Our Program works through projects. In other words, to receive grant assistance from us, you need to prepare a project.
What is a project? A project is a process of implementing clear tasks and activities to achieve a specific goal, an idea. A project has a plan of what you will do, a plan of what you want to achieve, set goals, objectives, indicators of achievement of the set goals (i.e. what will show that you have achieved what you planned), a budget, a work schedule, a time frame and other attributes.
Any project starts with an idea. An idea can appear in an individual, in a group of people who see that there is a certain problem and that there is a need to solve this problem. Of course, this problem must be related in one way or another to the environment. General information about the topics in which the GEF SGP works is presented in the GEF SGP Thematic Areas section. You can also read in more detail what the current focus of the Program is in the GEF SGP Country Programming Strategy at OP7.
So, first of all, you must have a problem. And this problem should be related to the environment. Therefore, we recommend that you carefully read our thematic sections and understand what exactly we are doing.
If we talk about today's priorities, then first of all, these are problems of soil conservation, their fertility, problems of obtaining "clean" energy and energy efficiency, the problem of preserving biodiversity, agrobiodiversity in particular, preserving pollinator services, sustainable irrigation, which leads to sustainable land management, all this, and much more. At present, the focus of our work (60% of all finances) falls on the preservation and improvement of agricultural, agricultural landscapes. But the other listed topics are not forgotten either (40%).
Naturally, the problem has its causes. This should be thought about from the very beginning. We help to solve not the consequences, but the causes of the problem. For example, if the fish disappeared from the river, then your project cannot simply consist in growing fish and releasing them into the river. After all, without understanding why the fish disappeared, you will not solve the problem: you will simply release the fish back into the river, and after a while they will be gone again.
The project idea should preferably be generated by the beneficiary (beneficiary) itself, i.e. the group of people who will benefit from solving this problem. If the problem is with the land, then naturally those who live on this land or use it can benefit from our project. But the idea can also come from other people - for example, from a non-governmental organization that works for people and its goal is to help solve people's problems on the ground.
The beneficiaries themselves can develop the project idea, or the project can be developed for them by any other non-governmental, non-profit organization (NGO) or a consultant whom we will help you find. The participation of the beneficiary (the community in whose interests the project is being developed) in the development of the project in one way or another is mandatory.
But what to do from the very beginning? At the very beginning, when you have an idea of what can be done to improve both the environment and your living conditions, you should send a short description of it to the National Coordinator - Alexey Volkov for preliminary, informal approval. To do this, simply write an email, where you describe everything in your own words. Remember, your project idea (concept) should be clearly formulated, literally on 1-2 pages, be very specific, without unnecessary information, and contain the following information:
A description of the problem and the reasons for its occurrence, but only without unnecessary "water", very clearly and tied to the location;
Clearly formulated steps on what you want to do to solve this problem, or rather remove or reduce the causes of the problem.
That's it. That's enough. No need to write long essays. You will do this when you prepare the project application. There is no special form for formulating a concept.
If you know your problem, want to solve it, but do not know how to solve it - that's not a problem either. Also write or call us. We will help you with this too.
Here is an approximate diagram of the stages from idea to project, which will be described in a little more detail below:
Here is another illustration of how a project is born:
After receiving your idea, it will be sent for a short discussion to our National Coordination Committee. After the idea is agreed upon, the National Coordinator will send you a message saying that you can start developing a project application. You can start developing a project and a project application only after receiving such a message that the concept - the idea of the project - fits the general theme and criteria of the GEF SGP. Of course, in order to understand for yourself how well your idea fits our requirements, you need to know about our criteria. There are 6 of them. Here they are:
GEF SGP Criteria
1. Environmental Benefits
Your project results must bring clear and visible benefits to the environment. If they are not there, or they are secondary, then the project is not for us. What are these benefits? Benefits correspond to the areas in which the GEF SGP works. Your project must have benefits in one of our three areas of work. Namely:
combating land degradation and working to preserve our soils
combating climate change - stopping bad change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
preserving the biodiversity of our country
developing a circular economy
stopping the use of chemicals
creating environmentally friendly cities in Uzbekistan
In the area of land degradation, your project must prevent land degradation, or reduce it, or contribute to land restoration. Your project must show how to achieve results in restoring soil fertility and health. What is degradation, read also in our section Land Degradation.
In the area of climate change, we work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If your project will have a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as the end product, then great and you can move on to considering the next criterion. If not, then this is not a climate change project and if the project idea does not have other benefits for nature (which you can read about below), then this project is not for us. Read about climate change and greenhouse gases in the Climate Change section.
You can also make a project that will demonstrate how it is possible to adapt to changing climate conditions. To do this, you must first familiarize yourself with the topic - what is adaptation to climate change. For Uzbekistan, this means that we must adapt in advance to such conditions, when everywhere, throughout the country, we will have less and less water, and it will be hotter and hotter.
