Dominica National Conservation Trust Fund: Grant-making Framework

Deadline: 28-Mar-25

The Dominica National Conservation Trust Fund (DNCTF) is seeking applications from eligible registered local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local community associations, government agencies, private businesses, local universities, colleges, and other eligible entities of Dominica under its Grant-making Framework.

The project proposals shall support and fund activities under national conservation goals and priorities according to the National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (NBSAP) to reduce threats to land and marine ecosystems and strengthen the effective management of biodiversity. Innovative ideas and local communal practices that incorporate traditional knowledge within communities that have positive impacts on natural resources are highly encouraged.

The DNCTF will support conservation, restoration, and other types of activities that impact positively on protection of biodiversity and natural resources. The DNCTF would also assist in the building and strengthening of the livelihood assets.

Objectives 

• The DNCTF may consider funding grantee activities that fall within the following programmatic areas with related objectives:
  • Protected Areas and Ecosystems
    • to protect indigenous species
    • to increase acreages of PAs and its buffer zones
    • to increase forest coverage
    • to reduce risks for endangered species
    • to increase wide harvest areas
    • to reduce opportunities of new entrants of invasive species
    • to improve ecosystems and habitats of protected areas
    • strengthened systems with or surrounding protected areas
    • reduce threats to biodiversity
    • to support adaptation and mitigation actions
  • Natural Resources & Commodities
    • to increase production of native foods
    • to restore the productive base
    • to conserve indigenous food species
    • to promote the ridge to reef concept
    • to improve blue and green circular economies
    • to strengthen nature-based economies
    • to improve water quality
    • to strengthen the health and resilience of forest and coastal ecosystems and habitats
  • Deepening Collective Knowledge
    • to publish conservation related material
    • to collect data
    • to improve knowledge systems
    • to store and transfer traditional knowledge
    • institutional strengthening and capacity-building on specific topics (e.g., climatechange adaptation, alternative livelihoods)
    • strengthening the legal and policy framework for conservation of ecosystems and protected areas

Funding Information

• Approximately US$150,000 will be allocated under this Call. The grant size is from USD$ 3,000 to a maximum of US$30,000. The projects which will be funded need to be implemented within 12 months.

Non-eligible Projects

• Projects that will not be eligible to receive funding from the DNCTF include:
  • One-time and recurring operation/administrative costs of ministries, agencies, and their departments
  • Salaries for executive officers or core organization staff
  • Activities relating to extraction
  • Purchase of land
  • Projects not consistent with the DNCTF general purpose, mission, and vision
  • Projects related to political campaigns and/or political propaganda
  • Projects that violate provisions of the Inter-American Convention on Corruption
  • Projects that could be a conflict of interest

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications for funding from the DNCTF can be received from:
  • Local NGOs with direct impact on marine and/or terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem resources, legally registered and in existence for no less than two (2) years and with an established track record.
  • Local community associations/community bodies with direct impact on marine and/or terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem resources (e.g., fisherfolk associations, youth groups, women’s groups, indigenous groups etc.), legally registered and in existence for no less than two (2) years and with an established track record.
  • Public sector agencies responsible for natural resources and biodiversity preservation, conservation, maintenance, and promotion.
  • Local universities or colleges pursuing activities aligned to the vision and mission of the DNCTF in existence for no less than 2 years and with an established track record.
  • Private corporations or other companies from industries involved in marine/terrestrial ecosystem and biodiversity protection, conservation, or monitoring. Private corporations must be established in Dominica for at least two (2) years.
  • Other appropriate local entities of Dominica working toward the vision and mission of the DNCTF.

For more information, visit DNCTF.