The SGP aims to contribute to biodiversity protection and management of natural resources in line with the basic needs of the local population in the ASEAN region by strengthening the ACB in its role to promote biodiversity protection, specifically in selected ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) and adjacent areas. The Programme involves developing and implementing a range of adequate financial and technical solutions and interventions for different local partners and project types; improving implementation capacities of the target groups at local level; and improving their livelihoods.

The SGP has two components: Implementation of Small Grants and Regional Coordination.

• Implementation of Small Grants — the first component has a three-tier delivery structure:

Tier 1 is AHP site-based planning and implementation, with lead international or national Non-government Organizations (NGOs) partnering with local NGOs, community-based organizations in local communities in the project sites, and AHP Park Managers for proposing consistent small grant packages.

Tier 2 is National Project Coordination and Selection of Small Grants, where a national working team will initiate at least two calls for proposals, and will evaluate and prioritize the proposed small grant packages based on pre-defined selection criteria, the results of which will be forwarded to the national steering committee for subsequent selection. Grants may range from EUR 5,000 to a maximum amount of EUR 150,000.

Tier 3 is Regional Project Coordination, which involves final approval of small grants and regional coordination and exchange, where the Regional Project Coordination Unit at ACB will review and approve/disapprove the proposed small grant packages against the pre-defined criteria and prepare the grant portfolios for information of the ACB Governing Board.

• Regional Coordination – Component 2 will be implemented and organized by ACB, which will regularly inform and update concerned ASEAN bodies and ASEAN Member States about the progress of the programme. ACB will conduct awareness raising and promotion activities, produce publications and other information materials, and organize AHP regional conferences. It will draw and develop policy recommendations from the experiences in implementing the small grants, in consultation with ASEAN Member States.

Approximately 60 percent of the SGP funds will be used for livelihood improvement, and 40 percent for biodiversity conservation. Interventions, investments and activities eligible for small grants include conservation planning (community-based land use and conservation planning, multi-stakeholder agreements and regulations, park management planning); core conservation activities (targeted species conservation, collaborative law enforcement including biodiversity monitoring, basic training on conservation); conservation management (community forestry and mangrove management, Payment for Ecosystem Services, agroforestry); sustainable livelihood and community development (small-scale animal husbandry, small economic activities, community capacity building); and campaigns and education on biodiversity and sustainability.

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