Nigeria receives GEF grant for $ 23m projects

GEF has provided new funding for Nigeria in the areas of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation in the 6th replenishment circle, covering July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018.

AN independent international financial entity established to help defray the costs of making projects environmentally friendly and reduce global environmental challenges – Global Environment Facility (GEF) has allocated $23.35million to Nigeria under the under sixth replenishment level of $4.433 billion.

GEF unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector, to address global environmental issues. For 23 years, developed and developing countries alike have provided these funds to support activities related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, and chemicals and waste in the context of development projects and programmes.  

The grant to Nigeria will cover projects in climate change, biodiversity and land degradation, according to GEF’s Desk Officer in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Festus Eguaoje, during a two-day GEF National Steering Committee Meeting in Abuja, last week,.

In his presentation on the Overview of the GEF projects in Nigeria, at the event organised by the ministry with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Eguaoje said:” GEF Secretariat computed the initial System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR) allocations to countries. Nigeria was allocated $23.35 million to cover the focal areas of climate change, biodiversity and land degradation in the 6th replenishment circle, covering July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018.”

He said that GEF funding windows are full size projects, which is from one million dollars and above; medium size projects that is between 500,000 and one million dollars. The small grants component of GEF is a grant below 50,000 dollars.. Enabling activities are up to $350,000 for biodiversity and climate change focal areas, $500,000 for POPs and $200,000 for land degradation to help countries prepare national inventories, strategies, action plans, National Implementation Plans (NIPs), National Communications and reports under these conventions.

Amongst ongoing GEF projects are Conservation and Sustainable Management of Niger Delta Biodiversity; Sustainable Urban Transportation; and Setting up Mini- Grids based on Photo Voltaic (PV), Hydro and Biomass Sources.

Others are Promoting Energy Efficiency in Public and Residential Sectors; Less Burnt for a Clean Earth: Minimisation of Dioxin Emission from
Open Burning Sources and Small Grant Programme for Civil Society Organisations.

On Fadama III, Eguaoje mentioned Scaling up of Sustainable Land Management; Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) containing equipment management and disposal; and Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management (NEWMAP): Component of Great Green Wall Initiative.

He disclosed that under the 6th replenishment cycle, GEF approved project on Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in Sub- Saharan African- An Integrated Approach.

He suggested that project proponents should forward well-articulated concept to the GEF Operational Focal Point for endorsement; project proponent, in collaboration with the operational focal point, should ensure that prompt comments on the proposals are made by relevant offices of the GEF focal areas.

His words: “The comments should be reverted to the project proponent for incorporation and further development.”