The GEF Small Grants Office (SGP) Ethiopia is calling for nominations for the OP7 SGP Indigenous Peoples Fellowship Initiative Programme. 

The programme will host one fellow in the SGP Ethiopia Office where the successful nominee will work alongside the SGP and Youth focal points in UNDP regional hubs in Africa -  Addis Ababa.  SGP Ethiopia office has been selected to host this 18-month programme for the Africa Region. 

Eligible Organisations 
Any local CSOs, NGOs or community-based groups interested in conserving and restoring the environment while enhancing people’s livelihoods and well-being. Interested groups can also do the eligibility test available at the following  link; https://sgp.undp.org/about-us-157.html

 
Some Guidance  
The following information is provided to guide those who are interested:
⦁    The Focal area for fellowship in either Biodiversity Conservation or Climate Change
⦁    Priority is given to indigenous youth below the age of 35 years; grounded and accountable to a specific community and have contributed to efforts to support the Pastoralist indigenous ways of life. 
⦁    Grant allocation for this initiative is US$75,000, and an 18-month project (fellowship) duration. 
⦁    Advantage to those organizations already advocating on Indigenous communities’ natural resources management, building indigenous communities ‘capacities in sustainable development, environment protection, and or climate change. 

Submission / Application Process 
Please email the following addresses to obtain the Terms of Reference (ToR) and application form for the nomination process. Email: dejene.biru@undp.org 
All filled application forms must be submitted to: dejene.biru@undp.org until 15 th August 2024.

OP7 SGP Global Indigenous Peoples Fellowship Initiative Programme 2024
Terms of Reference - Africa region (Addis Ababa)

The GEF SGP OP7 Indigenous Peoples Fellowship Initiative Programme aims to provide proactive mentoring and capacity-building for Iindigenous fellows to work with SGP and youth regional focal points. Proposed activities for the IP fellows include 
(a)    improved SGP grant-making in line with the international best practices of rights-based approaches as recognized by the CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD, and vertical funds (GEF, GCF)
(b)  Facilitating access by Indigenous Peoples to international climate finance 
(c) strengthening connection and partnerships between the SGP, UNDP, and relevant regional and/or international Iindigenous networks, foundations, and NGOs.
 

The OP7 Indigenous Fellowship programm aims to support the SGP and UNDP Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) Local Action focusing on  
(a)    Protecting vulnerable Indigenous Peoples communities and networks, including for the safeguard of environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs)
(b) Increasing advocacy efforts for nature and climate justice as a contribution to the UN Secretary General’s Call to Action on Human Rights (C2A)
(c) Implementing UNDP ‘Climate Promise’ programme towards the full and effective involvement of IPs in the implementation of the UNFCCC nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and post-2020 CBD Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

The 2024 Africa Region Fellow is required to fulfil the following terms and conditions:
⦁    12–18-month fellowship (may extend t2-years and will be determined in consultation with the IP fellows as part of the development of an individual workplan.)
⦁    Support the full and effective involvement of IPs in the implementation of the UNFCCC’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) 
⦁    Access by Indigenous peoples to international climate finance, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the implementation of the UNFCCC 2015 Paris Accord 
⦁    Establishing national networks of Indigenous peoples and community conserved areas and territories (ICCAs)
⦁    Promoting Indigenous peoples’ partnerships through the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) 
⦁    Refining methodologies for monitoring and evaluation (M&E), including free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)for Community-Based REDD+ (CBR+) 
⦁    Participation of Indigenous Peoples in the negotiations and implementation of the CBD post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) 
⦁    Engagement with National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs regarding the role of Indigenous peoples s land governance in adapting to climate change 
⦁    Implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) 
⦁    Engagement with the Inter-governmental Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) regarding the incorporation of traditional knowledge (TK)Partnership and programme for Indigenous Peoples as part of the UN Decade on Water and Global Conference (2023) 
⦁    Support for nomadic peoples in arid and semi-arid areas, as well as transhumant peoples in mountainous conditions, including for Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) 
⦁    Developing Indigenous and community engagement with the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) 
⦁    Support indigenous and customary fisher-folk who live across national boundaries 
⦁    Sharing national experiences with normative and legal frameworks, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)  
⦁    Strengthen the network between SGP and the Indigenous Peoples network in Ethiopia and in the African region. 

Note: Post-fellowship support will also be provided to ensure that the capacity gained by the fellow is effectively utilized towards concrete actions to meet the advocacy needs of the targeted networks and communities.