Local authorities are playing an increasingly important role in combatting desertification and land degradation in developing countries. Decentralization of decision making and budget allocation make it essential to tap this area when attempting to increase investments and financial flows for sustainable land management (SLM).
The GM is an ardent supporter of South-to-South cooperation through SolArid - its South-South cooperation programme - that brings together the countries of the Sahel and the Sahara with the aim of highlighting their specific characteristics that the international community needs to take into account when developing strategies to combat desertification and poverty.
The GM is therefore delighted to announce its technical support to non-European partner countries to assist them in accessing funds available under the European Commission‘s Call for Proposals for projects implemented by local development actors, such as civil society organizations (CSOs) and local authorities (LAs).
Putting its services at the disposal of applicant country Parties, with a view to facilitating their project applications, the GM will:
- assist in identifying European NGOs or local authorities that could be partners in the project, as required;
- integrate local communities and civil society actors into the SolArid network and Scope|acp , so that such stakeholders are eligible to apply for funding;
- provide a dedicated, secure working space on the scope-acp website where potential partners can share information, documents, and develop their projects with the technical support of the GM’s South- South Cooperation team; and
- play an effective role as a technical partner to the project
The GM will make full use its Scope|acp web-based, knowledge exchange tool designed to strengthen the role of local stakeholders in decision-making processes related to SLM in its support to CSOs and LAs.
The overall indicative budget that EU makes available to support CSOs and LAs from non-European partner countries under this call for proposals amounts to EUR 6 470 677. The grants awarded per project will vary between EUR500 000 and EUR 1.5 million. The thrust of the call for proposals is on multi-country actions involving two or more countries.
Download the GM summary of the call for proposals and the eligibility criteria
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