In the area of biodiversity conservation, your project should do something to preserve rare species of animals, plants or insects. It should be clearly visible that you are doing something in the project that will contribute to the conservation of such species, or the ecological services they provide to nature. But you should also point to evidence that these species are under threat. For example, these species may be listed in the Red Book or, if these are agrobiodiversity species, there should be evidence of the extinction of this species in our country. See also our section - Biodiversity.
We also have several additional topics:
Circular economy is a relatively new concept. It is a kind of rebirth of the 3R concept (reduce, reuse, recycle), i.e. reduce consumption, reuse and recycle. The term "circular economy" actually refers to the same model - when the use of primary resources slows down, the amount of waste from life activities is reduced, and the waste that is still generated is recycled and returned to use again.
replacing chemicals in agricultural production with alternative methods
sustainable cities - to make our cities sustainable, environmentally friendly systems by changing approaches to management.
2. Additionality
A very important criterion is additionality. It is difficult to explain it in a few words, but additionality consists of two elements: innovation and contribution.
Innovation - your project should introduce something new, some new, rarely or not at all used in Uzbekistan approach to the use of natural resources. For example, new energy sources are an industry where very little has been done yet and we have few solar panels, wind turbines, etc. Such projects are truly innovative. But if you want to switch, for example, your pump from diesel to electricity, which is possible and will have some reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, there is no innovation here and this does not demonstrate a new approach to the use of natural resources. And this is what is required - a new, more economical approach to the use of natural resources.
Co-contribution – GEF finances only that part of the costs that brings benefits to the environment. The best way to explain this is with an example. Let’s say you want to install heating in your school. You plan to install heating that runs on electricity. According to the estimate, your project will cost 15 million soums. But there is another option – heating using solar panels. This option will cost 25 million soums. It is quite natural that you will want to build a heating system for 15 million rather than for 25. But GEF can add the missing 10 million soums to you, because the second option for heating the school will be less harmful to nature. With the second option, greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere will be lower, and GEF is ready to give you the missing 10 million so that you prefer the second option. GEF kind of buys from you for 10 million those emissions that you refuse when you do not install an electric heating system. This does not mean that GEF finances the entire project for 25 million. You will still spend 15 million as planned. The GEF will add 10 million to you, and you will have a better heating system. But the GEF will add 10 to your 15 million. The GEF is not the main financier of the project. The rule is that the GEF can add no more than 50% of the total cost of the project. The other part must be covered from other sources: from the applicant, from private business, through a loan, investment of its own funds, materials, labor, contributions from other donors, etc.
3. Sustainability
Another important criterion is the sustainability of the project results. Sustainability is simple. We must be sure that after our project ends, the project results will not cease to exist. We do not want the trees we planted to dry up as soon as the project stops working. To do this, we need to think through the design of the project. We need to lay down some mechanisms that will be created within the framework of the project so that after completion, everything started in the project will continue to work. For example, you can make it so that within the framework of the project some business develops that will generate income, due to which the operation of the equipment installed in the project will be supported. Or something else. Here you need to be creative and realistic. We will be especially picky about this point.
4. Specific location
Your project must be tied to solving a problem in a specific location, a problem with the use of natural resources in a specific area. We cannot spread ourselves thin and solve problems of a national scale. We have a SMALL grants program, and we work for specific communities of people. Therefore, if you want to solve the problem of the Aral Sea or the climate on the entire planet in our small project, then this project is not for us. But if you want to solve the problem of the energy of a specific village in the mountains or something similar - this is for us.
5. Distribution of benefits
GEF cannot finance projects that benefit a narrow circle of people, or even one person or family. The project must be beneficial to a community of people. That is why we cannot accept applications from commercial companies. Because the profits of the latter are distributed among their founders.
6. Dissemination of experience
This is one of the key, or even the most important, criteria. As has already been noted on our website, we cannot help all people. The GEF SGP is designed to demonstrate a new practice, demonstrate all the benefits of such a practice for both people and nature, and tell all other people in our country and abroad about this practice. So that others can use the piloted practice without the help of the GEF.
In other words, we help only the bravest. If there is some practice of using natural resources that is not used by everyone because it is new, people do not know whether it is profitable or not, do not know how it will be implemented and whether it will work at all, the GEF can help those people who are ready to take a risk, cover part of their risks and give money. But then, when the practice has already been demonstrated, it is necessary to disseminate the experience as widely as possible, explain to other people: “That's it, look, we have already tried it. It works. You can repeat it yourself. Just take our experience." That's the principle.
If someone wants to try out their technology for GEF money and then not share it with anyone, we cannot help such people. All the results of our projects should be open to everyone.
