SGP - The GEF Small Grants Programme Government of India - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
GEF UNDP TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute

Strategic Priorities

Community-based Conservation of Threatened Ecosystems and Species

Strengthening local governance to conserve and protect biodiversity-rich areas and endangered species.

Activities

  • Strengthening community-led biodiversity conservation and promoting traditional ecological knowledge
  • Developing biodiversity-friendly and ecosystem-based livelihoods, including climate resilient agriculture, NTFP-based value chains, nature-positive tourism, marine habitat restoration and blue economy initiatives
  • Protecting and restoring threatened, rare, endemic, and endangered species through participatory species monitoring, habitat restoration and addressing threats like poaching, invasive species and habitat degradation

Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries, and Food Security

Promoting agroecological practices and resilient food systems to sustain livelihoods in vulnerable regions.

Activities

  • Improving productivity and efficiency across food value chains in ecologically sensitive regions
  • Promoting soil and water conservation, traditional seed and breed conservation, organic and natural farming and climate-smart agriculture practices
  • Encouraging livelihood diversification and food security through integrated farming systems, agroforestry, indigenous crop and livestock varieties and sustainable marine fisheries

Low-carbon Energy Access Co-benefits

Scaling up decentralized renewable energy (solar, micro-hydro, biogas) to reduce emissions and improve rural livelihoods.

Activities

  • Promoting decentralized clean energy solutions to address energy poverty
  • Supporting community-managed renewable energy systems (e.g., micro-hydro, biogas, solar-powered systems)
  • Facilitating deployment of solar lighting, solar irrigation pumps, energy efficient cookstoves, clean cooking solutions etc.
  • Expanding off-grid energy systems for productive uses, including agri-processing units, eco-tourism enterprises, community centres etc.

Local to Global Coalitions for Chemicals and Waste Management

Supporting circular economy models, reducing synthetic agrochemical use and decentralized solid waste management through community-led innovations.

Activities

  • Promoting community-led, gender-responsive approaches for chemicals and waste management
  • Supporting decentralized solid waste management systems in rural areas, protected areas, and ecotourism sites
  • Implementing circular economy practices, including waste segregation, composting, recycling enterprises etc.

Catalysing Sustainable Urban Solutions

Implementing scalable models for waste management, urban biodiversity, and low-carbon transport for integrated urban sustainability.

Activities

  • Demonstrating scalable, bottom-up models for integrated urban development
  • Implementing nature-based and low-carbon urban solutions including decentralized composting and plastic recycling units, urban biodiversity corridors, rooftop gardening for food production and cooling, and urban wetland restoration
  • Supporting sustainable transport and mobility innovations
  • Supporting sustainable urban livelihoods through green skilling initiatives, upcycling-based enterprises, and circular economy solutions