The Launch of GEF SGP Publication: “Partners in Sustainable Development: Empowering Civil Societies through SGP” and SGP Grants Award Ceremony

Official Address by YB. Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas,

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)

The Launch of GEF SGP Publication: “Partners in Sustainable Development: Empowering Civil Societies through SGP” and SGP Grants Award Ceremony

12th July 2012

Mr. Asfaazam Kasbani, representing Mr. Kamal Malhotra, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme Malaysia,


Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahim Nik, Chairman, The National Steering Committee GEF SGP Malaysia,


Members of the National Steering Committee,


Excellencies,

Representatives of the private sectors,


Members of the civil society organizations,


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning.

1. Today’s event marks a significant milestone for GEF SGP Malaysia country programme especially with the publication of “Partners in Sustainable Development: Empowering Civil Societies through SGP”. The programme started in 1999, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in its capacity as the GEF National Focal Point is indeed happy to be associated with the successful implementation of the programme.

2. We are honoured to have notable guests representing various sectors. Representatives of foreign missions are here, and we note with appreciation the contributions made by some of them to SGP projects especially from the developing countries. We also have members of the corporate sector and civil society organizations present today. I believe, that a better understanding of SGP working mechanisms and the lessons learnt on implementing projects on the ground will help us in enhancing our implementation of SGP projects. At this juncture, allow me to express my utmost gratitude to those who have generously contributed funds and assistance in order to ensure the successful completion of SGP projects.

3. The SGP is designed specifically to support and advocate civil society organisations (CSOs) and local community participation in environmental protection initiatives. In this regard, I am glad to note the contributions made by SGP, which are in line with and complement Government policy initiatives to encourage community participation in environmental programmes. The SGP plays a crucial role in enhancing the capacity of CSOs to play a meaningful and significant role on environmental issues.

4. The activities covered by SGP are vast – be it the revival of traditional medicine, alternative renewable energy sources, small group based enterprises and even up to ecotourism – they are directly targeted towards realizing the benefits of many stakeholder groups in Malaysian society. The flexibility, simplified procedures and local community focused approaches applied by SGP in managing the country programme, have been successful in achieving these positive outcomes and impacts. More importantly, its ability to reach out to rural and isolated communities through its wide network of CSOs need to be recognized and taken note of.

5. The NGOs, community-based organisations (CBOs) and CSOs have become strategic partners in mobilizing national efforts in protecting and conserving the environment and natural resources. Notably the SGP publication “Partners in Sustainable Development” and its contents aptly reflect the CSOs attributes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

6. The SGP is basically an environmental thematic programme. However, through its flexible approaches, it has managed to incorporate some socio-economic activities, mainly to benefit the rural and isolated communities. One particular activity is the construction of micro hydro to generate clean energy from renewable resources and to supply the rural households. Thus far seven projects have been completed for the benefits of rural and isolated communities that are inaccessible to the national grid connection at least in the near future. I am also encouraged to learn that some private firms have voluntarily co-financed a few of these projects. I also note that there are few more still being implemented and I hope more such projects will be undertaken to benefit the relevant target groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. The publication, “Partners in Sustainable Development: Empowering Civil Societies through SGP” serves a few purposes. I believe that this would be a useful reference for community based environmental initiatives. It articulates approaches that could effectively be applied to engage and for reaching out to small and rural based CSOs. In addition, the projects illustrate good examples and project cases with potential up-scaling, replication and further enhancement of the results and policy at various levels. More importantly, it also demonstrates how small funds could contribute significantly to the improvement of quality of life at some grassroots’ level.

Thus, let me congratulate SGP Malaysia in its efforts to publish this beneficial document.

8. I am made to understand the SGP Malaysia has obtained an amount of USD 3.2 million in total grant allocation for the current phase of implementation. Out of this amount, today’s function is witnessing the handing over of SGP grants totaling USD 373,166 to nine new recipients including some rural based CSOs from Sarawak and Sabah. I hope that more CSOs especially the rural based will come forward to participate and have access to this funding facility, while inviting the private sectors to explore the possibilities of co-financing options with SGP grants.

9. At this juncture, I would like to reiterate the commitment of the Malaysian Government to protect the environment and give priority to resolving issues related to biodiversity and climate change. We have introduced numerous policies, laws and regulations aimed at mainstreaming environment into national development planning. In this regard, we are happy to note with appreciation the contribution made by GEF SGP over the years, in particular complementing the Government’s initiatives in addressing environmental imperatives through communities participation. We hope GEF SGP will continue to play a greater role through larger funding and flexible approaches and expanded outreach to smaller and rural civil societies in Malaysia. This is the way forward to help us manage environmental and climate change issues as well as enhance awareness and involvement of local communities in resolving these issues for the benefit of all.

10. On that note, it is now my pleasure to officially launch the publication by Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme Malaysia on “Partners in Sustainable Development: Empowering Civil Societies through SGP”.

Thank you.