UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), has launched a new call for proposals under Phase Two of the Global Support Initiative for Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ICCA-GSI). Eligible Nigerian civil society organisations can receive grants of up to US$50,000 per project to strengthen community-led biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods and the governance of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ conserved areas.

The call, published on 6 October 2026, contains two funding tracks: one for a Catalytic NGO that will provide coordination, monitoring, capacity-building and knowledge-management support, and another for a small number of regular local CSO grants implementing conservation activities directly within or around ICCAs in Nigeria.

⚠️ Important Accuracy Note

The official UNDP Nigeria announcement confirms:

UP TO US$50,000 PER PROJECT

for both the Catalytic NGO and qualifying regular grant projects.

However, the published UNDP Nigeria webpage does not currently state a final submission deadline.

Interested organisations are instructed to first request the official:

FULL PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

from the UNDP Nigeria GEF-SGP contact.

Applicants should therefore avoid relying on deadlines from ICCA-GSI calls in other countries, because:

EACH COUNTRY RUNS ITS OWN CALL

with different dates, priorities and application arrangements.

🌍 UNDP Nigeria ICCA-GSI Phase Two: Quick Overview

Detail	Information
Funder / Implementer	UNDP / GEF Small Grants Programme
Programme	ICCA-GSI Phase Two
Country	Nigeria
Funding Type	Competitive Grants
Maximum Grant	Up to US$50,000 Per Project
Main Applicants	Local NGOs & Civil Society Organisations
Community Groups Encouraged	Yes
Women Groups Encouraged	Yes
Youth Groups Encouraged	Yes
PWD Groups Encouraged	Yes
Main Focus	Community-Led Biodiversity Conservation
Climate Resilience	Yes
Livelihoods	Yes
ICCA Governance	Yes
Catalytic NGO Track	Yes
Regular Grant Track	Yes
Minimum Experience for Regular CSOs	More Than 3 Years
Co-Financing Required	Yes
Project Duration	At Least 18 Months for Regular Grants
Application Template	Must Be Requested
Published	6 October 2026
Deadline	Not Stated on Current Official Webpage

🌱 What Is ICCA-GSI?

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

The Global Support Initiative to Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, known as:

ICCA-GSI

has provided direct financial support since 2014 to strengthen areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Its work focuses on improving:

🌿 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

🛡️ COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE

🌦️ CLIMATE RESILIENCE

and:

💼 SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS.

Phase Two continues this work while placing stronger emphasis on delivery of the:

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK 2030 TARGETS.

🌍 Why Community-Led Conservation Matters

ICCAs are territories and areas where Indigenous Peoples or local communities play a central role in:

GOVERNING LAND

PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY

MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES

and:

MAINTAINING CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE.

Rather than treating conservation as something imposed externally, ICCA approaches recognise communities as:

ACTIVE CUSTODIANS OF ECOSYSTEMS.

The Nigeria call therefore combines environmental conservation with:

LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT

and:

LOCAL EMPOWERMENT.

💰 How Much Funding Is Available?

Successful applicants can receive:

UP TO US$50,000 PER PROJECT.

This ceiling applies to the current Nigeria call’s:

CATALYTIC NGO

and qualifying:

REGULAR GRANT PROJECTS.

The exact approved amount may depend on:

PROJECT SCOPE

BUDGET

ACTIVITIES

and:

UNDP / GEF-SGP ASSESSMENT.

🧩 Two Funding Tracks

The Nigeria call effectively contains:

TWO OPPORTUNITIES IN ONE.

These are:

1️⃣ Catalytic NGO

and:

2️⃣ Regular ICCA Grants.

1️⃣ Catalytic NGO Grant

The Catalytic NGO is expected to provide specialist support across the broader ICCA-GSI portfolio.

The organisation should be:

A WELL-ESTABLISHED LOCAL NGO

with strong experience in:

ICCAs

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ ISSUES

and:

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION.

