ABUJA – Mrs Halima Mohammed, of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in the Federal Ministry of Environment, on Thursday urged NGOs to ensure sustainability of implemented environmental projects.
Mohammed made the call in Abuja during a two-day workshop for ‘New and Prospective Grantees of GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) implemented by UNDP’.
The GEF-SGP is a corporate programme, implemented by the UNDP and executed by the UN Office for Project Services.
It provides grants to poor and marginalised communities through national NGOs to implement local and environmental initiatives that will also enhance their livelihood while achieving global environmental benefits.
Mohammed said that projects implemented through programmes like the GEF-SPG should be impactful on the lives of the poor and also improve marginalised communities.
“GEF- SGP has established that development aspirations can be compatible and conservation actions if the traditional attitudes of unsustainable exploitation of natural resources are replaced with sustainable efforts.
“We therefore hope that partnering with you all will make every effort to ensure the achievement of GEF-SGP goals by ensuring quality delivery of the projects and making the lives of poor and marginalised communities better.”
Mohammed encouraged the participants at the training to maximise the opportunity in order to enhance the output of their various projects.
According to her, all SGP projects have supported alternative livelihood activities that have helped to reduce pressure on the environment as well as enhance the quality of lives of its beneficiaries. [eap_ad_1] Also speaking, Mrs Ibironke Oluwabamise said that the purpose of the training was to promote understanding of the GEF-SGP among stakeholders.
She said that it would also explain and discuss project implementation strategies, requirements and expectations from all stakeholders, among others.
NAN reports that the GEF-SGP operates in five focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, international waters and Persistent Organic Pollutant.
The agency also reports that over 20 participants were drawn from various NGOs across the states of the federation. (NAN)
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