As the Eighth Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly came to a closing earlier this month in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a clear message emerged: accelerating progress towards achieving the global goals of the 2030 Agenda requires empowering local communities on the frontlines of the climate and biodiversity crises. At the heart of this approach is the GEF Small Grants Program (SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which showcased its critical role in connecting local action to global impact during the GEF Assembly.
While the planetary emergency is global, its impacts are experienced locally, with rural communities facing some of the largest threats from ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, especially the more than two billion people who depend on agriculture, grasslands, fisheries and forests for their livelihoods. At the same time, the solutions to these interlinked crises can also be found locally—the active participation of local communities and civil society in addressing them holds the key to promoting effective stewardship of the environment and achieving sustainable development.
The UNDP and SGP team at the 8th GEF Assembly.
SGP has been providing financial and technical support to civil society and community-based organizations at the local level to drive initiatives that address global environmental issues while improving livelihoods for over 30 years. By connecting grassroots efforts from around the world into a strategic, integrated portfolio, SGP ensures that community solutions can be replicated and scaled—demonstrating the power of local action to create global impact.
Throughout the GEF Assembly, SGP demonstrated the power of a "whole-of-society" approach. SGP grantees were at the forefront, bringing community voices into global conversations through panels, an Eco-Expo showcasing local innovations, and direct engagement with policymakers. This emphasis on inclusion was a key theme at the Civil Society Forum, where grassroots representatives advocated for greater direct access to finance and a stronger role in decision-making.
The experience was empowering for those who represent community organizations on the ground. Olivia Patterson Maura, an SGP grantee from the Bahamas, shared: “The 8th GEF Assembly in Uzbekistan was an amazing opportunity to connect with partners at the GEF and to learn more about the reach of the GEF and SGP. Friends of the Environment is proud to be part of the collective of CSOs making an impact around the world through SGP! Personally, I am honored to have been included as a representative SGP grantee and grateful for the opportunity to be able to contribute to discussions on ways to expand the impact of SGP and the GEF in future years.”
The SGP Global Manager, Slobodan Tadic, and SGP grantees at the flagship event.
During the Assembly, SGP held a flagship event to share experiences from the country level and highlight how GEF‑8 innovations, especially SGP’s expanded partnerships, can accelerate local action and unlock greater environmental and social impact. The event also featured the launch of a new SGP logo and the SGP Global Knowledge and Learning Platform, a tool designed to strengthen knowledge sharing and scale up successful local initiatives in GEF-8 and beyond with the three SGP implementing agencies (UNDP, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Conservation International). These new milestones launched in Samarkand mark a major step forward in SGP’s role as the essential bridge between global environmental targets and grassroots action. As the Assembly concluded, the path forward is clear: local action is the ultimate catalyst for sustained global impact.