🗺️ Knowledge of ICCA Tools

The Catalytic NGO should be familiar with:

GLOBAL ICCA REGISTRY

PROTECTED PLANET PLATFORM

and:

MAPEO FOR ICCAs.

The organisation should also be capable of training Indigenous Peoples and local communities to use these tools.

🤝 Supporting Other Grantees

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

The Catalytic NGO will help other ICCA-GSI grantees through:

SELF-STRENGTHENING PROCESSES

MONITORING & EVALUATION

and:

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT.

📊 Resilience and Security Index

The Catalytic NGO should also be ready to guide grantees in using the:

RESILIENCE AND SECURITY INDEX.

📚 Knowledge Management

The selected organisation must collaborate with:

GEF-SGP

and:

ICCA GRANTEES

to develop:

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS.

📝 Reporting

It will also help produce:

END-OF-PROJECT REPORTS

with the SGP office and participating grantees.

⏳ Duration

The official Nigeria call states that the Catalytic NGO should be ready to implement activities over:

18 MONTHS.

💰 Maximum Catalytic NGO Grant

US$50,000.

2️⃣ Regular ICCA Grants

Regular grants will support local civil society organisations undertaking direct conservation work.

UNDP Nigeria says only:

TWO OR THREE LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

will receive regular grants under this call.

This means competition could be significant.

🏢 Registration Requirement

Applicants must be:

DULY REGISTERED LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS.

⏱️ Minimum Experience

An organisation should have:

MORE THAN THREE YEARS

of proven experience working:

IN

or:

NEAR AN ICCA.

🤝 Community Empowerment Experience

Applicants should also have more than three years of demonstrated experience:

EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES

to improve:

GOVERNANCE

and:

MANAGEMENT

of ICCAs.

📝 100-Word ICCA Description Required

When requesting the full proposal template, applicants must provide a short description of the proposed ICCA.

The description should be no more than:

100 WORDS.

It should include information such as:

ICCA NAME

GPS LOCATION

LEGAL STATUS

SIZE

and:

CURRENT CONDITION OF THE AREA.

🎯 Expected Project Results

UNDP identifies four major expected outputs.

🌿 1. Enhanced Biodiversity Conservation

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

Projects should strengthen the conservation of:

ECOSYSTEMS

SPECIES

and:

NATURAL RESOURCES.

🌦️ 2. Stronger Climate Resilience

Projects should help communities increase resilience to:

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS.

💼 3. Improved Livelihoods

Community empowerment should contribute to:

BETTER LIVELIHOOD OUTCOMES.

🌍 4. ICCA Consortium Membership

The supported ICCA should work toward becoming a member of the:

GLOBAL ICCA CONSORTIUM.

🌐 Global Biodiversity Framework Alignment

Projects must align with:

TARGET 3

TARGET 21

TARGET 22

and:

TARGET 23

of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

These targets relate broadly to:

AREA-BASED CONSERVATION

KNOWLEDGE ACCESS

PARTICIPATION & RIGHTS

and:

GENDER EQUALITY

within global biodiversity action.

⏳ Project Duration

Regular grant projects must be implemented for:

AT LEAST 18 MONTHS.

Applicants should therefore design projects with:

LONG-ENOUGH IMPLEMENTATION PERIODS

to demonstrate measurable ecological and community outcomes.

👩 Women-Led Organisations Encouraged

UNDP specifically encourages applications from:

WOMEN GROUPS.

This is consistent with the programme’s emphasis on inclusive conservation governance.

👩‍🦽 Organisations of Persons With Disabilities

Applications from:

PWD GROUPS

are also encouraged.

🧑 Youth Groups

UNDP also encourages:

YOUTH GROUPS

to participate in the programme.

🏘️ Community-Based Organisations

Community-based organisations are also specifically encouraged to apply where they meet the relevant requirements.

💰 Co-Financing Is Required

Applicants must demonstrate:

CO-FINANCING.

The proposal should explain:

HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WILL BE MOBILISED

and:

WHERE IT WILL COME FROM.

