Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Program winners announced in Canada

Nigerian civil organization listed

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF), has in Vancouver, Canada announced 23 civil society organizations as the winners of its inclusive GEF assembly challenge program.

The winners of the projects were announced during the GEF assembly.

Nigerian civil organization, U-Recycle, top the list of 23 winners at the assembly in Vancouver, Canada.

The U-recycle Initiative Africa is an award-winning youth-led organization that focuses on advancing a circular economy, environmental education and climate action across schools and communities in Africa.

Esther Morenikeji Emmanuel of U-recycle Initiative Africa, said support from the Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Program would help expand the organization’s efforts to reduce plastic waste in Nigeria.

“If you want to see change, you have to start small in the areas where you can have a direct impact, It is also easy to begin taking action locally because you can see the issues so clearly.” She said.

Irohinodua correspondent who monitored the events online learnt that the 23 civil organizations selected will be celebrated during the Assembly’s Partnership Forum and will share their experiences in a number of panels and sessions throughout the week, reflecting the GEF’s focus on supporting environmental action and results through a “whole of society” approach.

The assembly which takes place once in every three to four years saw the participation of over 180 counties across the globe with the presence of different governments delegates, youths and indigenous people.

The selection of 23 civil society organizations is for a commitment to support and elevate community-driven climate and nature projects and the unique contributions of Indigenous Peoples, women, girls, and young people across the GEF partnership.

The awardees will receive a grant of up to $100,000 and gain access to networking, training, and knowledge exchange opportunities through the GEF, a family of funds that finances international efforts to address biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change.

The CEO and GEF Chairperson, Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, said the impact of environmental crisis affecting us globally are majorly felt at the local levels.

He said “Global environmental challenges affect us all, but their impacts are almost entirely locally felt. It is our privilege to celebrate and fund these locally-designed, locally-led remedies for climate resilience, coastline protection, biodiversity conservation, and more.

The Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Program is a concrete example of our focus on supporting civil society and lifting up the voices and innovations of Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, and others who have been historically under-represented in international environmental financing and policy”

However, the 23 organizations selected were chosen from nearly 600 applications received from over 26 countries which includes Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Haiti, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uganda.