Call for Proposal
Proposal to implement community-driven sustainability initiatives through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) Operational Phase Eight (OP8)
The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP, supports community-led initiatives that address global environmental challenges while improving local livelihoods.
In Malaysia, the programme has supported 294 community-based projects over the past 26 years, with USD 10.9 million in total grant commitments and USD 18.8 million in project-level co-financing from partners, communities, and stakeholders.
The Eighth Operational Phase (OP8) builds on over 30 years of global experience and introduces a stronger focus on integrated landscape and seascape approaches. This approach recognises that environmental challenges are interconnected and require collaboration across ecosystems, sectors, and communities.
Under OP8, SGP Malaysia will support community-driven initiatives that protect biodiversity, strengthen livelihoods, and enhance resilience, while delivering global environmental benefits.
This Call for Proposals invites local organisations and communities to lead solutions grounded in local realities and knowledge.
Proposals should align with the following Strategic Priorities:
- Community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species
- Improve the effectiveness of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and management through equitable governance systems by recognizing and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
- Improve community-led biodiversity friendly practices and approaches, including promoting blue economy approaches (e.g. agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, infrastructure, etc.).
- Enhance community led actions for protection of threatened species.
- Sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and food security
- Increase efficiency and effectiveness of overall food production and value chain, including in vulnerable ecosystems (mountains, island ecosystems, etc.).
- Increase diversification and livelihood improvement.
- Remove deforestation from the supply chain and expand restoration of degraded lands.
Priority will be given to projects located in the following landscapes and seascapes:
- Pahang: Kuantan, Jerantut, Maran, Temerloh, Pekan, Bera, Rompin
- Johor: Mersing, Kota Tinggi
- Sabah: Kudat, Kota Kinabalu, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Ranau
- Sarawak: Asajaya, Kuching, Samarahan, Lubok Antu, Betong, Pusa, Sri Aman, Simunjan, Lundu, Bau, Serian
70% of projects will be supported within these priority landscapes/seascapes and up to 30% of projects may be supported outside these areas, subject to the following conditions:
- Primary Condition:
- Projects must align with at least one of the two selected OP8 Strategic Priorities
- Projects must demonstrate clear contributions to programme outcomes
- Additional Priority Considerations:
- Projects that meaningfully engage and benefit women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities (IPLCs)
- Projects located within or directly supporting OP7 landscapes, where these areas are not selected as OP8 priority landscapes/seascapes
Grant Type: Regular
Amount: up to USD 75,000
Purpose: Community-led project Implementation
Eligible entities include national:
- Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)
- Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
- Civil Society Organisations (CSO), including academic/training institutions
- Social Enterprises
- Indigenous Peoples’ organisations
- Women and Youth Groups
- Persons with disabilities
- Communities
Applicants for SGP grants that have not yet established a formal organization or association, or do not yet have a banking arrangement, are required to open a dedicated bank account with at least three signatories for the implementation of the project.
Government institutions, including public academic institutions, state-owned enterprises and international organizations are not eligible to receive SGP grants.
Proposals must:
- Be community-driven and locally led
- Align with OP8 strategic priorities and SGP Country Programme Strategy
- Be located within or clearly linked to priority landscapes/seascapes
- Demonstrate clear environmental and socio-economic benefits
- Include co-financing or in-kind contributions, where possible
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Strategic Alignment
- Alignment with at least one of the SGP Strategic Priorities:
- Community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species
- Sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and food security
- Contribution to at least one of the relevant GEF focal areas below:
- Biodiversity
- Climate Change Mitigation
- Land Degradation/ Sustainable Land and Forest Management
- Chemical and Waste Management
- International Waters
- Alignment with at least one of the SGP Strategic Priorities:
- Environmental Impact
- Clear potential to contribute to targets on global environmental benefits
- Contribution to one or more GEF measurable results indicators
- Community Ownership & Relevance
- Community-driven and locally led
- Addresses real needs and priorities of the community
- Demonstrates strong participation and ownership
- Gender Equality
- Promotes meaningful participation and leadership of women
- Demonstrates how the project will deliver benefits for women
- Integrates gender considerations into project design and implementation
- Social Inclusion & Livelihood Benefits
- Meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, and vulnerable groups
- Integration of socio-economic benefits such as livelihoods or food security
- Project Design & Approach
- Clear and logical project design
- Inclusion of relevant components (e.g. capacity-building, awareness, knowledge sharing)
- Simple results framework and monitoring plan
- Sustainability & Feasibility
- Potential for long-term impact and replication
- Realistic activities, timeline, and budget
- Co-financing or partnerships (where possible)
- Knowledge Management
- Plans to capture, share and disseminate the knowledge, lessons learned, and good practices gained through the implementation of the project.
Applicants are required to submit a Full Project Proposal. The proposal should include:
- Project objectives and rationale
- Alignment with Strategic Priorities and the Country Programme Strategies
- Expected environmental results (GEF focal areas)
- Community needs and stakeholder engagement
- Detailed activities and implementation plan
- Target beneficiaries
- Results framework and monitoring plan
- Budget and timeline
At a minimum, proposals must:
- Deliver concrete and measurable results
- Address both environmental priorities and community needs
All submitted proposals will be screened based on eligibility and evaluation criteria, in line with the Country Programme Strategy (CPS).
A long list of all eligible proposals will be compiled and presented to the National Steering Committee (NSC) for review.
Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for clarifications or further refinement of their proposals and may receive guidance from the SGP Secretariat.
Final of projects will be made by the NSC, based on the evaluation criteria outlined above.
Submit proposals to sgp.my@undp.org
Deadline : Sunday, 7 June 2026, 11.59 PM Malaysian Time
Deadline : Sunday, 7 June 2026, 11.59 PM Malaysian Time