Deadline: 30-Nov-20
An announcement has been made for a call for Expression of Interest (EOI) for the pre-selection of local partners for the USAID/Uganda Biodiversity for Resilience (B4R) Activity in Uganda.
The (B4R) Activity will provide direct financial support in the form of sub-awards from its Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) to private sector and other community-based enterprises for the following target landscapes and sectors in Uganda.
The USAID/Uganda Biodiversity for Resilience (B4R) Activity (June 2020-June 2025) is implemented by RTI International together with consortium members African Wildlife Foundation, (AWF), Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), and Viamo. The main goal is to support communities, the Government of Uganda (GoU), and the private sector to conserve and manage biodiversity in target ecosystems for lasting environmental, economic sustainability, increased community, and household resilience.
Target Landscapes
- Kidepo Valley National Park (NP) area: Karenga Community Wildlife Area (KCWA) and Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) of Timu, Morungole, Nyagea Napore, Lwala, and Rom. Districts: Karenga, Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Kitgum, and Agago ;
- Murchison Falls NP area: Murchison Community Conservancy (MCC) and Budongo CFR. Districts: Oyam, Kiryandongo, Masindi, Buliisa, Nwoya, and Amuru;
- Lake Mburo NP area: Rurambira Conservancy. Districts: Isingiro, Kiruhura, and Mbarara and Rakai.
Funding Information
- Awards range from $50,000 to $150,000 per project with specific results-oriented milestones;
- Award duration is between 24 to 36 months.
Target Sectors
- Climate-smart, Organic and/or Restorative Agriculture – across the entire value chain with a focus on value-added crops.
- Eco-Tourism – nature-based tourism (both accommodation and activities).
- Forestry – sustainable indigenous tree planting, non-timber forest products (e.g. honey, shea nut), and sustainable timber harvesting.
- Wildlife-based Enterprises – game ranching and other ancillary products from wildlife (e.g. crafts).
- Renewable Energy – products/services both in biomass and solar sectors.
- Aquaculture – environmentally-compliant fish farming.
Eligibility Criteria
The B4R SIF will target primarily private sector organizations, as well as eligible non-profit and community-based entities with business activities, which are owned and/or operated by individuals, entrepreneurs or cooperatives, and are officially registered as private enterprises and legally allowed to conduct business in Uganda.
In addition, applicants must have:
- A functioning governance and management structure;
- Physical presence in the target landscapes;
- Other co-investment for the project (e.g. by owners, members, or others);
- A clear and compelling business/project and financing plan.
Criteria
The B4R SIF aims to stimulate investment into the nature-based economies in its target landscapes. Thus, applicants must:
- Operate or plan to operate in or around one of the B4R target landscapes.
- Demonstrate plans to make a positive and measurable impact and contribute to biodiversity conservation in the B4R target landscapes, for example:
- Integrate conservation planning into its business models to support landscape-level conservation goals;
- Address the specific conservation threats (e.g. stop deforestation, reduce human-wildlife conflict, adopt land-use planning guiding agricultural practices);
- Contribute to sustainable management/utilization of conservancies and/or ‘buffer’ and ‘corridor’ landscapes;
- Produce direct income for the management of a biodiversity area (such as a lease or fees);
- Value biodiversity by generating nature-based revenue flows to relevant stakeholders.
- Develop resilient and diversified local economies, with the participation of women, youth, and other disadvantaged groups.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2UvCxtk