The Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Facility (GEF SGP) in Kazakhstan, working under the auspices of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), as part of the Seventh Operational Phase of work, announces the acceptance of project applications for participation in the grant competition.
Applications are accepted only from registered Kazakhstani non-profit non-governmental public organizations (NGOs). Project proposals from government agencies and enterprises, commercial structures (LLP, etc.) and research organizations are not accepted for consideration.
Project proposals should be aimed at the implementation of activities in one of the 2 thematic areas:
Mitigation of the effects of climate change;
Reduction of land degradation processes.
Project activities should be aimed at implementing measures that reduce the negative impact on steppe, semi-desert or desert ecosystems. Geographically, design work should be concentrated in rural and suburban areas of the following regions: Kostanay, Akmola, Karaganda, Ulytau, Kyzylorda, Almaty, Zhetysu, Turkestan, East Kazakhstan and Abai. Regional centers, as well as the cities of Shymkent, Astana and Almaty, cannot be the place of implementation of the announced projects.
Projects should include mechanisms and measures to improve the well-being of local communities (including groups such as women, youth, vulnerable groups) and their active involvement in the implementation of the project. Projects based on network partnership and joint implementation of project activities by several NGOs are welcome.
The amount of grant funding should not exceed 50,000 US dollars. Project implementation period: no more than 12 months.
Additional priorities in the selection of projects[1]
The following priority areas will be taken into account when selecting projects within the framework of this competition:
Innovation and complexity of the project: the degree of novelty of the project for the region, including the introduction of new technologies and methods of organizing resources, improving interaction within the community, as well as the creation of original products and services.
Project sustainability: the technologies and approaches proposed for demonstration should be scalable.
Geographical coverage: Projects implemented in Kostanay region.
Mitigation of the effects of climate change: Promotion of renewable energy sources, introduction of energy-saving technologies, thermal modernization, etc.
Partnerships and cooperation: Projects implemented in partnership with other donors, development organizations and programs, the private sector, etc.
Social inclusion: Projects aimed at women, youth and other socially vulnerable groups.
The dates of the grant competition are from November 26 to December 09, 2024.
Within the framework of the Seventh Operational Phase of the GEF SGP, a component on capacity building and advisory support for grantees is provided. For more information, see appendix 1.
For more information, you can contact the GEF Small Grants Program by e-mail sgp.kz@undp.org
Those wishing to participate in the competition should send their project proposals according to the attached format by e-mail sgp.kz@undp.org
More detailed information on training, project categories, possible activities within each topic, project selection criteria, project proposal format, etc. materials related to this competition can be found in the appendices to this announcement:
Appendix 1. Online training and consulting support
Appendix 2: Possible activities and project selection criteria
Appendix 3: The format of the project proposal
[1] Projects must comply with the conditions of the Small Grants Program, while preference will be given to projects with appropriate additional priorities.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ecogeo/press/news/details/890802