The SGP funds, which do not exceed US$50,000, are eligible for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community based organizations (CBS) in recognition of the key role they play as a resource and constituency for environment and development concerns.
The areas supported by SGP are identical to those supported by the GEF: biodiversity, climate change and international waters.
In 2002, two additional focal area have been added, which are: land degradation and persistent organic pollutants.
Each of these five focal points has operational sub-programmes as follows:
- OP 1: Arid and Semi-arid Ecosystems
- OP 2: Coastal, Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
- OP 3: Forest Ecosystems
- OP 4: Mountain Ecosystems
- OP 13: Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity Important to Agriculture
- OP 5: Removing Barriers to Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency
- OP 6: Promoting the Adoption of Renewable Energy by Removing Barriers and Reducing Implementation Costs
- OP 7: Reducing the Long-Term Costs of Low Greenhouse Gas Emitting Energy Technologies
- OP 11: Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Transport
- OP 8: Water Body-Based Programme
- OP 9: Integrated Land and Water Multiple Focal Areas
- OP 10: Contaminant-Based Programme
- OP 15: under preparation by GEF
- OP 14: under preparation by GEF