Deadline: 1-Aug-23
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is releasing a call for Letters of Inquiry (LoIs) for organizations that address the conservation of biodiversity in light of climate change in the Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot.
The CEPF is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.
Eligible Technical Scopes
- Strategic Direction 3: Strengthen the capacity of local communities and civil society at regional and local levels to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce exposure to climate change risks.
- Investment Priority 3.1: Strengthen the technical, administrative and financial capacities of local CSOs with missions related to the environment and the fight against climate change.
- Investment Priority 3.2: Promote exchanges and partnerships (at the national and regional levels) among CSOs working in priority KBAs, to strengthen technical, organizational, management and fundraising capacities.
- Strategic Direction 4: Support research and ensure the dissemination of results for the promotion and improvement of knowledge on ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) actions and related good practices.
- Investment Priority 4.1: Support applied research activities that improve understanding of the role of specific ecosystems and test the effectiveness of promising EbA techniques.
Funding Information
- The minimum amount for large grants is US$50,000. Applications with a budget that is inferior to this amount will not be eligible for review.
- Large grant projects under this call are expected to start in January 2024 and should not have a time span exceeding 31 December 2026.
Eligible Projects
Priority will be given to projects that:
- Demonstrate clear climate change risk and how the proposed EbA activity(ies) address(es) this vulnerability.
- Adopt or promote the adoption of EbA approaches that increase the resilience of ecosystems and ecosystem services in priority KBAs.
- Address priorities identified in the national climate change policy or strategy documents of the relevant implementing country(ies).
- Demonstrate positive gender impacts.
- Demonstrate effective and efficient use of funds with a budget that is linked to results and planned activities.
- Best match the investment strategy defined in the ecosystem profile
Geographical Areas
- The activities under strategic directions 3 and 4 are eligible for all four countries (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles).
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-governmental organizations, community groups and associations, universities and research institutes, private enterprises and other civil society organizations may apply for funding.
- Individuals are not eligible. Individuals should work with CSOs to develop applications rather than apply directly.
- A government-owned enterprise or institution is eligible only if it can establish that it:
- Has a legal personality independent of any government agency or actor.
- Has the authority to apply for and receive private funds.
- May not assert a claim of sovereign immunity.
- Applicants based outside the eligible geographic areas may submit an application as long as the project deliverables are focused on the conservation needs of this call within the eligible geographies.
- Preference will be given to projects that (i) demonstrate a leading role for local organizations and/or an explicit focus on capacity building for local civil society, and (ii) show that they will coordinate with other organizations to prevent duplication of efforts, such as projects that work with partnerships and alliances. As such, joint projects with multiple organizations are eligible, as long as one lead organization submits the application and project partners have clear roles stated in the application. Applying organizations must have their own bank accounts and be legally entitled to receive grants.
For more information, visit Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).