Deadline: 15-Jan-22
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has announced a call for proposals for the Mountains of Central Asia Biodiversity Hotspot Small Grants Program.
The Mountains of Central Asia Biodiversity Hotspot consists of two of Asia’s major mountain ranges, the Pamir and the Tien-Shan. Politically, the hotspot’s 860,000 square kilometers include southern Kazakhstan, most of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, eastern Uzbekistan, western China, northeastern Afghanistan, and a small part of Turkmenistan.
CEPF’s investment focuses on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), defined as “sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity”, as well as priority species and corridors.
CEPF is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, 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.
WWF-Russia serving as the regional implementation team for the hotspot, is accepting project proposals from non-government organizations, community groups, cultural organizations, women’s groups, private companies and other civil society organizations for projects per the requirements
Funding Information
- Grant Size: Maximum amount US $20,000
- Projects are expected to start in 2022. Typical duration will be one to two years, but all CEPF-funded work must be complete by June 2024.
Priority Activity and Geographic Areas
CEPF welcomes projects in areas not covered by current large or small grants. At the moment, each of the KBAs have 3 or more CEPF-funded projects in whole or partially), and they would rather not fund additional projects there:
- Aksu-Zhabagly KAZ08
- Baljuvan TAJ21
- Dashtijum TAJ23
- Eastern Issyk-Kul Lakeshore KGZ31
- Ugam KAZ05
Eligible Countries
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-governmental and non-commercial civil society organizations, registered community groups and citizen cooperatives, and private universities may apply for funding. It is possible for commercial organizations, such as farms and to apply for funding by special consideration. Individuals must work with civil society organizations rather than apply directly.
- International organizations are encouraged to involve local organizations or communities as project partners and/or explain how local stakeholders will be engaged as part of project implementation.
- Organizations must have their own bank account and be authorized under relevant national laws to receive charitable contributions. Groups without a USD bank account may partner with other organizations that do have a USD bank account.
- Government-owned enterprises or institutions are eligible only if they can demonstrate that the enterprise or institution has:
- a legal personality independent of any government agency or actor;
- the authority to apply for and receive private funds; and
- may not assert a claim of sovereign immunity.
For more information, visit https://www.cepf.net/grants/open-calls-for-proposals/2021-mountains-central-asia-small-grants