On the 7th of April,  training activities began in earnest in Bissau at the auditorium of the Universidade Lusófona da Guiné-ULG to strengthen the capacities of GEF SGP partner organizations, carried out by the Associação para o Desenvolvimento Durable-ADD, and supported by the GEF SGP UNDP through the MAVA foundation fund.

The opening ceremony was attended by the UNDP RR, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Biodiversity, and representatives of the National Commander of the National Guard.

During 2 days of training numerous subjects were addressed including  natural capital and biodiversity, sustainable land and forest management, project life cycle and theory of change citing examples of GEF SGP projects.

89 participants attended the training which included NGOs, defense and security forces; students, private sector actors, as well as members of the National Steering Committee of the GEF SGP.

The same training will be replicated in 8 regions of the country targeting the same participants.

Earlier in March of this year, the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) approved four new projects to be implemented in its work programme. The projects identified would contribute behaviourial change on matters related to the environment, responsible and sustainable fishing through innovative techniques, as well as improved access to safe, and clean drinking water in all the regions of Guinea-Bissau.