Local communities are often the first to face environmental threats, yet they have limited access to resources for solutions, which the Small Grants Programme (SGP) was created in 1992 to address.

By providing up to $50,000 for community-led projects that also support livelihoods, the SGP has delivered more than 18,000 grants in over 125 countries. To assess progress since the 2008 evaluation, the GEF and United Nations Development Programme independent evaluation offices conducted a joint evaluation covering 2008–2014. Its initial findings are also included in OPS5. The evaluation used mixed methods including portfolio reviews, country case studies, field visits, stakeholder interviews, and a global survey.

Findings show that SGP projects remain effective and relevant, generating environmental benefits while supporting poverty reduction and gender equality, with replication and scaling-up evident. The introduction of upgrading expanded resources and clarified expectations, though selection criteria are suboptimal, while governance systems are strained and monitoring tools remain overly complex.

The report recommends revitalizing the SGP Steering Committee, revising criteria for upgrading, consolidating the program under a single framework, and simplifying monitoring and evaluation systems.