The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by UNDP, is currently in its seventh operational phase, focusing on the landscapes of Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo National Reserves, the Samburu-Isiolo Conservation Area, and the biodiversity-rich marine ecosystem seascapes of Shimoni-Vanga and Bodo-Mwandamu in Kwale County, Kenya. The objective of GEF-SGP 7 is:
“To enhance and maintain socio-ecological resilience of these ecologically sensitive landscapes and seascapes of global and national significance, through community-based actions for global environmental benefits and sustainable development.”
This objective will be delivered through two components:
- Resilient rural landscapes for sustainable development and contribution to global environmental protection
- Landscape governance and adaptive management for upscaling and replication
Key Activities and Tasks of CANCO as a Strategic Partner
In GEF-SGP 7, Community Action for Nature Conservation (CANCO) is the strategic partner for the Shimoni-Vanga and Bodo-Mwandamu seascape in Kwale County. As a strategic partner, CANCO will facilitate and carry out several activities and tasks, including but not limited to:
- Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
- Coordinate GEF SGP activities at the landscape/seascape level among CSOs and other stakeholders.
- Facilitate the coordination and strengthening of the seascapes’ multi-stakeholder platform (MSP) focusing on governance, leadership, effectiveness, and sustainability.
- Baseline Assessment and Strategy Development
- Undertake a participatory baseline assessment and develop a site strategy.
- Proposal Development and Inclusivity
- Provide support to CSOs and CBOs in proposal development.
- Promote inclusivity by supporting proposal development by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Youth, Indigenous Peoples, and women.
- Ensure that CBOs and CSOs proposals are developed as per the GEF-SGP format.
- Project Implementation and Monitoring
- Provide support to grantees during project implementation.
- Conduct regular monitoring exercises using agreed-upon tools to ensure community-driven projects achieve expected outputs, outcomes, and results.
- Government Liaison and Alignment
- Liaise with the County Government to align SGP-funded activities with County priorities as stipulated in the pro-doc.
- Keep the County Government abreast of project implementation progress through reports and regular meetings with relevant focal points.
- Synergy and Leveraging Opportunities
- Tap into opportunities for synergy and leverage with other Development Partners, ongoing County Government and National Government projects, programs, and MSP members in the land/seascape.
- Capacity Building and Community Monitoring
- Work closely with a capacity-building partner supported by SGP to develop, review, and update a participatory community-based monitoring tool.
- Guide community members in using the monitoring tool effectively and follow up with regular monitoring and evaluation actions.
- Participate in the development, review, and implementation of the SGP capacity-building training manual for CBOs and CSOs.
- Reporting and Knowledge Management
- Prepare and submit narrative and financial reports on a quarterly basis for the respective landscape/seascape with input from stakeholders as per agreed-upon reporting frameworks and tools.
- Liaise with SGP grantees, MSP members, and the SGP Secretariat to produce, manage, store, and share knowledge management materials regularly and with Government and SGP agreed-upon branding.
- Visibility and Communication
- Organize regular visibility events such as eco-fairs and exhibitions.
- Develop, use, and share communication material such as brochures, newsletters, and short but high-impact videos throughout the life of the projects, ensuring agreed-upon branding.
