NAN-AE-9
Project
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said it has assisted the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and Small Grant Programme (SGP), to execute 113 projects in 25 states in the last five years.
Mr Muyiwa Odele, UNDP`s Team Leader on Environment and Sustainable Development Programme, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Odele said that GEF through SGP would continue to carry out projects to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable utilisation of environmental resources.
He said that the two programmes had supported non-governmental and community-based organisations to protect the environment while generating sustainable livelihood for the poor and marginalised.
Odele said that GEF-SGP was implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF agencies and partners and was being executed by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
“Presently, GEF-SGP has supported about 25 states and executed more than 113 community based projects.
“This is to demonstrate that community action can maintain the balance between human needs and environmental imperatives,” he said.
He also said that the implementation of the programme had helped individuals and communities in the various states to benefit from agriculture, social amenities among others.
According to him, Nigeria has demonstrated how much community-driven initiatives can contribute to national and global goals.
“The grant may be small, but through commitment and dedication of the guarantees to environmental preservation, the initiatives undertaken by recipients of these grants continue to fulfil its goals.’’
Odele said that GEF-SGP believed that global environment problems can best be addressed if local people are involved and there are direct community benefits and ownership.
The team leader said that one of the objectives of GEF-SGP was to develop community-level strategies and implement technologies that could reduce threats to the global environment.
He added that GEF focal areas include; Biodiversity, Climate change, International Waters, Land Degradation and persistent Organic Pollutants. (NAN)
VOE/DUA/AFA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Felix Ajide
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