Specific activities to be funded: 

1. Using a strong global island network, the aim of this initiative is to recognize, scale up, and replicate good practices among local communities in SIDS. This may come as a result of focusing on bright spots. Therefore, the initiative may be used to identify areas and practices (things that are working) in islands that exhibit and are focused on sustainability, conservation and adaptation of initiatives. Therefore, these would specifically focus on island-led solutions and perspectives including island leadership, sustainability and resilience particularly in the context of biodiversity. Ultimately, these activities should demonstrate real, local and tangible progress on SDG implementation and the Samoa Pathway.

2. In the context of this partnership, it is expected that the good practices and or island bright spots are widely shared through bi-monthly convenings an annual event (held virtually).

3. Using a strong global island network, bright spots are identified (things that are working) in islands that best illustrate mainstreaming biodiversity. These would specifically focus on island-led solutions and perspectives including island leadership, sustainability and resilience solutions particularly in the context of biodiversity. These would demonstrate real, local and tangible progress on SDG implementation and the Samoa Pathway. At least 20 bright spots should be identified.

4. Island bright spots are widely shared including through bright spots page, through bi-monthly convenings and an annual virtual Island Bright Spot event. This would be 6 webinars focused on bright spots undertaken with a diverse and extensive global island audience, an updated bright spots page on GLISPA’s website and connection to GLISPA’s bright spot process, 6 island updates on bright spots shared. The annual Island Bright Spots event would use previous in person bright spot knowledge cafe sessions which have been held at global events to convene virtually in April 2021 and which would facilitate the sharing and identification of bright spots. 

5. The partnership will jointly organize events to recognize islands’ contribution to key conventions such as post 2020 global biodiversity framework, Paris Agreement etc.

Overriding Principle:

SGP is calling for proposals based on a new grant making modality to be administered at the global level. This is in addition to similar ‘Call for Proposals’ (CFP) which are undertaken by national level SGP country programmes. The principles under which this CFP will work is based on the interest of fairness, transparency and integrity. This modality is recommended as the most appropriate solicitation method for announcing available grant support under the competitive selection method. The selection will be undertaken by a committee whose decisions will be final. The eligible entities who may wish to pursue further information related to their bids may follow the UNOPS advisory related to this call for proposals. 

Background of GEF SGP:

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992. SGP grant-making in over 125 countries promotes community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable development projects of communities’ local civil society organizations with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth. SGP projects support biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, prevention of land degradation, protection of international waters, and reduction of the impact of chemicals, within a sustainable development framework that promotes sustainable livelihoods and citizen empowerment.

Objective:

Using a strong global island network, the aim of this initiative is to recognize, scale up, and replicate good practices among local communities in SIDS. This possibly coming as a result of focusing on bright spots and connecting them to global policy processes so that they can best illustrate island needs, solutions and opportunities including the Convention on Biodiversity, SDGs and the UNFCCC. The project activities should demonstrate real, local and tangible progress on SDG implementation and the Samoa Pathway, as well as connecting local to global and at island level between political leadership and local implementers in a range of islands.

For further information and details, including how to submit your proposal, please refer to the attached CFP document.