It provides grants of up to US$50,000 and other support to community-based groups (CBOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for activities that address local problems related to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) areas of concern. GEF is an independent financial organization that provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities.

In this regard, the Small Grants Programme resources are awarded for activities that support community-level action in the biodiversity, climate change, and international waters focal areas. Activities that address land degradation issues - primarily concerning desertification and deforestation-can be supported if they relate to one or more of these focal areas.

However, the Small Grants Programme is more than simply a fund that provides small grants to improve the local environment. By raising public awareness, building partnerships, and promoting policy dialogue, the Small Grants Programme seeks to help create a more supportive environment within countries for achieving sustainable development and addressing global environment issues.

In coordination with UNDP, the Mozambican Government launched the Small Grants Programme last Friday, April 22, 2005 in Malengane, locality of Sábie administrative post, district of Moamba, in Maputo province.

The event coincided with the celebration of the International Earth Day and was attended by Mr. Luciano André de Castro, Minister for Coordination of Environmental Affairs and GEF focal point, Ms. Dulcineia Baquete, Representative of the Maputo Provincial Governor, Mr. Zeferino Cavela, Moamba district Administrator and Ms. Marylène Spezzati, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator. Mr. Augusto Correia, National Coordinator of the Small Grants Programme in Mozambique, has also attended the ceremony as well as several delegates from government Departments, district authorities, representatives from civil society organizations, grantees of the Small Grants Programme, community leaders and villagers from Malengane locality.

Malengane is a site where one of the grantees – ADEL/Maputo – will implement its project in partnership with local community. The overall project impact will be on biodiversity protection, watershed management and avoiding land degradation, while at the same time improves livelihoods.

On behalf of the Mozambican Government, the Minister for Environmental Affairs, Mr. Luciano de Castro, referred that the environmental sector sets its priority in intervening at community level, in partnership with various stakeholders, to mitigate environmental problems. - In this regard, - he said - communities should be innovative, restore the ownership over the projects and solve problems through local solutions.

On her turn, the UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Marylène Spezzati, stressed the programme linkages to local, national and global strategies like the national poverty reduction strategic paper (PARPA), the New African Partnership for Africa (NEPAD) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mozambique’s allotment for 2005 is $200,000 and the country is joining a family that encompasses 73 countries. Over the next few years, ten new countries will join the Programme.

For more information, please contact Nelson Xavier, UNDP Public Information Officer.

Mobile phone: + 258 82 3140600

Office + 258 01 481438

E-mail: nelson.xavier@undp.org

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.