NAN-AE-2
Support
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Nov. 29, 2016 (NAN) The National Coordinator, Global Environmental Facility, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, on Tuesday said the GEF/SGP has supported more than 100 NGOs in 25 states in Nigeria since its establishment in 2009.
Olubamise, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that the GEF/SGP carried out community environmental projects in these states.
She said that GEF was launched in 1992 by the World Bank with 33 participating countries in the pilot phase.
She explained that the Small Grant Programme (SGP) was launched much later to complement the work of GEF in the provision of critical infrastructure for local communities.
Olubamise said “the GEF/SGP has expanded to provide assistance to 132 countries.
“We believe that community-driven and civil society-led initiatives can generate environmental benefits, while supporting sustainable livelihoods and local empowerment.
“This is one of the most effective ways in addressing global environmental challenges.
“Although GEF/SGP funding is modest, it enables communities to take measured risks. A poor and vulnerable community can use a small grant to develop capacity for a larger project.
“Once a community has proven the effectiveness of an innovative idea on the ground, it can often scale up impact through networking with other communities and partner organisations.
“These results in turn usually attract additional donors and government support for wider application,’’ she said.
GEF`s national coordinator said SGP had won eight international and national awards for effective execution of projects across the country.
She said that GEF established SGP to facilitate communities` participate in safeguarding the environment and assist individuals to derive benefits from its programme.
She disclosed that SGP grants were given directly to Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in recognition of the key roles they play in the development of the society.
She said that the SGP complements the large and medium- sized GEF project funding by providing a window for the direct participation of NGOs and local communities.
She said that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also ensured that projects in those communities were effectively implemented.
She said that GEF/SGP provided financial and technical support to communities to meet the overall objectives of global environmental benefits secure through community-based initiatives and actions. (NAN)
VOE/MOL/GY
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Grace Yussuf