6 November 2012: The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) held its Afghanistan launch on 23 October 2012. The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) organized an event to discuss the benefits of the new funding. Attended by the Prince Mostafa Zaher, NEPA Director General, and the GEF Operational Focal Point for Afghanistan, the event highlighted the importance of a “people-centric” approach.

The goal of the GEF SGP in the country, according to its press release, is to advance capacity development for community-based conservation efforts. Considering that around 90% of internal conflicts derive from land and water conflicts, it notes, GEF SGP and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) expect to increase access to resources in rural areas, aligned with the the National Priority Programmes (NPPs) of Afghanistan.

Despite being composed mainly by small community-led projects, organizers said, the grant has the potential for stimulating new innovative ways to promote sustainable development at the local level, involving youth participation and livelihoods generation.

At the country level, GEF SGP is governed by the National Steering Committee (NSC), composed by NGOs, governmental and UNDP representatives, and will allocate more than US$2 million until the end of the GEF fifth operational phase. [GEF SGP Press Release]