Deadline: 15-Jun-2026
The United Nations Development Programme is inviting Civil Society Organizations and Community-Based Organizations to submit proposals for livelihood initiatives that support biodiversity conservation around Gola National Park in Liberia. The grant opportunity has total funding of US$50,000 and will support one-year projects in Grand Cape Mount County from July 2026 to June 2027. The call focuses on community-based conservation, sustainable livelihoods, environmental protection, participatory monitoring, and long-term sustainability.
Overview
The United Nations Development Programme has launched a call for proposals to support livelihood initiatives that contribute to biodiversity conservation in communities surrounding Gola National Park in Liberia.
The opportunity is open to Civil Society Organizations and Community-Based Organizations that can design and implement practical community-level interventions in Grand Cape Mount County.
The call is implemented under the GEF-UNDP-SGP LVG Programme and aims to strengthen local livelihoods while protecting biodiversity within the Gola National Park landscape.
Key Focus Areas
The call focuses on biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihood development, environmental protection, community participation, innovative and replicable inclusion mechanisms, high-impact community interventions, participatory monitoring and evaluation, beneficiary ownership, and long-term sustainability of conservation efforts.
Projects should clearly show how livelihood activities will support conservation outcomes and reduce pressure on natural resources.
What the Programme Supports
The programme supports livelihood-based projects that help communities participate in biodiversity conservation.
Supported interventions may include activities that:
- Strengthen sustainable community livelihoods
- Promote biodiversity conservation
- Reduce environmental degradation
- Support environmental protection around Gola National Park
- Improve community participation in conservation
- Create inclusive and replicable livelihood models
- Build local ownership of conservation efforts
- Establish participatory monitoring and evaluation systems
- Deliver high-impact results within the available funding framework
The programme encourages practical solutions that benefit both local communities and the natural environment.
Project Location
Projects will be implemented in Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia.
The proposed interventions should focus on communities surrounding Gola National Park and should respond to the conservation and livelihood needs of the local area.
Funding Amount
The total funding available for this grant opportunity is US$50,000.
Applicants should prepare budgets that demonstrate strong value for money and show how the proposed activities can deliver meaningful impact within the available funding framework.
Project Duration
Funded projects will be implemented over a one-year period.
The implementation period will run from July 2026 to June 2027.
Applicants should ensure that proposed activities, staffing, timelines, and budgets are realistic for this one-year project period.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Civil Society Organizations
- Community-Based Organizations
- Organizations working with communities around Gola National Park
- Organizations with experience in livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, or community development
- Organizations with the capacity to manage project funds and activities
- Organizations able to submit complete technical, financial, and organizational documents
Applicants should demonstrate strong knowledge of local community needs, conservation challenges, and sustainable livelihood opportunities in the target area.
Why It Matters
Biodiversity conservation around Gola National Park is important for protecting ecosystems, wildlife habitats, forest resources, and community well-being.
Communities living near protected areas often depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. Sustainable livelihood initiatives can help reduce pressure on forests and biodiversity while creating alternative income opportunities.
This call matters because it connects conservation with community development. It supports approaches that allow local people to benefit from environmental protection while actively participating in the long-term management and sustainability of conservation efforts.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit a complete proposal package that includes technical, financial, and organizational information.
Step 1: Develop a Conservation-Livelihood Project Idea
Applicants should design a project that links sustainable livelihoods with biodiversity conservation.
The project should clearly explain:
- The conservation challenge being addressed
- The target communities around Gola National Park
- The livelihood activities proposed
- How the project will reduce pressure on biodiversity
- How communities will participate in implementation
- The expected environmental and socio-economic benefits
Step 2: Prepare the Technical Proposal
The technical proposal should explain the project design and implementation approach.
It should include:
- Project background
- Objectives
- Target beneficiaries
- Proposed activities
- Implementation methodology
- Quality assurance measures
- Community participation strategy
- Expected outputs and outcomes
- Monitoring and evaluation approach
- Sustainability plan
Step 3: Prepare the Financial Proposal
The financial proposal should include a detailed and realistic budget.
The budget should show:
- Activity costs
- Staffing costs
- Operational costs
- Monitoring and evaluation costs
- Administrative costs, where applicable
- Value-for-money considerations
All costs should be clearly linked to the proposed activities and should fit within the available funding framework.
