The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) hereby announces its call for non-governmental NGO/CSO member candidates to the GEF SGP National Steering Committee (NSC).

Background:

The GEF SGP was launched in 1993 in Belize and has invested in 293 projects that have contributed to advancing the national environmental agenda and sustainable human development. The GEF SGP is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as a corporate programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership, and is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The aim of GEF SGP is to deliver global environmental benefits in the GEF focal areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, prevention of land degradation, and phasing out of harmful chemicals through participatory innovative, impactful, and inclusive community-based landscape and seascape approaches. GEF SGP is rooted in the belief that global environmental problems can best be addressed if local and indigenous people are involved fostering nature-positive livelihoods, ownership, and stewardship. Additional information can be access via the GEF SGP 25^th anniversary publication.

The GEF SGP is highly decentralized and implemented in a democratic, transparent, and country-driven manner facilitated by a National Coordinator. GEF SGP grants are awarded based on decisions made by the National Steering Committee (NSC) guided by Country Programme Strategy developed based on national sustainable development priorities aligned to global GEF and UNDP priorities. The NSC is the central element of GEF SGP and provides strategic and substantive contribution to and oversight of the country programme. The NSC comprises of voluntary representatives from diverse groups including national NGOs/community-based organizations (CBOs), government, academia, youth sector, donor organizations and private sector. Majority of members are from the non-governmental sector.

The NSC provides guidance and direction to the country programme, including development, periodic revision and implementation of the country programme strategy, and alignment of GEF global policies and criteria to country circumstances. The NSC conducts monitoring and assesses progress of portfolio activities and contributes to establishing mechanisms for programme sustainability in Belize. The NSC is responsible for reviewing, selecting and approving projects up to US$50,000.00 and assessing their technical and substantive quality for innovation, impact and inclusion following a standard project assessment criterion in response to call for proposals published.

Participation in the NSC is voluntary with NO monetary compensation. The NSC members and CSOs they represent cannot benefit from GEF SGP grants during their tenure of service.

Requirements:

Interested candidates should meet the following requirements:

·       Represent a local or national environmental NGOs/CSOs/CBOs that is legally registered and in good standing in Belize.

·       Have a minimum of 7 years of work experience in the environmental/natural resource management field.

·       Be a member of the executive body of an NGOs/CSOs/CBOs that is officially registered and in legal good standing in Belize, while applying for membership in GEF SGP NSC; and

·       Have a minimum of 5 years of experience in implementation of projects supported by GEF SGP in Belize.

·       One candidate will be selected to represent youth interests and will serve as the Youth Focal Point on the NSC.

Candidates with experience in or specializing in the GEF focal areas – biodiversity, land degradation, international waters, climate change adaptation, mitigation and chemicals management are encouraged to apply. In addition, experts with proven experience in social innovation, impact, and inclusion and/or gender equality are especially encouraged to apply.

Selected candidates will be invited to serve as a member of the NSC for an initial period of three years.  The Terms of Reference for the NSC can be accessed here.

All interested and eligible candidates are requested to send electronic applications to GEF SGP at gefsgp@btl.net with the following documents:

1.     Signed letter of expression of interest to become a member of the GEF SGP NSC.

2.    Curriculum vitae (CV) with two references.

3.    Endorsement letter from the NGO/CSO he/she represents.

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is 30^th November 2021 and should be addressed to:

The National Coordinator

GEF Small Grants Programme

Email: gefsgp@btl.net

Telephone: 822 2462 / 610-8735

For further information regarding the GEF SGP please visit www.sgp.undp.org.