USD 135 million initiative to support SIDS tackle drivers of environmental degradation

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) has launched a USD 135 million initiative targeted at 15 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) including the Maldives, to combat environmental degradation.

The 'Blue and green Islands Integrated Programme (BGHP) was launched at the ongoing Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). Under this program, SIDS will receive assistance implementing initiatives in three key sectors, which include;

- Urban development

- Food production

- Tourism

The program, managed by UNDP and funded by GEF, will support 15 out of 39 SIDS selected through a competitive "Expression of Interest" process. They include Maldives, Belize, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cuba, Mauritius, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.

In a press conference held by UNDP and GEF, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said that SIDS are on the frontlines of climate change and nature loss as they face harsh realities of sea level rise, more unpredictable weather patterns, and degraded ecosystems, yet their unique situation also means that they are also driving forward a remarkable range of innovative and interconnected solutions.

"With the invaluable support of GEF, the Blue and Green Islands Programme will serve scale up nature based solutions in the food, tourism, and urban sectors that help shift key sectors from nature- negative to native positive -- improving the daily lives of people in small islands and helping to revive the health of our world," he said.

Responding to some questions from the press, GEF stated that the program will allocate different amounts of funding to different countries. Under this fund, countries will have the opportunity to implement projects in the selected sectors. Additionally, the fund can be used for multiple projects.

The fund will be disbursed following the completion of all necessary paperwork. Typically, it takes 10 to 14 months to disburse the funds. Once disbursed, projects are expected to be completed within three years, GEF said.