Financial grants of up to US$50,000 are now available for local organisations to implement projects that conserve the natural environment while strengthening community resilience and improving livelihoods.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Small Grants Programme (SGP), with funding from the Government of Australia and the Global Environment Facility, has issued a national Call for Proposals for civil society groups, community-based and church-based organisations, NGOs, and local communities. Eligible projects may focus on terrestrial and marine biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, reversing land degradation, sustainable forest management, water resource management, and waste management.
This funding launch marks the start of two key initiatives: the GEF-SGP OP-8 and the SAMOA CARES: Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities Together project, delivered in partnership with the Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).
Speaking at an outreach workshop for applicants in Upolu on 12 September 2025, MNRE Chief Executive Officer Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown Reupena highlighted that “SAMOA CARES is about Communities, Adaptation, Resilience, Ecosystems, and Sustainability — a simple, yet powerful, message recognizing that climate resilience is not only about protecting the environment, but also about strengthening livelihoods through sustainable means: improving food and water security, supporting eco-friendly enterprises, minimizing waste, and ensuring that development today safeguards the needs of tomorrow.”
The Government of Australia has contributed AU$2 million to support the SAMOA CARES Sustainable Village Initiative, implemented by MNRE through the SGP. Claire McGeechan, Acting High Commissioner of Australia, emphasized that the SGP provides a vital channel for climate finance to reach those on the frontlines of climate change, ensuring local priorities can be directly supported with tangible outcomes.
UNDP Resident Representative Aliona Niculita underscored the importance of durable partnerships with the Government of Australia and MNRE to strengthen national capacities and address environmental and climate challenges in Samoa.
Workshops in Upolu and Savaii, scheduled through September, are guiding potential applicants in preparing proposals that meet SGP requirements.
Established in 1992, the SGP has a long record of supporting innovative, community-led projects that conserve and restore the environment while improving the wellbeing and livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Past initiatives have included renewable energy development, improved waste management, village pool restoration, and capacity building in agriculture and apiculture—demonstrating how small grants can create lasting, sustainable impacts at the local level.
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