This event is a celebration of 30 years of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), highlighting the critical role of civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities to address the global biodiversity crisis. GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodriguez and other speakers will reflect on the unique features of the SGP as a global delivery mechanism – decentralization, social inclusion, direct access to finance, shared and equitable governance – with a view to scale up, accelerate, and replicate local actions.

Speakers

Opening Remarks
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez - CEO and Chairperson, GEF

Zhao Yingmin - Vice Minister, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China
Sandra Patricia Vilardy Quiroga - Minister, Ministry of Environment, Colombia
Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster - Minister, Samoa
Tina Rai - Women’s Biodiversity Network
Lucy Mulenkei - Chair of the GEF Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group
Samba Thiam - Senior Policy Development Advisor to the Administrator

Moderator
Yoko Watanabe - Global Manager, SGP, UNDP