The GEF Small Grants Programme is inviting eligible organisations in Botswana to submit proposals for innovative, inclusive and scalable community-led projects that promote environmental conservation, sustainable development and local partnerships.

The programme is specifically seeking projects that will be implemented outside the three selected Operational Phase 8 (OP8) landscapes:

• Makgadikgadi Wetlands Area
• Bobirwa District
• Panhandle of the Okavango Delta

Projects must address at least one of the programme's three strategic initiatives:

1. Community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species
2. Sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and food security
3. Low-carbon energy access co-benefits

PROGRAMME BACKGROUND

The GEF Small Grants Programme, established in 1992 following the Rio Earth Summit, supports grassroots communities in developing countries to address global environmental challenges while improving local livelihoods and wellbeing. It is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UNDP.

Its GEF focal areas include:

• Biodiversity
• Land degradation
• Climate change
• Sustainable forest management
• International waters
• Chemicals and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

In Botswana, the programme has supported more than 240 projects since its establishment, with an emphasis on community-led initiatives that can contribute to environmental restoration, conservation, livelihoods and sustainable development.

CORE REQUIREMENT — LOCATION OF THE PROJECT

This is one of the most important points for applicants.

The proposed project must be implemented outside the three selected OP8 landscapes:

Not eligible under this call if the proposed project is located in:

Makgadikgadi Wetlands Area

Bobirwa District

Panhandle of the Okavango Delta

The Terms of Reference state that this call is specifically for innovative, community-led projects outside those selected landscapes.

Applicants should therefore verify their proposed project location before developing the full application.

WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE SOUGHT?

Projects must:

• Be innovative.
• Be community-led.
• Have clear environmental benefits.
• Include meaningful community participation.
• Demonstrate social inclusion.
• Have realistic implementation arrangements.
• Show potential for sustainability, replication or scale-up. 

The call is therefore not simply looking for conventional environmental activities. The proposal needs to show how the intervention can produce meaningful environmental and community outcomes and potentially be replicated or scaled.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE 1

Community-Based Conservation of Threatened Ecosystems and Species

The first strategic area focuses on improving biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and management through equitable governance systems that recognise and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Potential approaches include:

• Community-led biodiversity conservation.
• Protection of threatened species.
• Biodiversity-friendly practices.
• Ecosystem management.
• Equitable governance.
• Blue economy approaches.
• Community-based conservation actions.

A strong proposal should therefore demonstrate meaningful participation and decision-making by the communities responsible for or directly affected by the conservation intervention.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE 2

Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries, and Food Security

The second strategic area seeks to improve the:

• Efficiency of food production.
• Sustainability of food production.
• Sustainability of associated value chains.

Projects should also contribute to:

• Livelihood diversification.
• Restoration of degraded land.
• Reduction of deforestation.
• Reduction of environmental pressures associated with agricultural and fisheries value chains.

This means an agricultural or fisheries proposal should demonstrate both productive and environmental benefits, rather than focusing only on production or income generation.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE 3

Low-Carbon Energy Access Co-Benefits

The third strategic area focuses on promoting:

• Renewable technologies.
• Energy-efficient technologies.
• Socio-economic benefits.
• Improved livelihoods.
• Off-grid energy services for rural and urban areas.

Proposals can therefore connect low-carbon energy access with broader livelihood and development outcomes.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The call is open to legally registered non-profit-oriented institutions in Botswana.

Eligible entities include:

• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
• Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
• Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)
• Cooperative Societies
• Academic Institutions
• Research Institutions

WHO CANNOT APPLY?

The Terms of Reference explicitly state that:

• Private-sector entities are not eligible
• Individuals are not eligible

This is important for IBP classification because the opportunity should not be presented as a business or individual entrepreneur funding opportunity.

CONSORTIUM APPLICATIONS

A consortium of CSOs can apply.

Where a consortium applies:

• One CSO must serve as the lead entity.
• The lead entity will be the project executor.
• The lead entity will sign the Low Value Grant (LVG) Agreement.
• Institutional arrangements must clearly define the roles of each consortium member.

This provides an opportunity for complementary Botswana-based organisations to combine expertise, provided the responsibilities and governance arrangements are clear.

ORGANISATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have systems necessary to manage the grant, including evidence of:

• Sound financial management.
• Good governance.
• Project implementation capability.
• Reporting systems.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

The proposal must demonstrate that target beneficiary communities were consulted and participated inclusively in project development.

Applicants must provide:

Support letters demonstrating these consultations.

This means community participation should not be introduced only during implementation; it needs to be reflected in how the project was developed.

PRIORITY FOR INCLUSION

Among proposals that achieve the required technical threshold of 70%, priority will be given to projects demonstrating meaningful:

• Leadership
• Decision-making
• Participation

by:

• Women
• Youth
• Persons with disabilities
• San communities

Applicants must explain the roles these groups played in:

• Project design.
• Implementation.
• Monitoring.
• Benefit sharing.

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTION FOR CURRENT GRANTEES

Organisations that are currently implementing GEF-SGP-supported projects are not eligible for funding under this call.

An organisation may also submit:

Only one proposal at a time.

