Land Degradation Grant

About this grant

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) Land Degradation focal area provides financial and technical support to community-level projects that address land degradation challenges. The focal area is informed by the findings of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessments and supports activities that conserve and restore degraded land while enhancing people's well-being and livelihoods. The programme embodies the principle of 'thinking globally, acting locally,' recognising that community action is essential to maintaining the balance between human needs and environmental imperatives. Established in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, the SGP operates in over 125 countries and channels grants directly to civil society organisations and community-based groups. Under the Land Degradation focal area, supported activities typically include sustainable land management practices, rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems, restoration of soil productivity, and reduction of desertification and erosion, particularly in arid and semi-arid landscapes. The programme is administered by UNDP on behalf of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and integrates land degradation work with complementary themes such as biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, sustainable forest management, and international waters. Projects are expected to generate both global environmental benefits and local socio-economic co-benefits for participating communities.

Eligibility

Grants are available to civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), and indigenous peoples' groups working at the local and community level. Applicants must be operating in one of the eligible SGP programme countries, which span Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab States, and Europe and the CIS. National and international NGOs may apply, but the programme prioritises grassroots community-based entities. Organisations must demonstrate a focus on environmental conservation or sustainable development activities aligned with one or more GEF focal areas, including land degradation.

How it's scored

Applications are assessed based on their potential to generate measurable global environmental benefits in GEF focal areas, particularly land degradation. Projects are also evaluated on community participation and empowerment, potential for poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement, gender inclusivity, alignment with national environmental priorities and GEF strategies, and prospects for replication and scaling up. The SGP Country Programme operates through a National Steering Committee that reviews and approves grants at the country level.

Key requirements

• ✓Community-based project addressing land degradation and restoration
• ✓Alignment with Millennium Ecosystems Assessment framework
• ✓Demonstrated livelihood co-benefits and sustainability outcomes
• ✓Small-scale, grassroots implementation model

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does GEF Small Grants Programme offer?

Land Degradation offers $50K.

Who can apply for Land Degradation?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL-SOUTH, AFRICA, ASIA, LATAM; nonprofit, community-group, local-authority, indigenous-community. 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.