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SGP Panama showcased at the Expo Terra Event
on Earth Day
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After the launch, the First Lady of Panama Marta Linares de Martinelli, who inaugurated the event, stopped by the SGP booth and congratulated the local team while she mentioned that she had heard about the GEF SGP projects and its special focus on gender issues and capacity building activities in rural areas. The event also served as the platform for launching a publication about good practices for “Sustainable Animal Husbandry” with the participation of the Minister of Agricultural Development, Emilio Kieswetter and prominent figures related with that sector.
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The five SGP projects presented at the fair focused on: cleaner charcoal production through the use of underground Japanese style furnace; crop diversification from policultivation systems in the Darien region; medicinal plants and soaps that enhance the use of biodiversity-based products; the agronomic practices of the Sweet Potato Producers Association of Cucula that reduce erosion and agrochemical use; and coffee from the highlands near La Amistad National Park a World Heritage site in Panama. Visitors at the fair had the unique opportunity to spoke with the producers and beneficiaries themselves, to learn more about the environmental benefits and impacts of these projects.
In addition, Jose Manuel Perez, the SGP National Coordinator, gave a conference on Sustainable Agriculture showcasing SGP´s experience in Panama and its impact on small scale farmers and cattlemen through alternative practices.
About the GEF
The GEF unites 182 countries in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independent financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.
Since 1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $8.3 billion in grants and leveraging $33.7 billion in co-financing for over 2,200 projects in over 165 countries.
About the GEF Small Grants Programme
Launched in 1992, SGP supports activities of nongovernmental and community-based organizations in developing countries towards climate change abatement, conservation of biodiversity, protection of international waters, reduction of the impact of persistent organic pollutants and prevention of land degradation while generating sustainable livelihoods.
Since its creation SGP has provided grants to 12,000 communities in 122 developing countries. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as a corporate programme, SGP is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership, and is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
Media contacts:
Ana Maria Currea, Knowledge Management Facilitator, GEF SGP,
ana.maria.currea@undp.org, 212-906-6028
Maureen Lorenzetti, Spokesperson GEF Washington
mlorenzetti@TheGEF.org, 202.473.8131,