Co-financing can include:

CASH

and:

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.

💡 What Can Count as In-Kind Support?

Depending on UNDP approval and the project structure, in-kind contributions could potentially include resources such as:

COMMUNITY LABOUR

MEETING SPACE

EXISTING EQUIPMENT

STAFF TIME

or:

LOCAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT.

Applicants should use the official proposal template to determine how such contributions should be valued and reported.

🇳🇬 Is This Grant Only for Nigeria?

Yes.

This specific call is published through:

UNDP NIGERIA

and targets:

LOCAL NIGERIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities in ICCAs.

Organisations in other countries should look for their own national:

GEF SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME

or:

ICCA-GSI PHASE TWO

calls.

🌍 Is This Open to Organisations Across Africa?

Not through this specific Nigeria call.

ICCA-GSI Phase Two is being implemented internationally, but:

EACH COUNTRY CALL HAS ITS OWN ELIGIBILITY RULES.

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

For example, similar 2026 ICCA-GSI calls have been issued separately in Ghana and Kenya, with their own geographic priorities and application deadlines.

🇿🇼 Can Zimbabwean Organisations Apply?

Not to this specific UNDP Nigeria funding call unless they meet the requirement to be an eligible locally registered Nigerian organisation.

Zimbabwean NGOs and CBOs should instead monitor:

UNDP ZIMBABWE

GEF SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME

and other relevant national conservation calls.

🌿 What Types of Projects Could Be Competitive?

Strong applications are likely to focus on integrated community conservation approaches such as:

COMMUNITY FOREST CONSERVATION

HABITAT RESTORATION

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION GOVERNANCE

CLIMATE-RESILIENT LIVELIHOODS

TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE

COMMUNITY BIODIVERSITY MONITORING

SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT

CONSERVATION-BASED ENTERPRISES

and:

LOCAL CONSERVATION CAPACITY BUILDING.

The project should remain firmly connected to an identifiable:

ICCA

rather than being a generic environmental project.

🧭 How to Prepare a Strong ICCA Description

The first 100-word description should be concise but specific.

Include:

NAME OF THE AREA

WHERE IT IS LOCATED

GPS INFORMATION

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSERVATION

LEGAL STATUS

APPROXIMATE AREA

MAIN BIODIVERSITY VALUES

and:

KEY CURRENT THREATS.

📊 Monitoring & Evaluation

Applicants should be prepared to measure concrete results.

Possible indicators may include:

AREA UNDER IMPROVED CONSERVATION

COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENGAGED

WOMEN & YOUTH PARTICIPATING

BIODIVERSITY THREATS REDUCED

LIVELIHOODS IMPROVED

and:

GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS STRENGTHENED.

For the Catalytic NGO, monitoring and evaluation is a core responsibility explicitly identified by UNDP.

📝 How to Apply

The application process begins with a:

REQUEST FOR THE FULL PROPOSAL TEMPLATE.

Step 1 — Confirm Your Organisation Fits the Call

Determine whether you are applying as:

CATALYTIC NGO

or:

REGULAR GRANTEE.

Step 2 — Identify the ICCA

Regular-grant applicants should identify the specific:

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OR LOCAL COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREA

where the project will operate.

Step 3 — Prepare the 100-Word Summary

Include:

NAME

GPS LOCATION

LEGAL STATUS

SIZE

and:

CURRENT STATUS.

Step 4 — Request the Official Proposal Template

Interested applicants should request the full proposal template from the UNDP Nigeria contact provided on the official call:

Step 5 — Develop the Conservation Proposal

Explain:

THE CONSERVATION PROBLEM

COMMUNITY ROLE

PROPOSED ACTIVITIES

EXPECTED RESULTS

BUDGET

and:

IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS.

Step 6 — Demonstrate Relevant Experience

Regular applicants should provide evidence of:

MORE THAN THREE YEARS

of relevant work.

Step 7 — Include Co-Financing

Identify both:

CASH

and:

IN-KIND

resources that will complement the grant.

