Call for EOIs: Implementing Partners for the Rapid Rescue to Conservation Crises (R2C2) Facility

Deadline: 11-Feb-2026

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) Rapid Rescue to Conservation Crises Facility (R2C2) invites civil society organizations to serve as pre-screened Implementing Partners to respond to urgent conservation crises in countries receiving European Union development aid. The facility addresses both natural and human-induced threats to biodiversity, including wildfires, poaching, pollution, and security threats to environmental staff. Selected partners receive training, annual due diligence, and support to rapidly deploy resources for effective crisis response.

Overview

The Rapid Rescue to Conservation Crises Facility (R2C2), managed by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and funded by the European Union through Agence Française de Développement, is designed to provide swift responses to urgent threats to biodiversity in eligible partner countries.

The facility pre-identifies Implementing Partners with the capacity to respond quickly and effectively to conservation emergencies, ensuring timely deployment of resources when crises occur.

Purpose and Objectives

The R2C2 Facility aims to:

• Respond to immediate conservation crises arising from natural causes, including:

  • Wildfires

  • Droughts

  • Volcanic eruptions

  • Earthquakes

  • Cyclones

  • Mass strandings of animals or plants

• Respond to human-induced crises, including:

  • Security threats to environmental activists or protected area staff

  • Sudden increases in poaching

  • Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing

  • Accidental or intentional pollution events

  • Acts of terrorism affecting biodiversity

• Strengthen rapid deployment capacity of conservation organizations

• Ensure pre-screening and training of Implementing Partners for efficient grant management

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations eligible to apply as Implementing Partners must:

• Be civil society organizations or NGOs with substantial experience in biodiversity conservation

• Have an established presence in one or more EU development aid recipient countries

• Be legally authorized to receive charitable contributions and maintain a bank account

• Demonstrate geographic and technical capacity to address a wide range of conservation crises

Certain government-owned institutions and for-profit entities may also qualify if they meet specific independence and legal criteria.

Selection and Requirements

• Selected Implementing Partners will undergo annual due diligence

• In the first year, partners receive training on R2C2 systems and policies to ensure effective crisis response and grant management

• Partners are expected to deploy resources rapidly during conservation emergencies

Why This Program Matters

The R2C2 Facility strengthens global biodiversity protection by:

• Enabling swift and effective responses to urgent environmental threats

• Supporting organizations already present on the ground to act quickly

• Protecting vulnerable species, ecosystems, and conservation staff during emergencies

• Complementing long-term conservation initiatives with rapid-action capacity

How to Apply

• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered as a pre-screened Implementing Partner

• Include evidence of organizational capacity, experience in conservation, geographic presence, and legal eligibility

• Demonstrate the ability to respond rapidly to a variety of conservation crises

Conclusion

The CEPF Rapid Rescue to Conservation Crises Facility provides a critical mechanism for responding to urgent biodiversity threats in EU development aid recipient countries. By pre-identifying capable Implementing Partners, CEPF ensures timely, effective, and coordinated interventions to protect ecosystems, species, and conservation personnel in moments of crisis.

For more information, visit CEPF.