Deadline: 4-May-22
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is pleased to announce Threatened Species Grants program to support on-the-ground conservation actions with the goal of improving the status of threatened sturgeon species and their habitats in the Black Sea basin, specifically supporting remaining spawning habitats in the Lower Danube and the Rioni watersheds.
The objective of this Call for Proposals is to enable and support conservation projects that can apply sustainable conservation measures to protect threatened sturgeon species, their habitats and to improve the livelihoods of the people who depend on them. The portfolio of this initiative aims to achieve a synergistic approach in preserving shared natural resources across multiple countries, and build upon previous and ongoing efforts in species conservation.
Funding Information
- Indicative financial support made available for grants is CHF 548,000 in total.
- Threatened Species Grants can amount to a minimum of CHF 50,000 and a maximum of CHF 150,000.
- Co-funding by the applicant using its own resources is encouraged but is not a requirement. Should co-funding to the action funded by IUCN be received from a third party, such co-funding will need prior approval from IUCN.
Project Duration
- The maximum duration of the project can be 36 months. The start date of the project will be determined by the date of the signature of the grant contract. The performance of the contract cannot start before its entry into force. Project Results and Activities need to be attainable within set timeframe.
Eligible Species
- Projects must focus on improving the status of threatened sturgeon species in the BlackSea basin – those listed as Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR)
- On the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
- Beluga – Husohuso, (CR)
- Russian Sturgeon – Acipensergueldenstaedtii, (CR)
- Ship Sturgeon – Acipensernudiventris, (CR)
- Stellate sturgeon – Acipenserstellatus, (CR)
- Sterlet – Acipenserruthenus, (VU)
- Atlantic Sturgeon – Acipensersturio (CR)
- In the case of a taxonomically disputed subspecies or sub-population, that differ from the above listed species and their taxonomic status on the IUCN Red List, please present elaboration with reference to the most recent relevant publications.
- On the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
- Projects that are slated to provide benefits to multiple eligible threatened species and their habitats will be viewed favorably in the selection process.
Eligible Location
- Projects must be implemented in the following countries: Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania or Serbia, on the Danube or Rioni watershed sites relevant to eligible sturgeon species.A proposal can however be based and registered in an ineligible country, as long as the project is implemented in the eligible territories.
Eligibility Criteria
- In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant and co-applicants must be :
- a Legal person and;
- Be non-profit-making and;
- Be a local or national civil society organisation (CSOs), a local or an international nongovernmental organisation (NGOs), or a university/ research institution; Projects presentedby local and national CSOs including community-based organizations will be favorably considered. 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, with minimal travel costs, and office charges applied only in the case of existence of a local office. In the case of international NGOs having a legally registered office in the country where the project is implemented, IUCN Save their Species will privilege the signature of a grant agreement and direct transfer of funds to their local registered office. Working with governments is encouraged although governments and government-affiliated entities (with the exception of state-affiliated universities or research institutions) are not eligible to receive grants directly.
- Be directly responsible for the preparation and implementation of the grant project. Applications submitted by a body acting as an intermediary for a third party are not eligible; have a bank account in the name of the organization;
- Be authorized under relevant national laws to receive charitable contributions, including from sources outside their respective countries.
- The lead partner may act individually or with co-applicant(s). If awarded a grant, the lead partner will become the beneficiary identified as the “Grantee” in the grant contract. The Grantee is the main interlocutor of the IUCN Save their Species Secretariat. The Grantee represents, and acts on behalf of any other co-applicant (if any) and coordinates the design and implementation of the action. The Grantee will bear full responsibility for the technical and financial implementation of the project.
- An applicant can submit a maximum of two proposals as lead partner and can be a partner organization in any number of applications. Nonetheless, an organisation can only be awarded one grant as lead partner. If two proposals where an organisation is lead partner successfully pass the assessment steps, only the proposal with the highest score will be retained for the award of a grant. An applicant can participate in multiple awarded grants of other lead partners.
For more information, visit https://speciesgrants.iucn.org/