Step 8 — Follow the Official Template

Do not submit a generic grant proposal if the programme requires the specific:

GEF-SGP / ICCA-GSI TEMPLATE.

📋 Application Preparation Checklist

Before submitting, confirm:

✅ Local Registration

Required.

✅ Appropriate Funding Track

Catalytic NGO or regular grant.

✅ Relevant ICCA

Clearly identified.

✅ More Than 3 Years’ Experience

Required for regular CSO applicants.

✅ Community Governance Experience

Demonstrated.

✅ 100-Word ICCA Description

Prepared.

✅ GPS Information

Included.

✅ Legal Status

Explained.

✅ Project Duration

At least 18 months for regular projects.

✅ GBF Alignment

Targets 3, 21, 22 and 23 addressed.

✅ Co-Financing

Cash and/or in-kind clearly identified.

✅ Biodiversity Outcomes

Clearly defined.

✅ Climate Resilience

Addressed.

✅ Livelihood Benefits

Addressed.

✅ Official Proposal Template

Requested from UNDP.

🎯 How to Strengthen Your Proposal

🌿 Put the Community at the Centre

The programme is specifically about territories and areas:

CONSERVED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

Do not write a project where the community is merely a beneficiary.

Show that local people are involved in:

DECISION-MAKING

DESIGN

IMPLEMENTATION

and:

GOVERNANCE.

📍 Be Precise About the ICCA

Avoid vague phrases such as:

“We will work with forest communities in Nigeria.”

Instead, identify:

THE ACTUAL TERRITORY

COMMUNITY

LOCATION

SIZE

and:

CONSERVATION CONTEXT.

📊 Use Measurable Results

Rather than saying:

“Biodiversity will improve.”

identify indicators such as:

HECTARES RESTORED

SPECIES MONITORED

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION GROUPS STRENGTHENED

or:

HOUSEHOLDS WITH IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS.

🌦️ Connect Biodiversity and Climate Resilience

Strong proposals should explain how conservation can also improve resilience to:

DROUGHT

FLOODING

LAND DEGRADATION

ECOSYSTEM LOSS

or:

CLIMATE-RELATED LIVELIHOOD PRESSURES.

💰 Make Co-Financing Credible

Do not inflate in-kind contributions simply to make the budget appear stronger.

Clearly explain:

SOURCE

VALUE

and:

HOW THE CONTRIBUTION WILL SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

👩 Include Women, Youth and Persons With Disabilities

The call expressly encourages:

WOMEN GROUPS

YOUTH GROUPS

and:

PWD GROUPS.

A strong proposal should demonstrate meaningful participation rather than token inclusion.

⚠️ Common Application Mistakes

Avoid:

• Assuming the grant is open to organisations outside Nigeria
• Advertising more than US$50,000 for this call
• Applying without legal registration
• Applying without a clearly identified ICCA
• Ignoring the three-year experience requirement for regular CSOs
• Failing to provide the required 100-word ICCA description
• Forgetting GPS and legal-status information
• Treating communities only as beneficiaries
• Ignoring GBF Targets 3, 21, 22 and 23
• Omitting co-financing
• Submitting a generic proposal instead of requesting the official template
• Inventing a deadline that UNDP Nigeria has not published on its current webpage

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

What is the ICCA-GSI Phase Two grant?

It is a community-conservation funding programme supporting territories and areas conserved by:

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

and:

LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Who implements the programme in Nigeria?

The:

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME

implemented by:

UNDP.

How much funding is available?

Up to:

US$50,000 PER PROJECT.

Are there two grant categories?

Yes.

The current call includes:

A CATALYTIC NGO GRANT

and:

REGULAR GRANTS.

How many regular grantees will be selected?

UNDP Nigeria says only:

TWO OR THREE LOCAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

will receive regular grants.

How much experience is required?

Regular CSO applicants should have:

MORE THAN THREE YEARS

of relevant experience working in or near an ICCA and empowering Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Can community-based organisations apply?

