Rural communities around the world are facing growing pressures from biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. Vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, people with disabilities, are often at the forefront of impacts. But they are also at the heart of solutions, holding knowledge, practices, and systems that can help strengthen livelihoods, protect food security, halt biodiversity loss, and tackle climate change.

As a long-standing partner of the Global Environment Facility, FAO implements the GEF Small Grants Program (SGP) to support community-led solutions and initiatives. The Program provides small grants directly to civil society and community-based organizations, helping communities turn their ideas into action.

FAO brings to the Program a wide range of expertise in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, bioenergy, climate-resilient practices, livestock, and land & water. The principles of social inclusion and gender equality are embedded in the way the programme is designed and implemented. This support is currently benefitting 13 countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, to access the GEF’s SGP funding.

By working with the custodians of food and natural resources, the FAO-GEF’s SGP helps communities strengthen resilience, restore ecosystems and secure more sustainable food systems for the future.

Empowering Local Communities to Protect the Environment

Where We Are

Pillars of Success