This week, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) awarded grants totaling over M2.5 million to community-based organizations (CBOs) from Tosing Community Council. The event took place at a local hotel in Moyeni and was part of ongoing efforts to support environmental management and the promotion of the Great Green Wall initiative, an African Union-backed initiative aimed at combating desertification and promoting sustainable land use across the continent.
The grants, facilitated through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will help strengthen the ongoing environmental efforts in the Sebapala Integrated Watershed Management Catchment area within Tosing Community Council. The five CBOs that received the grants are actively engaged in a variety of environmental projects designed to promote sustainability and contribute to the objectives of the Great Green Wall initiative.
The Great Green Wall is a visionary project focused on halting desertification, improving soil and water conservation, and promoting biodiversity through tree planting and land restoration efforts. The initiative seeks to create a mosaic of green and productive landscapes across Africa, helping communities adapt to the effects of climate change while improving the environment.
The awarded grants will assist local CBOs in furthering these goals by enhancing their community-based environmental activities. These initiatives include reforestation, soil erosion control, and water conservation projects, all aimed at improving the ecological health of the region and supporting the livelihoods of local communities.
In his address at the event, a representative from the GEF SGP emphasized the critical role of community-driven initiatives in achieving the broader environmental goals of the Great Green Wall. “These grants are not just about financial support, but about empowering communities to take ownership of their environment and contribute meaningfully to the restoration of the land,” the representative said.
As these CBOs continue their work, the grants will serve as an important catalyst for long-term environmental resilience in the region, fostering a more sustainable future for both the environment and the people of Tosing Community Council.
