The UNSO paper maintains that activities to be funded should be primarily community oriented; access to the fund's resources should therefore be restricted to community based organizations, NGO's and local government authorities.

The paper also lists a number of initiatives that would qualify for funding:

Promoting alternative livelihoods systems to provide incomes in drought prone areas and reduce the pressure on marginal land, such as ostrich herding and other activities not based on cattle.

Strengthening coping strategies of local communities, such as support for communal food storage schemes.

Strengthening organizations of rural people, such as training in basic organizing and management skills.