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Issue 2 | December 2025
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COMDEKS Phase 4
Newsletter
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Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme — empowering local communities to protect biodiversity, address climate change, and build resilient livelihoods.
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2022-2027
Timeframe
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¥1B
Total Funding
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15
Countries
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17
SDGs Aligned
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Nepal
Viet Nam
Bhutan
Cambodia
Samoa
Kyrgyzstan
Morocco
Türkiye
Jamaica
Peru
Costa Rica
Cameroon
Ghana
Tanzania
Uganda
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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).
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Biodiversity Conservation
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Climate Resilience
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Community Empowerment
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Traditional Knowledge
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Our Stories
Discover how communities around the world are blending traditional knowledge with modern innovation to protect biodiversity and foster sustainable livelihoods.
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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Events & Activities
Key gatherings, workshops, and knowledge exchanges that bring together communities, experts, and partners to advance the COMDEKS mission.
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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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.
Read More →
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Videos
Watch stories from the field showcasing COMDEKS impact across different landscapes and seascapes.
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▶ High-Level Political Forum 2025
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▶ Samsun Wetland, Türkiye
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▶ Bogo Landscape, Cameroon
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▶ Nicoya Gulf, Costa Rica
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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
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Funded by
Ministry of Environment Japan (MOEJ) • Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF)
Implemented by
GEF Small Grants Programme • UNDP
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