Deadline: 27-Jun-21
The IUCN SOS African Wildlife initiative is calling for proposals for New Threatened Species Grants Program to support Civil Society Organisations involved in conservation activities.
Objectives
The objectives of this initiative are:
- to demonstrate impact of conservation actions on threatened species and their habitats in Africa and
- to empower and strengthen civil society organizations, which are committed to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
- to enable and support CSOs engaged in the conservation of selected threatened species to carry out sustainable conservation measures at local level to protect the species, their habitats and to improve the livelihoods of the people who depend on them.
Funding Information
- Grant size can vary from a minimum of EUR 25,000 and a maximum of EUR 300,000.
- A minimum of 10% confirmed matching funds is required for grants from EUR 25,000 to EUR 99,999 and 20% confirmed matching funds is required for grants between EUR 100,000 and EUR 300,000.
- Therefore, the maximum contribution from SOS will be limited to a maximum of 80% of the grant up to EUR 300,000 and 90% of the grant up to EUR 99,999.
- The maximum duration of the project should be 24 months.
Eligible Activities
- Projects must focus on improving the status of the target threatened species (African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Ethiopian Wolf, Leopard, Lion, small carnivores, equids, bovids and giraffids). The list of eligible species is available. Priority will be given to projects focusing on Critically Endangered and Endangered species. Projects targeting Vulnerable species (other than the five large African carnivore species) will be accepted in cases where immediate investments are necessary to avoid rapid declines.
- Projects must be implemented in Sub-Saharan continental Africa (with the exception of South Africa). The following countries are eligible: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Project proposals must indicate how they will address agreed recommendations. If a project is proposed outside the Key Landscapes for Conservation / priority sites identified in the European Union’s “Larger than Elephants” strategy or include activities not included in existing action plans and strategies, this must be stated clearly and detailed reasons given.
- Projects must implement concrete conservation activities on the ground.
- Projects that are slated to provide benefits to multiple threatened species and their habitats will be viewed favourably in the selection process.
- Applications for projects that include aspects of human-wildlife conflict should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the underlying social and political contexts of the given conflict situation, and how the work proposed will address some of these. Where this is not possible, the proposal should explain how such an understanding will be gained before a conflict mitigation strategy is developed.
- Applications that address illegal wildlife trade and that include a component engaging indigenous peoples or local communities should include clear thinking on the “theory of change” or logical sequence that is likely to lead to a reduction in poaching for the illegal wildlife trade, with attention to the underlying incentives facing community members and how the project intervention changes these. Where this is not known, the proposal should explain how this understanding will be increased in order to formulate such a theory of change.
- Proposed activities must observe all relevant environmental and social Principles and Standards. Short-listed projects will be subjected to a full Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) screening through the use of the ESMS questionnaire.
- Community based conservation projects would be favoured. Attention should be paid to the fact that relief projects are not the same as structural support towards improving livelihoods.
- Incubator type projects with sustainable outcomes are welcome where the project initiates a concept that is implemented in the long term by the government and other partners.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for a grant the applicant must be:
- a legal person
- be non-profit-making
- be a civil society entity, local or international non-governmental organisation. Projects presented by local and national CSOs, including indigenous organizations (Community Based Organisations) will be favourably considered. African NGOs are encouraged to apply. International NGOs applying will be required to work closely with national stakeholders, local communities and with the consent and all required authorizations from the government. If international NGOs apply, overseas costs (indirect costs, salaries and international travel) will have to be minimal and justification for their need provided. In the case of international NGOs having a legally registered office in Africa, SOS will privilege the signature of a grant agreement and direct transfer of funds to their African registered office. Working with governments is encouraged although governments and government-affiliated entities are not eligible to receive grants directly. The costs of travel for government bodies (for example for attending a workshop) can be reimbursed if they are directly linked to the project.
- applicants cannot have a conflict of interest in applying for this call. A conflict of interest may arise in particular as a result of economic interests, political or national affinities, family or emotional ties, or any other relevant connection or shared interest.
- applicants cannot be current employees of IUCN or close relatives (i.e. immediate family) of IUCN employees.
- applicants can submit a maximum of two applications as the lead organization, but they can be a sub-contractor in as many applications as they want.
- applicants benefiting from an ongoing SOS grant at the time of the submission deadline for applications cannot apply for a grant under this call for the same project location, but they may still apply for funding for another project location.
For more information, visit https://iucnsos.org/call-for-proposals/