In its seventh operational phase in Egypt, the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) is playing a highly effective and influential role in supporting the transition to sustainable agriculture. This is achieved through funding a series of pioneering projects that target vulnerable farming communities, promote sound management of natural resources, and provide environmental and economic empowerment to smallholder farmers.
In the villages of Armant, Luxor Governorate, the Pioneers of the Future Association for Economic Development organized awareness seminars and field meetings under the project “Together for Building Sustainable Agricultural Communities”. The events introduced techniques for planting sugarcane using seedlings and solar-powered irrigation systems. Agricultural consultants provided practical explanations of the benefits of these practices in saving water, reducing costs, and increasing productivity, thereby raising farmers’ awareness and spreading a culture of clean agriculture.
In Qena Governorate, the project “Sustainable Management of Our Natural Resources”, implemented by Al-Shorouk Association for Rural Women Development in Naqada, succeeded in changing farmers’ practices with sugarcane waste. Instead of open burning, the waste is now converted into organic fertilizer and animal feed, significantly reducing harmful emissions and opening new opportunities for a local green market.
Luxor also witnessed another pioneering initiative by Nour Al-Islam Charitable Association, which trained residents to recycle horse manure into organic fertilizer. The project culminated in the launch of the first batch of this organic fertilizer during a large conference attended by representatives from relevant ministries and development experts. The initiative received widespread media praise as a real-life model for turning waste into economic resources that support sustainable agriculture.
In Beheira Governorate, the project “Climate Change Adaptation and Protection of Agricultural Land”, implemented by the Egyptian Association for Local Community Development, is running farmer field schools in Kafr El-Dawar and Abu Homos centers. These schools raise awareness about practices that mitigate climate change impacts, such as recycling agricultural waste and protecting strategic crops, while also economically empowering rural women through a comprehensive approach to sustainable agriculture.
From the heart of Al-Adayma village in Luxor, the Coptic Association for Social Care launched the project “Applications of Regenerative Agriculture to Address Climate Change Impacts”. The initiative established demonstration fields to apply raised-bed wheat cultivation techniques, which have proven effective in conserving water, increasing yields, and improving soil aeration — thereby enhancing food security and helping rural communities confront the effects of climate change.
These projects clearly demonstrate how small grants, when intelligently directed toward the most needy communities, can generate massive impact. The Small Grants Programme does not merely fund environmental projects; it builds genuine development partnerships between civil society, local governments, and farmers — all working together toward a greener and more sustainable future.