Baseline Assessment of the Landscape for Implementation of OP7 GEF Small Grants Programme in Malawi
In March and April 2022, we supported Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) in the development of the Country Strategy for Malawi, for the implementation of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) 7th Operation Phase (OP7). Our role was to conduct a baseline assessment of Mzimba, Nkhatabay and Rumphi districts, the landscape selected for implementation of OP7 activities.
The Baseline Assessment was conducted to characterize the biophysical and socioeconomic environment for the selected landscape. A highly consultative approach was used, including meetings with the District Environmental Sub-Committees, to collect information on environmental challenges in the target area. Additionally, community surveys were conducted to collect primary data; secondary data was collected through a desktop review of documents. The Consultant prepared a report, which informed the development of the Country Strategy.
The GEF is a corporate programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It provides Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the academia in developing countries with grants to tackle global environmental challenges while addressing local sustainable development needs. It supports projects that tackle environmental challenges in the GEF focal areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, land degradation, chemicals and waste, and capacity building. In Malawi, the programme was launched in 2009, and it has successfully supported more than 88 grant projects.