Deadline: 15-May-22
The Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF) has launched its BCAF Readiness Support Call for Proposals to increase the global supply of investment-ready blue carbon restoration projects.
Coastal blue carbon ecosystems are environments that support mangroves, tidal marshes and sea grasses. They play a crucial role in CO2 removal and long-term storage of carbon. They also provide significant benefits for biodiversity, supporting livelihoods and protecting shorelines.
Readiness Support that will help project developers with activities to get coastal blue carbon restoration projects ready for implementation and future private sector finance – growing the global portfolio of credible and investment-ready blue carbon projects.The purpose of the Readiness Support is to increase the global supply of investment-ready coastal blue carbon projects.
The BCAF Readiness Support will help project developers in developing countries to commence and establish projects in a credible manner ready for next phase investment by:
- Directly funding activities to mature their project.
- Providing capacity building opportunities.
- Supporting technical collaboration between various project developers.
- Assisting with brokering future investors.
Funding Information
A total of $1, 6 AUD million funding is available for project Readiness Support. Readiness Support funding will be available to a maximum of AUD 240,000 per project, funding allocation will depend on the scope of the activity and its complexity.
Geographical Focus
The project must be located within at least one coastal blue carbon ecosystem. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems include:
- Sea grass
- Mangroves
- Tidal marshes (saltmarsh)
- Sparsely vegetated saltmarshes (salt flats) and
- Supratidal swamp forests.
Positive Environment and Social Impacts of the Project
- Coastal and/or marine habitat conservation and/or restoration value across ecosystem services.
- Any additional, clear, ideally quantitative, social and environmental impacts.
- Low environmental, social and governance risks (including gender aspects).
Eligible Activities
The following activities related to coastal blue carbon are eligible for funding under the BCAF Readiness Support:
- Coastal blue carbon project feasibility assessments, including related scientific work.
- Coastal (blue carbon) area management plans.
- Environmental and social impact assessments.
- Financial and economic analysis of projects, including accounting.
- Legal, technical and commercial consultancies.
- Blue carbon business planning (OPEX costs and revenue forecasts).
- Stakeholder mappings and engagement (meetings etc.).
- Preparation of regulatory filings and related public processes and
- Project monitoring and implementation planning.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility legal entities under the BCAF Readiness Support are:
- Non-governmental organizations (NGO) and
- Private sector entities (small to medium type enterprises, incl. social enterprises, startups and carbon project developers).
- National or sub-national government entities (national or other jurisdiction government authorities) will not be eligible to receive grant funds. However, the BCAF Readiness round favors project proposals that can demonstrate linkages and engagements with, or sponsorship from, local authorities or other government entities.
For more information, visit BCAF.
For more information, visit https://bluenaturalcapital.org/bcaf/cfp/