Supporting African civil society through the financing of small biodiversity- and climate-themed projects (PPI 6)

The FFEM has been supporting African civil society since 2006 through the Small Initiatives Programme (PPI), which finances community-led projects nurturing biodiversity and climate through real-world action. Over its 5 phases, 251 projects have been financed in 28 African countries - with financial support totalling almost €14m.

While PPI have historically demonstrated their effectiveness and efficiency, the programme remains relevant today. In fact, biodiversity continues to degrade in Western and Central Africa, the support provided remains vital, particularly in terms of professionalising civil society organisations (CSOs). This is the backdrop for the launch of PPI6.

The project has three components:

• Support the emergence of new CSO partners for the PPI programme, and implementing nature-based solution (NBS) projects that they have led on biodiversity conservation and the fight against climate change.
• Reinforce the impact of previous partners of the PPI programme in regions where they are justified and where major nature conservation challenges remain.
• Enhance the ability of CSOs to influence governments and the private sector.

• Finance around 50 projects in the three major regions, following the launch of 4 calls for projects.
• Follow-up projects on technical, financial and administrative fronts, together with undertaking monitoring and review missions on the ground.
• Formulate of capability diagnostics, and the development and implementation of action plans for extending those capabilities (provision of technical expertise).
• Disseminate CSO's project outcomes with African civil society, technical and financial partners, and decision-makers.

The programme, which was launched by the FFEM in 2006, is truly innovative since it helps foster a civil society with environmental understanding and awareness. The goal is that this society should be capable of influencing public policies in countries where historically it was weak and largely passive.

The PPI assists existing CSOs as they expand and develop, particularly at institutional and organisational levels. PPI support for the CSOs and the strengthening of their capabilities continue throughout the programme in a way that is adapted to their particular needs. It also encourages peer-to-peer dialogue and the creation of networks and communities of practice to disseminate the solutions developed.