Here is a concrete example of how we will approach this issue:
In Uzbekistan, in 2001-2007, a medium-scale UNDP-GEF project was implemented to create the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve. Among the many good results of the project, which are also listed on our website, the project helped test a hydraulic pump that works without a drop of gasoline, without a drop of diesel, without any electricity. The project made and tested such a unit in the Farish district of the Jizzakh region (Yukori Ukhum, Andagen, Sentob, Yonbulok villages). But the project also created detailed instructions on how to make the same unit. The instructions describe everything so that anyone can take it and make the same unit at home. Look at the instructions.
Instructions for the construction of a hydraulic pump (in Uzbek)
The GEF SGP has the same approach:
Do something useful for nature, and then tell as many people as possible about the experience gained. Let others do the same.
How to start formulating a project?
So, after you have imagined in general terms what exactly your project will do, after you have written on 1-2 pages what the essence of the project is and what exactly the project will do, after you have received a letter of approval from the National Coordinator that your concept is fundamentally suitable for our criteria, you can begin to fill out a project application.
When developing a project, a potential applicant organization (hereinafter referred to as the "applicant") must be guided by the accepted project application form. You can download the project application form below.
Download the project application form
Download the budget form
This form is the second one, which has been slightly simplified compared to the first version. But we can further improve it and adjust it during the program implementation to take into account the convenience of our applicants. But you should tell us your feedback, send it to the National Coordinator or leave your feedback directly on the website, at the bottom of the page.
You can also download the instructions for filling out the project application form.
Download the instructions for filling out the application
Assistance in developing a project application
The GEF SGP implementation team in Uzbekistan, namely the National Coordinator and the GEF SGP Assistant, are called upon to assist in every possible way in developing high-quality project applications. Therefore, applicants can contact these persons with various questions on developing a project application. Assistance in development, however, does not mean that project applications will be formulated and written by the National Coordinator or the GEF SGP Assistant. The developer is solely responsible for writing and preparing the project proposal.
The assistance of the GEF SGP implementation team in the development of the project does not in any way mean that the project proposal will be approved and grant assistance will be provided.
If, for the quality development of the project, a potential applicant requires small funds for clarification of information, involvement of technical experts, consultation within the community or with other stakeholders, the GEF SGP can provide assistance in the form of a project development grant. The application form for a project development grant is provided below.
Download the application form for the preliminary project
We should note the following:
If you are unable to formulate a project application yourself, please contact us, we will help you find people who will help you formulate and design your project document.
It is worth knowing that the GEF SGP can allocate up to $3,000 for project preparation. If it is really necessary!
The duration of the project development grant cannot exceed 6 months. One applicant cannot receive a grant for the development of the same project, or a similar project, twice. For the use of the project development grant, the applicant must report in accordance with the procedures adopted for other GEF SGP grants.
When developing a project, a potential applicant must take into account that the GEF SGP funds cannot be used by the applicant to pay off previous debts and taxes. If the applicant is a local community organization (mahalla, homeowners' association, rural citizens' meeting, etc.), then the salaries of employees of this organization cannot be included in the projects. If the beneficiary of the project involves another NGO in the development and implementation of the project, which acts as a subcontractor or facilitator of the work, then the project budget may include the salaries of the NGO employees. In any case, the total amount for salaries and other administrative costs should not exceed 20% of the total project amount.
When calculating the amount of the in-kind contribution, project developers should be guided by reasonable, real prices, in a given area and at the moment, for labor, rent of the equipment used and materials that are used to achieve the project results. If the GEF SGP implementation team discovers a false, inflated cost of the in-kind contribution, this may entail a refusal to consider the project application, which the applicant will be informed about in writing.
The process of developing a project document - a grant application
When you have received approval of the general idea of the project and have started working on the development of the project, this is where many questions begin. The more questions you ask yourself and our team, the better. In the project document, you will have to explain everything about the project very clearly. Follow the form and think about what information will allow us to understand your project as best as possible, what information will convince us that your project really needs help and a grant.
To do this, be as specific, precise and complete as possible in filling out the application. You should imagine that your project document, in addition to the National Coordinator, will be read by at least 9 more members of the National Coordinating Committee. They, like any other person, are specialists in their field, and therefore, taking your project document and reading it, absolutely any person should understand what exactly you will do and how. You should write in a very clear and popular language. Even your technical details should be presented in a way that everyone can understand.
Remember, your project document is not just an application for a grant, it is also a description of your project, and many people may want to read your project. And these people must understand everything in order to be able to do the same.
Soon we will put here detailed instructions on how to fill out our project application. Wait for the announcement.
Now about the process of preparing the project document. You start preparing the project document and maintain constant contact with the National Coordinator via e-mail or by phone. It is better to ask in advance than to spend a lot of time and effort and write something that is not required. Therefore, the process of writing a project document is a process of constant feedback between you and our Program. Write to us, we give comments, questions, you finalize, send us again, we may have comments and questions again and again. And only when the National Coordinator runs out of questions, you can consider that the application is ready for submission for consideration by our National Coordination Committee.