Deadline: 11 April 2019
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in its role as the CEPF Regional Implementation Team (RIT) for the East Melanesian Islands Biodiversity Hotspot, are accepting letters of inquiry (LOI) from civil society organizations for large- and small-grant projects.
This call covers the East Melanesian Islands Hotspot (EMI) of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the islands region of Papua New Guinea.
Priorities
- Strategic Direction 1. Empower local communities to protect and manage globally significant biodiversity at priority Key Biodiversity Areas underserved by current conservation efforts.
- Support local communities to design and implement locally relevant conservation actions that respond to major threats at priority sites.
- Demonstrate conservation incentives (eco-tourism, payments for ecosystem services, conservation agreements, etc.) at priority sites.
- Strategic Direction 2. Integrate biodiversity conservation into local land-use and development planning.
- Conduct participatory ownership and tenure mapping of resources within customary lands at priority sites.
- Provide legal training and support to communities for effective enforcement of environmental protection regulations.
- Explore partnerships with private companies to promote sustainable development through better environmental and social practices in key natural resources sectors.
- Strategic Direction 3. Safeguard priority globally threatened species by addressing major threats and information gaps.
- Develop, implement and monitor species recovery plans for species most at risk, where their status and distribution are known.
- Introduce science-based harvest management of priority species important to local food security
- Strategic Direction 4. Increase local, national and regional capacity to conserve biodiversity through catalyzing civil society partnerships.
- Strengthen the capacity of local and national civil society organizations in financial management, project management and organizational governance.
- Strengthen civil society capacity in conservation management, science and leadership through short-term training courses at domestic institutions.
Funding Information
- CEPF supports biodiversity conservation through two types of grants: large grants of more than US$20,000 and small grants of US$20,000 or less.
- This open call is for both large and small grants.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-governmental organizations, community groups, private enterprises, universities and other civil society applicants may apply for funding.
- Organizations must have their own bank account and be authorized under relevant national laws to receive charitable contributions.
- Applications from organizations that propose to build capacity of local civil society and community groups are particularly encouraged.
- Projects must be located within the sites and countries identified in the ecosystem profile.
- Government owned enterprises or institutions are eligible only if they can demonstrate that the enterprise or institution can fulfill the following criteria:
- is a legal personality independent of any government agency or actor;
- the authority to apply for and receive private funds; and
- may not assert a claim of sovereign immunity.
How to Apply
- Small Grant: Download the CEPF East Melanesian Islands small grant LOI form in English via given website.
- Large Grant: Applicants must submit a letter of inquiry through the ConservationGrants electronic portal.
For more information, please visit https://www.cepf.net/grants/open-calls-for-proposals/2019-east-melanesian-islands
