Applications Invited for GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP)

Follow us@ngobox

About the Organization

UNOPS provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services for a more sustainable world.

We combine the best of the UN and the private sector to ensure our partners maximize the positive impact of their peace and security, humanitarian and development projects – with equality, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience as the foundations of our work.

About the Grant

SGP is calling for proposals based on a new grant making modality to be administered at the global level. This is in addition to similar ‘Call for Proposals’ (CFP) which are undertaken by national level SGP country programmes. The principles under which this CFP will work is based on the interest of fairness, transparency and integrity. This modality is recommended as the most appropriate solicitation method for announcing available grant support under the competitive selection method. The selection will be undertaken by a committee whose decisions will be final. The eligible entities who may wish to pursue further information related to their bids may follow the UNOPS advisory related to this call for proposals.

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992. SGP grant-making in over 125 countries promotes community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable development projects of communities’ local civil society organizations with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth. SGP projects support biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, prevention of land degradation, protection of international waters, and reduction of the impact of chemicals, within a sustainable development framework that promotes sustainable livelihoods and citizen empowerment.

Under the 7th Operational Phase of SGP, one of the key strategic initiaves is on Chemical and Waste Management as well as on promoting Sustainable Urban Solutions, including plastics management. SGP is working closely with the concerned GEF Secretariat team, UNDP Plastic Offer and other partners on the issue. Plastics have become an integral part of our daily life: the packaging industry has the most intensive use of plastics, but also agriculture, textiles, transportation and consumer products have a supply chain that is filled with plastic. If we do not reimagine and reset our current consumption patterns and waste management practices, by 2050 there will be about 12 billion tons of plastic litter in landfills and the natural environment.  It takes whole-of-society to address one of the most prominent environment and health crises of our time.

Unsustainable practices and behaviors in the production, use and disposal of plastics are fundamental drivers to plastic pollution crisis we are facing. Responding to those practices and behaviors can transform the system towards sustainability. Behaviors are difficult to change. Informed by academic and research on behavior change, there are six strategic levers to shift behaviors:

• material incentives;
• rules and regulations;
• information;
• context in which choices are made;
• emotional appeals;
• social influence

Objective

SGP is looking for a civil society, non-governmental and non-profit partner, including university or research institute to collaborate in providing global technical guidance and support in the development and implementation of behavior change activities in plastics and waste management. The selected partner organization should have a track record of behavior change research and application. There is a need to transfer global cutting-edge knowledge in this area into national and local actions, and support the experimentation, monitoring and further refining of tools, methodologies and processes of behavior change initiatives.     

Grant Size

Grant funding available for the activity is up to a maximum of US$ 150,000, with an expected duration of 18-24 months.

Scope of Work

SGP is developing a global plastics and behavior change program in ten communities and cities in ten countries, with the following targeted behaviors:

• Government: improved policy and regulations (bans, import restrictions and fiscal/monetary policies). Organize National Task Forces on Plastics Policy.
• Private Sector: responsible production, better design and pay for pollution. Plastics data/information (PlasticsApp). Develop Plastics App to analyze sources, quantity, and types of plastics.
• Society: no littering, improved collection and waste management. Whole of Society Clean-up (an integrated clean-up and waste management plan). Monthly Clean-up Day.

Key activities of this program include:

• Long term Clean-up Campaign: Local to global whole of society clean-up campaign (e.g. clean-up day replicating Rwanda model) that are sustainable and long lasting that lead to behavial change. Aim to remove 100,000 metric tons of plastic waste from the environment.
• Science: connecting citizen science, universities and global data platform to collect site-specific country based data with global presentation and consolidation, including alternative to plastics (connecting ten national universities with a global research institute in a global platform, connecting citizen science to scientific community)
• Policy: national policy dialogues linking to global legal instrument negotiation
• Behavior change: methodology development/implementation, questionnaires and research to monitor behavior change.

Eligibility

• A nonprofit entity (universities, research institutes or non-governmental organizations) with demonstrated expertise and experiences in behavior change research, experiment and practices. 
• Ability to develop tools, training and communications materials to enhance the capacity of partner universities/entities to undertake a coherent behavior change experiment/project.
• Experience in organizing training, workshops and meetings to transfer knowledge and facilitate learning and sharing.
• Knowledge of plastic and waste management issues, and how human behaviors have affected environmental protection.
• Ability to work with a global diverse team, and understanding of developing countries’ setting.
• Experiences in development and implementation of development projects.
• Experiences in plastics/waste management, ocean and chemicals and waste issue areas highly desirable.
• Adequate Administrative staff and proven track record in administering similar grants.

How to Apply

Fill out this simple CFP form using the Grant Application template (attached to UNGM post) to assist the submission of a more detailed application.

Deadline:  15 September 2022, 1700hrs Eastern Time (New York)

Email: KristofferK@unops.org  subject line: CFP/Plastic Waste Management & Behavior Change/001

For more information please check the Link 

Tags Environment and Sustainability Recycling and Waste Management Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Others