GEF SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME UNDP UGANDA

Call for Proposals for

The Community Development and Knowledge Management of the Satoyama Initiative (COMDEKS Phase 4)

A: Background

The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) implemented by UNDP and executed by UNOPS supports community-based initiatives, which aim at securing global environmental benefits through community-level actions in the GEF focal areas of biodiversity conservation; climate change mitigation & adaptation, protection of international waters, reversal/prevention of land degradation, and chemicals, waste and mercury management.

The Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme (COMDEKS Phase 4) is a flagship programme of the Satoyama Initiative, being funded by the Ministry of Environment Japan and the Keidanren Nature Conservation Council and being implemented by the GEF Small Grants Programme at the United Nations Development Programme. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability are key partners supporting Phase 4 implementation.

THE COMDEKS Country Programme Landscape Strategy for Uganda aims at guiding the implementation of community-based projects to attain resilient development. The socio-ecological landscape selected for the implementation of COMDEKS occupies much of the northern Stronko watershed portion extending from the lowlands in Kumi District of Teso Sub-region to Upland in Bulambuli district on Mt. Elgon in Uganda.

THE COMDEKS Country programme Landscape Strategy for Uganda under Operational Phase 7 (OP7) has prioritized four outcomes. These are:

1. Degraded biodiversity and ecosystem services are restored through participatory land use planning and multi-functional systems
2. Livelihoods and well-being in the landscapes improved through development of ecologically sound and community owned income generating enterprises in compliance with local tradition and culture
3. Ecologically sound agricultural production system in the target landscape is strengthened for sustainable increase crop yield and productivity
4. Appropriate governance mechanisms constituted and strengthened for effective participatory decision making at the landscape level

The following landscapes are selected interventions that would help to achieve the GEF focal areas mentioned above:

• Lowland flood plains of Teso
• Low-Midland slopes of Mt. Elgon
• Upland agricultural and conservation area of Mt. Elgon

Potential projects are to be implemented considering each identified outcome. Interventions will be prioritized considering complexity of the problems and nature of the terrain.

Resources available for implementation of activities under the COMDEKS Country programme Landscape Strategy for Uganda committed to projects that contribute to “attainment, maintenance and restoration of functional socio-ecological production landscapes, conserve biodiversity, enhance ecological and institutional landscape connectivity and improve local livelihoods.

The GEF SGP grants will be in conformity with the COMDEKS Country programme Landscape Strategy for Uganda.

B: Call for Proposals

Proposals are invited from eligible applicants that fulfil the criteria below:

1. Diversification of land-use types
2. Conservation of ecosystem patches and improvement of connectivity
3. Protection of landscape components maintaining ecosystem functions and services
4. Usage and conservation of local crops, varieties, breeds and species
5. Diversification of locally sourced foods
6. Diversifying production system
7. Restoring watershed
8. Encouraging sustainable landscape management (SLM)
9. Checking/reversing deforestation
10. Connecting livelihood strategies to ecosystem protection/conservation
11. Addressing multiple threats or needs
12. Addressing innovation areas
13. Affecting the entire site
14. Replication potential

PLEASE use guidelines and proposal template of GEF SGP that can be obtained through requests to the following email address: johnkwe@unops.org

C: Contact Information for Submission of Proposals

Application should be submitted electronically to abubakerkwe@unops.org no later than 5:00PM on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 and addressed to:

The National Coordinator

GEF Small Grants Programme

Plot 18 Shimoni Road, Suite A3

P.O. Box 7184, Kampala, Uganda