Community-Based REDD+ (CBR+) Grant

About this grant

The Community-Based REDD+ (CBR+) programme is a partnership initiative of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) that supports community-led efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). The programme provides financial and technical support to local communities, indigenous peoples, and civil society organisations to implement activities that conserve and sustainably manage forests while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CBR+ aligns with the broader REDD+ framework under the UNFCCC and seeks to ensure that forest-dependent communities are central actors in climate mitigation efforts. The programme addresses the problem of deforestation and forest degradation, which are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions and threaten biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on forests. By channelling small grants to grassroots organisations, CBR+ seeks to demonstrate that community action can achieve measurable emissions reductions while simultaneously supporting sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. Activities supported under CBR+ typically include community forest monitoring and management, sustainable forest use practices, capacity building for local groups, engagement with national REDD+ processes, and the documentation of traditional knowledge related to forest stewardship. The programme is implemented through the GEF SGP's global network and is designed to complement national REDD+ strategies by ensuring community voices and interests are represented.

Eligibility

Applicants are typically community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, indigenous peoples' groups, and local civil society organisations operating in countries where the GEF Small Grants Programme is active and where CBR+ activities are supported. The programme targets forest-dependent communities and groups engaged in or affected by REDD+ processes. Eligibility is generally limited to organisations working at the grassroots or community level rather than large international NGOs. Specific country and community eligibility may vary depending on the national SGP country programme and the availability of CBR+ funding windows in that country.

How it's scored

The page does not provide specific evaluation or scoring criteria for the CBR+ programme. Applications under the GEF SGP are generally assessed based on alignment with GEF focal area objectives (particularly climate change mitigation and sustainable forest management), community participation and ownership, potential for environmental and livelihood co-benefits, feasibility of the proposed activities, and the capacity of the applying organisation to implement the project. No further detail on panel composition or weightings is available from this page.

Key requirements

• ✓Community-based implementation with focus on forest-dependent populations
• ✓REDD+ activities reducing emissions from deforestation and/or forest degradation
• ✓Demonstrated livelihood co-benefits for participating communities
• ✓Alignment with GEF Small Grants Programme eligibility criteria

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for Community-Based REDD+ (CBR+)?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; nonprofit, community-group, indigenous-community, local-authority, social-enterprise. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Forestry funding supports afforestation, reforestation, sustainable forest management and avoided deforestation. Money flows from climate finance, nature programmes, results-based payments and corporate buyers of forest carbon. Calls typically require land tenure clarity, community engagement and a credible plan to monitor tree survival over time.