About

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invites applications for the ICCA-GSI South Africa Technical Support Facility under the second phase of the Global Support Initiative for Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ICCA-GSI). The initiative supports recognition of ICCAs, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and climate resilience, in alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework. The programme focuses on South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, particularly the Richtersveld, Nama-Khoi, Kamiesberg, and Hantam landscapes, where community-led conservation initiatives are being implemented. Through this opportunity, a qualified organisation will provide technical and catalytic support to ICCA-GSI grantees and the UNDP Small Grants Programme, helping communities assess needs, strengthen conservation governance, apply the ICCA-GSI monitoring and evaluation framework, document results, and use evidence for adaptive management of community-conserved areas. Activities include training on the Self-Strengthening Process, Resilience and Security Index, and Project Management Tool; supporting ICCA registration in the Global ICCA Registry and Protected Planet; facilitating the use of Mapeo for ICCAs where relevant; improving data quality and monitoring systems; conducting monitoring visits; and producing knowledge products such as impact reports and case studies. The selected organisation will serve as a facilitator rather than a direct grant implementer, while promoting community ownership, participation, gender equality, social inclusion, and the application of free, prior, and informed consent principles. Grants of up to US$40,000 are available, with applicants required to submit a detailed budget in South African Rand (ZAR). The assignment is expected to run for approximately 20 months, from January 2027 to August 2028, subject to final agreement on the workplan and implementation schedule.

Eligibility

Applications are open to legally registered organisations based in South Africa, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), consulting firms, and other eligible institutions with relevant technical expertise. Applicants must demonstrate proven experience working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, participatory and community-led processes, ICCA-related approaches, project management, monitoring and evaluation systems, data quality assurance, capacity-building, and community learning methodologies. Organisations should possess the technical capacity to provide monitoring, training, facilitation, documentation, and knowledge-management support across the project lifecycle. Working knowledge of Afrikaans is required. Proposals will be assessed based on organisational experience and expertise, technical approach and methodology, capacity to support community-based conservation initiatives, understanding of ICCA frameworks and participatory processes, and the quality and value-for-money of the proposed budget and workplan.

Post Date: October 22, 2026