SETIN has completed the preparation of the GEF CEO Endorsement Request and the Project Document for the GEF Small Grants Programme – CSO Challenge Program (Project Preparation Grant), which will be implemented in the coming months. This marks an important step in advancing locally driven environmental innovation and sustainable development.
The initiative was designed to establish a competitive funding mechanism that identifies, rewards, and supports innovative, high-impact environmental solutions led by civil society organizations (CSOs) around the world. With a special focus on youth and youth-led CSOs, women and women’s groups, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), the program sought to amplify the voices, capacities, and knowledge systems of those working at the forefront of environmental and social change.
Throughout the preparation phase, SETIN provided continuous technical support to ensure quality, coherence, and strategic alignment with the program’s objectives. Our team conducted stakeholder and institutional consultations, drafted and refined the main project document, and coordinated the preparation of supporting materials, including operational guidelines, thematic papers, annexes, and audiovisual outputs designed to communicate the program’s vision and impact.
The final video, produced as the closing deliverable of this phase, brings these elements to life and presents the CSO Challenge Program. This new global initiative, led by IUCN with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), seeks to unlock the creativity and commitment of civil society to expand environmental solutions worldwide. It welcomes proposals from underrepresented groups, including youth focused and youth led organizations, women focused and women led groups, as well as Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Backed by 10 million USD from the GEF, the CSO Challenge Program is part of the GEF Small Grants Program 2.0 and will launch a competitive, global and inclusive call for proposals. The video reflects the collaborative spirit behind the initiative, showing how partnerships between CSOs, governments and international organizations can turn local action into global impact and inspire continued investment in community led innovation for a sustainable future.
Click here to watch the final video and discover how community-led action is shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