They are specifically:

ENCOURAGED TO APPLY,

subject to the applicable eligibility rules.

Can women-led organisations apply?

Yes.

Women groups are encouraged to apply.

Can youth groups apply?

Yes.

Youth groups are encouraged.

Are disability organisations encouraged?

Yes.

PWD groups are explicitly encouraged to apply.

Is co-financing required?

Yes.

Applicants must demonstrate both:

CASH

and/or:

IN-KIND CO-FINANCING.

How long should projects last?

Regular projects must run for:

AT LEAST 18 MONTHS.

The current Nigeria webpage also states an 18-month implementation period for the Catalytic NGO.

What information is needed when requesting the proposal template?

A regular-grant applicant should provide a brief description of the proposed ICCA of no more than:

100 WORDS

including details such as:

NAME

GPS LOCATION

LEGAL STATUS

SIZE

and:

CURRENT CONDITION.

What are the main project outcomes?

The programme expects:

ENHANCED BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

GREATER CLIMATE RESILIENCE

IMPROVED COMMUNITY LIVELIHOODS

and:

STRONGER CONNECTION TO THE GLOBAL ICCA CONSORTIUM.

What is the deadline?

The current official UNDP Nigeria webpage published on 6 October 2026 does:

NOT STATE A CLOSING DATE.

Applicants should request the official proposal template promptly and follow the deadline and instructions provided by the UNDP Nigeria GEF-SGP team.

Can Zimbabwean organisations apply?

Not to this specific Nigeria call unless they independently meet the requirement to operate as an eligible locally registered Nigerian organisation.

🚀 Final Thoughts

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two

UNDP Nigeria Offers Up to US$50,000 for Community Conservation Through ICCA-GSI Phase Two. The UNDP Nigeria ICCA-GSI Phase Two call offers local conservation organisations an opportunity to secure:

💰 UP TO US$50,000

for projects that place:

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

and:

LOCAL COMMUNITIES

at the centre of biodiversity conservation.

The programme goes beyond protecting ecosystems.

Successful projects are expected to combine:

🌿 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

🌦️ CLIMATE RESILIENCE

💼 SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

and:

🤝 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.

For regular grants, UNDP plans to support only:

TWO OR THREE LOCAL CSOs

and expects applicants to demonstrate more than:

THREE YEARS OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

Projects must also align with:

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK TARGETS 3, 21, 22 AND 23

and demonstrate:

CO-FINANCING

through cash and/or in-kind contributions.

The official call was published on:

📅 6 OCTOBER 2026

and does not currently display a submission deadline.

Interested organisations should therefore:

REQUEST THE FULL PROPOSAL TEMPLATE IMMEDIATELY

using the contact provided by UNDP Nigeria and confirm the final submission instructions directly from the official documentation.

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🔑 Key Details

Funder / Implementer: UNDP / GEF Small Grants Programme
Programme: ICCA-GSI Phase Two
Country: Nigeria
Funding: Up to US$50,000 Per Project
Funding Tracks: Catalytic NGO & Regular Grants
Regular Grantees: 2–3 Local Civil Society Organisations
Main Focus: Community-Led Biodiversity Conservation
Climate Resilience: Yes
Sustainable Livelihoods: Yes
Community Governance: Yes
Minimum Regular-Grant Experience: More Than 3 Years
Project Duration: At Least 18 Months for Regular Projects
Catalytic NGO Duration on Current Nigeria Call: 18 Months
GBF Alignment: Targets 3, 21, 22 & 23
Co-Financing: Required
Women Groups: Encouraged
Youth Groups: Encouraged
PWD Groups: Encouraged
CBOs: Encouraged
100-Word ICCA Brief: Required When Requesting Regular Proposal Template
Published: 6 October 2026
Deadline: Not Stated on Current Official UNDP Nigeria Webpage
Application Route: Request Official Full Proposal Template From UNDP Nigeria GEF-SGP

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