Deadline: 15-Sep-22

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is looking for a civil society, non-governmental and non-profit partner, including university or research institute to collaborate in providing global technical guidance and support in the development and implementation of behavior change activities in plastics and waste management.

The principles under which this CFP will work is based on the interest of fairness, transparency and integrity. This modality is recommended as the most appropriate solicitation method for announcing available grant support under the competitive selection method. The selection will be undertaken by a committee whose decisions will be final. The eligible entities who may wish to pursue further information related to their bids may follow the UNOPS advisory related to this call for proposals.

The selected partner organization should have a track record of behavior change research and application. There is a need to transfer global cutting-edge knowledge in this area into national and local actions, and support the experimentation, monitoring and further refining of tools, methodologies and processes of behavior change initiatives.

Under the 7th Operational Phase of SGP, one of the key strategic initiaves is on Chemical and Waste Management as well as on promoting Sustainable Urban Solutions, including plastics management. SGP is working closely with the concerned GEF Secretariat team, UNDP Plastic Offer and other partners on the issue. Plastics have become an integral part of our daily life: the packaging industry has the most intensive use of plastics, but also agriculture, textiles, transportation and consumer products have a supply chain that is filled with plastic.

Funding Information

Grant funding available for the activity is up to a maximum of US$ 150,000, with an expected duration of 18-24 months.

Eligible Activities

• Key activities of this program include:
  • Long term Clean-up Campaign: Local to global whole of society clean-up campaign (eg clean-up day replicating Rwanda model) that are sustainable and long lasting that lead to behavior change. Aim to remove 100,000 metric tons of plastic waste from the environment.
  • Science: connecting citizen science, universities and global data platform to collect site-specific country based data with global presentation and consolidation, including alternative to plastics (connecting ten national universities with a global research institute in a global platform, connecting citizen science to scientific community )
  • Policy: national policy dialogues linking to global legal instrument negotiation
  • Behavior change: methodology development/implementation, questionnaires and research to monitor behavior change.
• Specific Activities
  • The specific activities to be carried out within project proposals should be clearly presented in the proposal. These activities can be further elaborated during the project’s planning and inception workshops.
  • Development of a Global Framework Strategy and Planon Plastics and Behavior Change
  • Technical Guidance Notes, Tools, Trainings and Capacity Development
  • Knowledge Management, Learning and Networking
  • Monitoring , Evaluation and Reporting

Area of ​​Work

• SGP is developing a global plastics and behavior change program in ten communities and cities in ten countries, with the following targeted behaviors:
  • Government: improved policy and regulations (bans, import restrictions and fiscal/monetary policies). Organize National Task Forces on Plastics Policy.
  • Private Sector: responsible production, better design and pay for pollution. Plastics data/information (PlasticsApp). Develop Plastics App to analyze sources, quantity, and types of plastics.
  • Society: no littering, improved collection and waste management. Whole of Society Clean-up (an integrated clean-up and waste management plan). Monthly Clean-up Day.

Eligibility Criteria

• A nonprofit entity (universities, research institutes or non-governmental organizations) with demonstrated expertise and experiences in behavior change research, experiment and practices. 
• Ability to develop tools, training and communications materials to enhance the capacity of partner universities/entities to undertake a coherent behavior change experiment/project.
• Experience in organizing training, workshops and meetings to transfer knowledge and facilitate learning and sharing.
• Knowledge of plastic and waste management issues, and how human behaviors have affected environmental protection.
• Ability to work with a global diverse team, and understanding of developing countries’ setting.
• Experiences in development and implementation of development projects.
• Experiences in plastics/waste management, ocean and chemicals and waste issue areas highly desirable.
• Adequate Administrative staff and proven track record in administering similar grants.
• Other critical considerations.
  • No sub-agreements allowed.
  • Past performance will be strongly considered when selecting the most suitable proposal.

For more information, visit https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/178933