EIGHT local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)  have been awarded   grants  totalling some  $63M for  environmental and livelihood benefits to communities under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/ Global Environment Facility (GEF), Small Grants Programme.(SGP).

The GEF SGP provides grants directly to CSOs, including Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to design and implement projects that will bring environmental and livelihood benefits to communities.
Mr Ian Kissoon, GEF Small Grants Programme National Coordinator disclosed that priority is given to poor and vulnerable communities in the GEF focal areas of Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change Mitigation,Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and Prevention of Land Degradation,  Reduction and/or Elimination of Persistent Organic Pollutants  (Chemicals) and Protection of International Waters.
In addition, the UNDP said SGP seeks to generate sustainable livelihoods, reduce poverty, and create community empowerment.
The beneficiaries were members of the North Rupununi District Development Board, ( NRDDB) the  Rupununi Conservation Society (RCS) , Global Youth Movement-Guyana, (GYM-G) South Central People’s Development Association (SCPDA) , Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group, (KMCRG)  Guyana Agriculture Producer’s Association (GAPA)  Guyanese Women in Development  (GYWID) and the Aishalton Village Council (AVC)
The sums obtained ranged from $10M GDs to $1M.GD .
Of the beneficiaries for example,  the NRDDB will receive the sum of $9.8M GDs to strengthen their  capacity to support local implementation of fisheries monitoring and management in the North Rupununi Wetlands
This project is intended to develop the capacities of 16 Amerindian communities to manage the Arapaima fish and fisheries of the North Rupununi via capacity building, arapaima surveys, conservation education and awareness, consultations and development of management plans
The South Rupununi Conservation Society is expected to train   Ranger-Researchers in the South Rupununi, in collaboration with the “Ongoing Protection of Red Siskins in South Rupununi” CLP Project
This project, the UNDP said,  with $6.8M GD funding  seeks to protect the Red Siskin bird through capacity development of individuals from the six Amerindian communities where the bird exists in the areas of bird research, tour guiding , ranger training/monitoring, and conservation awareness.
Other projects being funded include a Community Health, Environment and Recycling Project in Region 5  (Mahaica /Berbice) , one for building climate change resilience amongst the 21 communities of the KMCRG, for  safeguarding Katoonarib’s bush island forests through savannah farming in Region 9 , reducing deforestation in Aishalton Village in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) through savannah farming and a community Led Mangrove Restoration project  :Towards Sustainable  Management of Guyana’s Mangrove Forest in Region 5 and  Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne)
Funding is also being provided for capacity building   among poor, rural and vulnerable vegetable farmers , in Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Region 3, (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Region  4 (Demerara/Mahaica) and  Regions 5 and 6  by providing training and setting up demonstration facilities in Hydroponics and Grow Box/ Shade Houses.
The SGP,  funded by GEF, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was established in Guyana last year.
The projects that were awarded  SGP grants  in 2013 were introduced during a ceremony at Cara Lodge last week.

(By Clifford Stanley)