From small grants to big impact

UNDP Mauritius community-led environmental action

Mauritius’ UNDP-backed Small Grants Programme has turned grassroots ideas into practical environmental action. From biodiversity and fisheries to sustainable tourism, food security and plastic waste, the programme has built a track record of community-led solutions. As Mauritius enters the GEF9 cycle, UNDP is urging a new chapter where small grants can deliver national-scale environmental impact. For Alka Bhatia, UNDP Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, the programme has demonstrated that modest grants can deliver much larger ambitions.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with seven civil society organisations, has signed new grant agreements under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Small Grants Programme (SGP) during a ceremony held at its headquarters in Port Louis, on Aug 13. The ceremony was marked by the presence of Pamela Bapoo-Dundoo, Small Grants Programme National Coordinator and Eco-Counsellor, and members of the National Steering Committee, civil society organisations, as well as UNDP’s development partners. 

The seven organisations awarded grants under the first year of the Operational Phase 8 (OP8) Grants Portfolio of the GEF Small Grants Programme are namely Marine Megafauna Conservation Organisation, mru2025, Association des Consommateurs de l’Ile Maurice (ACIM) and We-Recycle, from Mauritius, as well as the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation in Rodrigues, Association pour le Développement de la Pêche au Thon à Rodrigues, and TER-MER Rodriguez. 

“For three decades, the SGP programme has helped civil society turn local ideas into practical environmental solutions.” 

The awardees’ projects span a range of priority areas, including biodiversity conservation, sustainable fisheries, marine protection, chemicals and waste management, plastic circularity, and sustainable natural resource management.

The new round of projects coincides with the start of the GEF-9 replenishment cycle (2026-2030), with a programming level of approximately USD 3.9 billion. As Mauritius enters the GEF-9 cycle, the country will benefit from a new System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR) of USD 8 million, with flexibility across the biodiversity, climate change and land degradation focal areas. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Alka Bhatia, UNDP Resident Representative, said that the programme has demonstrated that modest grants can deliver much larger ambitions.

“From restoring ecosystems and protecting species to strengthening livelihoods, food security and the circular economy, now, with the GEF9 cycle, there is much opportunity to deepen and scale community-led solutions across the country’s environmental priorities,” highlighted Alka Bhatia.

She added that small grants can produce big transformations when local communities are given the resources, expertise and space to innovate, and noted that “for three decades, the SGP programme has helped civil society turn local ideas into practical environmental solutions.”  

Although the programme is called the Small Grants Programme, Alka Bhatia stressed that its impact is anything but small. “It is also very sustainable,” said the UNDP Representative. 

She recalled that since 1995, the programme has supported 207 projects worth USD 7.4 million across Mauritius, addressing key areas including biodiversity conservation, climate change, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals and waste management, while strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations and local communities.

Closing her remarks, Alka Bhatia asked those in attendance to “use this moment to deepen partnership, sustain community-led innovation and ensure that the next chapter of SGP in Mauritius is even more inclusive, practical and impactful.”