FUNDING

The maximum grant amount is:

The Botswana Pula equivalent of US$50,000.

Applicants must submit a detailed budget in Botswana Pula, covering the estimated costs of all project components and activities and following the attached proposal-template guidance.

PROJECT DURATION

The proposed project is expected to run for:

2 years

from the date the agreement is signed by both parties.

Applicants are expected to develop realistic implementation timelines that allow the project to be completed:

• Within the approved period.
• Within the approved budget.
• With the intended results and impact. 

FUNDING DISBURSEMENT

The grant is to be disbursed in three instalments:

First payment

50%

Upon signing the Low Value Grant Agreement.

Second payment

40%

Upon approval of the first progress report.

Third payment

10%

Upon approval of the second progress report.

ADMINISTRATIVE / RUNNING COSTS

The budget should include the costs necessary to manage and administer the project.

The programme specifically requires that:

• Monitoring and evaluation costs are included.
• Administrative fees/running costs are between 5% and 15% of the project budget.

PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES

Successful grantees will be expected to:

• Consult with local authorities, target communities, Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) and other relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and implement pilot projects aligned with OP8 strategic initiatives.
• Promote the use of indigenous and traditional knowledge systems.
• Implement approved Annual Work Plans.
• Conduct periodic project site visits.
• Monitor project progress.
• Maintain appropriate financial-management, governance and reporting systems.
• Capture and share best practices and lessons learned.
• Provide timely updates to the National Coordinator.

EXPECTED PROJECT OUTPUTS

Projects will be expected to produce:

Progress Reports

Monthly narrative and financial progress reports covering implementation.

Final Report

A final report documenting:

• Results.
• Desired impacts.

Knowledge Products

At least:

3 knowledge products

for dissemination.

Examples include:

• Guidance notes.
• Toolkits.
• Posters.
• Brochures.
• Video documentaries.
• Short stories/articles.
• Policy briefs.

IMPLEMENTATION LOCATION / DUTY STATION

The grantee will operate from its own operational/business space.

Field missions should be conducted according to approved schedules and budgets.

Importantly:

Rental costs will not be covered by the SGP grants.

PROJECT SUPERVISION

The grantee will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the:

SGP National Coordinator and GEF/SGP National Steering Committee (NSC)

throughout the project.

The organisation is expected to report on:

• Implementation progress.
• Challenges.
• Opportunities.
• New developments that could affect the project or SGP in Botswana.

EVALUATION PROCESS

The proposal assessment consists of:

Stage 1 — Preliminary Evaluation

This examines:

• Grant eligibility.
• Legal registration.
• Capacity to manage and report on funds.

Acknowledgement of receipt of proposals is expected within two weeks after the call closes.

Stage 2 — Technical Evaluation

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) assesses, selects and recommends technically competent proposals to the National Steering Committee (NSC).

The NSC then reviews and recommends technically competent proposals to the UNDP Resident Representative (UNDP RR) for final review and decision.

Subject to satisfactory review, the UNDP Resident Representative signs the Low Value Grant Agreement.

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT AREAS

The technical assessment covers:

Project Rationale & Approach

• Project summary.
• Project justification and baseline.
• Objectives.
• Results and outputs.
• Activities.
• Community and stakeholder participation.
• Inclusion of women, Indigenous Peoples, youth and persons with disabilities.
• Sustainability, scale-up and replication.
• Innovation.
• Knowledge management.

Project Risks, Monitoring & Evaluation

• Project risks.
• Monitoring and evaluation plan.
• Indicators.

Project Budget

• Project budget.
• Cofinancing.

TECHNICAL THRESHOLD

Applicants must achieve at least:

70% of the available technical points

to proceed to the financial assessment.

Projects meeting the technical threshold are then ranked competitively against one another, subject to available funding.

FINANCIAL / BUDGET ASSESSMENT

The financial evaluation examines whether the proposal has:

• A clear and realistic budget.
• Activities that are properly linked to the project aim and objectives.
• Costs that address the identified problem.
• Adequate monitoring and evaluation provisions.

The budget must also comply with the 5%–15% administrative/running-cost range and must not exceed the Botswana Pula equivalent of US$50,000.

INNOVATION

Innovation is explicitly included in the technical assessment.

However, applicants should not assume that technological novelty alone will make a proposal competitive. The assessment framework places innovation alongside:

• Project rationale.
• Community participation.
• Inclusion.
• Sustainability.
• Scale-up and replication.
• Knowledge management.
• Monitoring and evaluation.

COFINANCING

Cofinancing is explicitly included in the budget assessment section. Applicants should therefore address any relevant cofinancing within the proposal and budget documentation.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must submit:

Project proposal + valid proof of registration

in PDF format.

The proposal should be sent by email to:

sgpprocurement.bw@undp.org

REQUIRED EMAIL SUBJECT

Applicants must clearly use:

“Call for GEF/SGP Proposal – Outside OP 8 Landscapes”

as the email heading/subject.

DEADLINE

8 October 2026

12:00 noon Botswana Time

Late applications will not be accepted.

Click HERE to visit the official website.