COMDEKS Phase 4

Newsletter

Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme — empowering local communities to protect biodiversity, address climate change, and build resilient livelihoods.

2022-2027

Timeframe

¥1B

Total Funding

15

Countries

17

SDGs Aligned

About COMDEKS

The Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme (COMDEKS) was launched in 2011 as a flagship programme of the Satoyama Initiative, a global effort to promote the sustainable use of natural resources in landscapes and seascapes with local communities whose livelihoods and cultural heritage depend on them.

The COMDEKS programme provides small-scale finance directly to local communities, Indigenous Peoples and civil society to implement locally-led projects that improve livelihoods and well-being, conserve biodiversity, address climate change, build resilience and support local cultures and practices.

Launched in 2022, COMDEKS Phase 4 is funded by the Ministry of Environment Japan (MOEJ) and the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), and implemented by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Photo Credit: Sascha Ali

COMDEKS: In Harmony with Nature

Discover how communities around the world are blending traditional knowledge with modern innovation to protect biodiversity and foster sustainable livelihoods through the COMDEKS programme. From Bhutan's highlands to Japan's Satoyama landscapes, this story showcases how small-scale, community-led efforts can drive global environmental impact.

Photo Credit: SGP UNDP Peru

Seeding the Future: Conserving Agrobiodiversity in the Peruvian Andes

High in Peru's Ácora district, Aymara communities are fighting climate change by reviving ancient seeds and traditions. Extreme droughts and frosts have devastated crops, threatening food security and livelihoods. In response, women leaders like Pascuala Pari and Fanny Ninaraqui are spearheading seed banks to conserve native grains and tubers.

Photo Credit: SGP UNDP Bhutan

From Plastic to Purpose: Women of Laya Drive Circular Economy in Bhutan

In Bhutan's remote Laya community, women are leading the fight against plastic pollution. Supported by the SGP and UNDP through COMDEKS Phase 4, SHE Cycle Solutions launched a plastic management campaign in July 2025 reaching over 400 residents.

Photo Credit: SGP Kyrgyzstan Snow Leopard Foundation

Resilience Reimagined: Landscape Conservation in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Basin

In Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Basin, communities are driving landscape restoration through the COMDEKS Programme. Using the Resilience Indicator Toolkit, local residents, including women, youth, and eco-activists, assessed five key areas of socio-ecological resilience.

Photo Credit: SGP Nepal

Lower Tamor, Nepal: A Blueprint for Sustainable Landscapes

COMDEKS Phase 4 is breathing new life into Nepal's Lower Tamor landscape, a biodiversity hotspot and cultural stronghold. Aligned to global and national biodiversity frameworks, the COMDEKS landscape strategy blends ecosystem restoration, climate-smart livelihoods, inclusive governance and traditional knowledge.

Photo Credit: Gregoire Dubois

Tanzania's Kolo Hills: Where Nature, Culture, and Community Resilience Intersect

Tanzania's Kolo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a stunning landscape of rugged escarpments, ancient rock art, and vital forests that sustain communities and wildlife. COMDEKS Phase 4 is driving change through community-led action: restoring forests, promoting climate-smart farming, and creating eco-tourism opportunities.

April 2025 • Tokyo, Japan

Seminar on Locally-led Landscape Approaches

KNCC, MOEJ and UNDP held an event in Tokyo to highlight the public-private partnership for COMDEKS Phase 4 and raise awareness of the Satoyama Initiative. The event presented first-hand insights on COMDEKS implementation from Cameroon, Costa Rica and Türkiye.

April 2025 • Japan

COMDEKS Knowledge Exchange: Learning from Japan's Satoyama Sites

Three SGP National Coordinators visited Japan's Satoyama landscapes to learn how traditional farming practices, like wasabi and green tea cultivation, support biodiversity, climate resilience, and cultural heritage.

July 2025 • New York

High-Level Political Forum 2025: Building Sustainable Communities

SGP held a side event with key partners to highlight the role of COMDEKS in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and key targets under the Global Biodiversity Framework. The event featured civil society and community leaders from Morocco, Kyrgyzstan and Bhutan.

June 2025 • Online

Harnessing Digital Innovation for Local Conservation

SGP and UNDP hosted an online workshop with COMDEKS country teams to explore how digital tools can strengthen locally-led conservation efforts, focusing on biodiversity mapping, smart data collection, and mobile applications.

COMDEKS Phase 4

Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme. Empowering communities to protect biodiversity and build resilient livelihoods since 2011.

Contact:
304 E 45th Street, UNDP, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10017, USA
Email: sgp.info@undp.org