The Commission interacts with NGOs working in environment and related matters, reaching out to the level of state districts and encouraging them to involve local communities and enabling them to exchange ideas and initiate joint activities.

The Commission has, with assistance from the World Bank, established a NGO Environment Action Fund (NEAF) to support NGOs and other community-based organizations to assist their initiatives for anticipating, preventing and solving environmental problems. The Fund is administered through a Committee ( COMNEAF ) that is chaired by the PS, GDFE and consists of eminent persons from both government agencies and NGOs.

The focus is on sustaining and supporting concrete action by non-governmental as well as community-based organizations to mitigate negative environmental impacts in emergency situations as also specific environmental problems endemic to an area. The intervention by NEAF is specific and result-oriented and because of its prompt and workmanlike procedures , more effective and efficient. Funding by NEAF concentrates on projects to mitigate negative impacts whether by human intervention or natural processes; evolving replicable modes by pilots; documental strategies; and supporting small NGOs to reinforce local initiative. In order to enhance local participation, NEAF funding expects that at least twenty percent of the project cost comes from local contribution, whether in cash or kind. Funding is also reinforced by managerial support and technical assistance. Documentation, dissemination and communication constitute a key element in the objectives of NEAF in particular success stories, case histories, models to replicate or imitate as well as lessons learnt both from success stories and shortcomings.