Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Facility (GEF SGP) in Kazakhstan, operating under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is pleased to announce the commencement of the call for grant proposals as part of the implementation of the Seventh Operational Phase.

Grant proposals are accepted exclusively from registered non-profit, non-governmental public organizations (NGOs) in Kazakhstan. Proposals from government agencies, enterprises, commercial structures (LLPs, etc.), and research organizations will not be considered.

Project proposals should be oriented towards the implementation of activities in one of the two designated thematic areas:

• Mitigation of the impacts of climate change;

• Reduction of processes leading to land degradation.

Project activities are expected to be directed towards the implementation of measures that mitigate the negative impact on steppe, semi-desert, or desert ecosystems. Geographically, the project's scope should concentrate within the target regions of the GEF SGP, namely Kostanay, Akmola, Karaganda, Ulytau, Kyzylorda, Almaty, Zhetysu, Turkestan, East Kazakhstan, and Abay. It is important to note that only projects focused on rural and suburban regions will be considered; locations such as regional centers and the cities of Shymkent, Astana, and Almaty are not eligible for the implementation of proposed projects.

Projects are required to incorporate mechanisms and activities aimed at enhancing the well-being of local communities, with a special focus on groups such as women, youth, and vulnerable populations. Active involvement of these communities in project implementation is essential. Additionally, projects founded on network partnerships and the collaborative implementation of activities by multiple NGOs are strongly encouraged.

Grant funding should not surpass US$50,000, and the project implementation period is limited to a maximum of 18 months.

Duration of the grant competition: from January 26 to March 1, 2024.

As part of the Seventh Operational Phase of the GEF SGP, a component has been designated for capacity building and advisory support for grant recipients. Participation in the competition requires completion of training within this component. For more detailed information, please refer to Appendix 1.

For further information, please feel free to contact the GEF Small Grants Program via email at sgp.kz@undp.org.

Those who are interested in participating in the competition must send their project proposals according to the attached format by email to sgp.kz@undp.org.

Comprehensive details on training, project categories, potential types of activities within each topic, project selection criteria, project proposal format, and other pertinent materials related to this competition are available in the appendices accompanying this announcement:

 Appendix 1: Online training and consulting support

 Appendix 2: Possible activities and project selection criteria

Appendix 3: Grant Proposal Template