Ahead of the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held in Mongolia in August 2026, representatives from the GEF Small Grants Program (SGP) travelled across the country’s vast rangelands. Their goal was to meet the people behind some of Mongolia’s longest-running, community-led environmental initiatives. Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992, SGP provides financial and technical support to locally-led initiatives that address global environmental issues while improving livelihoods.
“We must ensure that global investments in climate action, biodiversity, and land restoration reach communities, because local solutions are already in place and communities are leading the work on the ground as active decision-makers and innovators.”—Slobodan Tadic, SGP Global Manager
During the field trip, the SGP team visited the base of Partnership for Development, which started as an informal network of community organizations in 2012. Since then, it has grown to connect thousands of members from communities across multiple provinces. With SGP support, Partnership for Development has promoted community gardens, tree planting, and beekeeping initiatives, among others.
A beekeeping initiative that started under partnership for Development. Photo: SGP
Today, its main activities include volunteerism, community leadership and peer-to-peer learning for communities to exchange experiences and knowledge while supporting local solutions to a wide range of environmental and economic challenges. “Our goal has always been simple: to improve livelihoods through nature-friendly products while protecting the ecosystems on which our communities depend,” explained the network’s Community Organization Chair, Erdenechimeg Baasandorj.
Zucchinis grown and harvested by one of the first member farmers of Partnership for Development. Photo: SGP
Planting seeds for long-term growth
The lasting impact of small grants became clear during the field trip. SGP-supported initiatives, some of which received their first grants nearly 20 years ago, have continued to grow long after their original projects were completed. One striking example was a borehole and wind powered pump installed with support from SGP around two decades ago. Still in use today, it continues to provide a cost-effective and reliable quality water supply to the local community.
The borehole installed with SGP support 20 years ago and still in use today. Photo: SGP
For the SGP team in Mongolia, this was a key lesson: sustainability is not only measured at the end of a project, but rather in how communities continue to benefit and grow with it in years to come.
From local action to the global stage
The connection between local action and global dialogue was a key theme at COP17, where communities supported by SGP across Mongolia shared their experiences. Representing Partnership for Development at the event, Erdenechimeg explained how communities across Mongolia have learned from one another over the years, showing that local action can grow into lasting change.
"What stood out the most to me at COP17 was the pride and excitement that communities felt in sharing their achievements. Their projects demonstrate how local action can protect ecosystems, empower marginalized groups, and drive real change, while giving communities a voice and a seat in global conversations like this.”—Otgonsuren Avirmed, SGP National Coordinator in Mongolia.
High-level representatives from UNDP visited the SGP pavilion at COP17, where Partnership for Development presetned their work. Photo: SGP
Held during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, COP17 provided a vital platform for these voices. Pastoral communities, like those in Mongolia, steward around half of the Earth's land surface across a variety of grassland and rangeland ecosystem. “But in comparison with forests, rangelands have not yet received the same attention at the global level. UNCCD COP17 has been a tremendous success in elevating the voices of pastoralists and positioning their role as land and nature stewards,” noted Terence Hay-Edie, Programme Specialist at UNDP and SGP.