The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has awarded $395,000 in small grants to 39 community-led land restoration projects across 22 countries under the inaugural G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI) Small Grants Programme.
Selected from over 650 applicants in more than 100 countries, the winning initiatives were chosen for their innovation, sustainability, and impact in restoring degraded land.
Each project will receive between $5,000 and $15,000 to support grassroots efforts that boost local economies, enhance food and water security, and build ecosystem resilience.
UNCCD’s G20 GLI Director, Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy, emphasized that large-scale impact must begin with local action. “Tens of thousands of small actors engaged in land restoration must be supported, promoted, and recognized,” he said during the announcement ceremony, which was livestreamed globally.Launched in 2024, the Small Grants Programme targets non-profit, community-based organizations with special consideration given to those empowering Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, and the elderly.
The initiative supports global restoration goals by advancing agroecology, forest regeneration, soil fertility, and sustainable agriculture.The programme’s broader aim is to help reduce global land degradation by 50% by 2040, in line with the G20 GLI’s mission established under the Saudi G20 Presidency in 2020.Among the 2024 grantees:
- Legacy of War Foundation (Rwanda) will restore six hectares of degraded land while empowering 90 women as landowners and organic farmers in post-conflict communities.
- Up2Green Foundation (India) is reforesting 60 hectares in Tamil Nadu, planting 15,000 fruit trees, and promoting coastal resilience and agroforestry.
- Sustainability and Environmental Studies Endeavor (Nepal) is reviving wetlands, farms, and forests along the Nagaraj Trail using nature-based solutions and convivial conservation.
Three high-impact projects were featured at the 2024 UNCCD Conference of the Parties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and winners will continue to be showcased at future global events.
The programme also aims to build networks and visibility for participating organizations, providing a platform for knowledge-sharing and potential collaboration.
Dr. Thummarukudy confirmed that a second round of applications will open in 2025 with increased funding and expanded support for grassroots land restoration efforts.“Innovative community initiatives are essential to creating green jobs and transforming land restoration into a driver of economic opportunity and environmental sustainability,” he said.
