UNDP: COVID-19 Support to Territories and Areas in Belize

Deadline: 29-Jan-21

The Global ICCA Support Initiative (GSI) has been extended to provide support to territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities (ICCAs), with a focus on forty-five (45) countries participating in the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The ICCA GSI is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry of the Environment and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

In alignment with the GEF SGP Country Programme Strategy (CPS) in Belize for the GEF SGP 7th Operational Phase (OP7) running from 2020-2024 and relevant National COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan, proposals from eligible civil society organisations are invited to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ICCA-GSI Thematic Categories

Food production systems: agroecology and agroforestry;
Local bio-circular economy approaches based on reciprocity;
Communication and lessons sharing through culturally appropriate means;
Sustainable and well-governed wildlife consumption;
Prevention of zoonoses and future pandemics;
Transmission of traditional medical knowledge;
Territorial mapping and demarcation for self-isolation and conservation;
Deployment of traditional knowledge of fire control and management.

Funding Information

Individual ICCA COVID-19 projects will be expected to last for a duration of up to 18 months and to have a maximum budget of US$50,000.00.

Eligibility Criteria

Civil society organizations (CSOs) wishing to apply to the ICCA COVID-19 initiative will be expected to submit a proposal in line with the prevailing socio-economic, cultural, health, and sanitary context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belize.
All proposals will be reviewed and approved by the GEF SGP National Steering Committee (NSC). The organisation will compile a plan of action to respond to the COVID-19 crisis affecting either individual or multiple ICCAs and communities in Belize. As part of the submission, the proponent civil society organization must include the following elements:
- A work plan and justified budget about when and how it will take action to fulfill an appropriate combination of activities, indicating but not limited to: (i) overall context on the specific ICCA, or group of ICCAs; (ii) information on previous grants and partnerships to strengthen the ICCAs; (iii) proposed activities to be undertaken to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The list of expected activities and timing of delivery for a period of up to 18 months, starting in early 2021 through to mid-2023, should be in line with and respond to the GEF SGP OP7 Country Programme Strategy in Belize.
- Details on the specific experience and capacities of the proponent civil society organisation, including with respect to (i) community-based conservation; (ii) facilitation of networks and joint learning; (iii) monitoring and evaluation of conservation and/or governance initiatives; and (iv) capacity to work with spatial and monitoring data.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated commitment to protect and defend territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities (ICCAs);
- Knowledge and awareness of biodiversity conservation efforts at the national level;
- Experience in organizing and hosting consultations and capacity development activities with indigenous peoples and local communities;
- Capacity to produce high quality written reports according to deadlines;
- Familiarity with key issues related to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), especially as they relate to indigenous peoples and local communities, considered an advantage.