Step 4: Describe the Management Structure
Applicants must explain how the project will be managed.
This section should include:
- Organizational structure
- Roles and responsibilities
- Key personnel
- Staffing arrangements
- Financial management systems
- Internal quality assurance processes
- Experience managing similar projects
Step 5: Complete the Required Forms
Applicants must complete the required proposal submission form and provide information requested through the NGO Request for Information template.
The information should be accurate, complete, and consistent with the technical and financial proposals.
Step 6: Attach Supporting Documents
Applicants must submit supporting organizational documentation.
Required documents include:
- Financial or bank statements for the previous two years
- Completed NGO Request for Information template
- Completed proposal submission form
- Other requested organizational information
Step 7: Submit the Full Proposal Package
Applicants should submit the complete technical proposal, financial proposal, required forms, and supporting documents as instructed in the call.
Incomplete or unclear submissions may weaken the application.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be assessed based on quality, relevance, feasibility, impact, and organizational capacity.
Key evaluation areas include:
- Strength of the technical design
- Responsiveness to community needs
- Relevance to biodiversity conservation
- Link between livelihoods and environmental protection
- Organizational capacity to manage funds and activities
- Quality assurance measures
- Value-for-money approach
- Management structure and staffing arrangements
- Participatory monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
- Sustainability and community ownership
The selection process will follow a Quality-Based Fixed Budget Selection methodology. This means that proposals will be judged mainly on the quality and potential impact of the proposed intervention within the available budget.
Tips for a Strong Proposal
A strong proposal should clearly connect livelihood support with biodiversity conservation.
Applicants should:
- Focus on communities surrounding Gola National Park
- Clearly explain the conservation problem
- Show how livelihood activities will support biodiversity protection
- Include strong community participation mechanisms
- Provide a realistic one-year implementation plan
- Demonstrate value for money
- Include a detailed and transparent budget
- Explain how project results will be monitored
- Show how beneficiaries will take ownership of the project
- Present a clear sustainability strategy beyond the grant period
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting general livelihood proposals that do not clearly support biodiversity conservation.
Common mistakes include:
- Not focusing on Grand Cape Mount County
- Weak connection between livelihoods and conservation outcomes
- Missing required financial or bank statements
- Incomplete NGO Request for Information template
- Unclear project methodology
- Weak management structure
- Unrealistic budget or timeline
- Poor explanation of community participation
- No participatory monitoring and evaluation plan
- Lack of sustainability strategy
- Failing to demonstrate value for money
FAQ
1. What is the UNDP biodiversity conservation livelihood call in Liberia?
It is a call for proposals from the United Nations Development Programme to support livelihood initiatives that contribute to biodiversity conservation in communities surrounding Gola National Park in Liberia.
2. Who can apply?
Civil Society Organizations and Community-Based Organizations can apply if they have the capacity to implement livelihood and conservation-related projects in the target communities.
3. Where will the projects be implemented?
Projects will be implemented in Grand Cape Mount County, focusing on communities surrounding Gola National Park.
4. How much funding is available?
The total funding available for this grant opportunity is US$50,000.
5. What is the project duration?
Projects will run for one year, from July 2026 to June 2027.
6. What documents are required?
Applicants must submit technical and financial proposals, a completed proposal submission form, information requested through the NGO Request for Information template, and financial or bank statements for the previous two years.
7. How will proposals be selected?
Proposals will be selected using a Quality-Based Fixed Budget Selection methodology. The assessment will focus on technical quality, community relevance, organizational capacity, participatory monitoring and evaluation, sustainability, and potential impact within the available funding framework.
Conclusion
The UNDP call for proposals offers Civil Society Organizations and Community-Based Organizations an opportunity to support biodiversity conservation through sustainable livelihood initiatives around Gola National Park in Liberia. With total funding of US$50,000 and a one-year implementation period, the programme encourages practical, inclusive, and community-owned projects that protect biodiversity while improving local livelihoods. Applicants should submit clear, complete, and well-structured proposals that demonstrate strong technical design, community participation, value for money, and long-term sustainability.
For more information, visit UNDP.
