support the organisations efforts as well as showcase its achievements.
According to her, the exhibition is aimed at enhancing visibility of UNDP/GEF/SGP programmes to create lasting positive impact on the people and the environment.
Olubamise added that the programme supported actions to combat major environmental issues such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, polluted international waters, land degradation, desertification and persistent organic pollutants to stimulate green growth.
She stated that the projects have improved the livelihood of at least 500,000 rural dwellers.
The coordinator added that the projects had also conserved more than 500 indigenous plant species, protected and restored between 1,000 to 2,000 hectares of land.
Olubamise said GEF/SGP, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment, had organised several workshops, with support from UNDP to promote the people’s understanding of the goals of the programme.
She said that the GEF/SGP had promoted sustainable utilisation of environmental resources via projects, while aiding communities in efforts to safeguard the environment and ensuring that individuals derived maximum benefits from the projects. (NAN)
VOE/LAB/YEE
Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim
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