“Show me some stuff” by The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) in North Macedonia

The Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Established in 1992, SGP is currently active in 127 countries and promotes community-based innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable development projects only to local civil society organizations with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, and youth. SGP has supported over 26,000 community-based projects on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable land management, conservation of international waters, and chemicals and waste management, while generating sustainable livelihoods. GEF SGP has been present in North Macedonia since 2005. Until now, 153 projects were awarded in the amount of 2,919,096 US$ generating 3,211,351 US$ in co-financing (in cash and in kind).

Project title: Carpentry Educational Workshop for Reducing Furniture Industry Waste

Grantee: NGO Centar za odrzlivi inicijativi, Skopje

Grant amount/ Total amount: 30,611 US$/ 51,314 US$

Project duration: March 2022- February 2023

Project partners: Furniture Companies: Akron, Branimir kompani, Monozero; Famod, Blazic, Biba terk, Infiniti studio, and Password Production

Project background: There is currently no adult carpentry training center in North Macedonia. The people who work in carpentry are mostly self-taught, i.e. they are people who have received training through work, and people who have passed the school of carpentry are rare. In addition, the furniture industry does not approach the topic of production from the aspect of circular economy, which is why they do not see the generated waste as a potential raw material. 

Project main objective:  to promote socially responsible and environmental practices in carpentry and waste reduction in the furniture industry by creating a carpentry-educational center.

Project activities:

1. Preparation of programs and lecturers for educational workshops with development of 6 workshop programs that integrate environmental considerations in carpentry.
2. One carpentry employment workshop and training of at least 10 participants, and utilization of at least 0,5 tons of waste particle board.
3. Five Educational carpentry workshops, with environmental education of 50 participants, and utilization of at least 0,5 tons of waste particle board.
4. Establishing Sustainable Carpentry Network Management with at least 20 companies joining the network.

Expected project outcome: The project, ie the carpentry-educational center will be open to all adults, without discrimination. It is expected that at least 50 people annually from the Skopje region will benefit directly by participating in the workshops. It is expected at least another 500 people will directly benefit from the produced products. In terms of social function - employment, it is expected to have at least 5 people per year who will be trained with employment opportunities in the carpentry industry.

Gender aspect: In addition to its goals and functions, the project has set priorities, one of them is giving opportunities, self-confidence, and encouragement to women to enter carpentry. Namely, a good part of the companies (5) involved in the project are run by women and the two trainers are women

Additionally, the grantee through its project Bicycle Social Center Pedala has achieved cooperation with numerous organizations working with socially disadvantaged groups and through them will enable participation in employment training for those groups of citizens.

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