National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica Grant Program

Deadline: 18-Jun-2024

Applications are now open for the National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) Grant Program.

The National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) was incorporated in 2014 as a not-for-profit company and a locally registered charity. The NCTFJ’s goal is to promote, for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection, management and expansion of the National Protected Areas System (NPAS) in Jamaica, by providing a sustainable flow of funds to support activities such as enforcement, infrastructure, monitoring needs and other activities that contribute substantially to the conservation, protection and maintenance of biodiversity. Funding by NCTFJ is independent and complements existing funding for effective management of protected areas (PAs) any other area of environmental significance.

The National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) is a grant-making entity established to fund activities that are related to the conservation and management of a protected area or areas of environmental significance. The NCTFJ funds activities that contribute to the long-term sustainability of Jamaica’s National Protected Areas System.

Thematic focus with examples of eligible activities 

• The projects and programmes should focus on management activities and actions that protect, sustainably manage, sustainably use or restore natural and modified ecosystems, in ways that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, to contribute to both human well-being and biodiversity benefits.
• Proposals can cover any of the thematic areas or a combination of the thematic areas outlined.
  • Improved management and protection of protected areas: 
    • This can include measures that reduce physical damage to, and pressures on, ecosystems; activities that mitigate degradation and loss of natural capital and ecosystem services; address sustainable habitat management; monitoring and surveillance activities that ensure compliance with PA management plans; equipment and tools for implementing PA management activities; improving data and information sharing for PAs; strengthened participation and capacity development of stakeholders to implement management activities.
  • Restoration and/ rehabilitation of ecosystems for economic and ecological benefits: 
    • This can include the restoration of degraded ecosystems through nursery management and seedling out-planting operations; activities that will create conditions required for successful restoration, which may include, but are not limited to, the removal of invasive species and changes in hydrology; establishing coral refugia as rescue centres and nursery systems; ex situ culture and restocking for ecosystem rehabilitation; and alternative livelihoods/development of sustainable business enterprises that contribute to habitat restoration /rehabilitation. These may include, but not limited to agriculture, apiculture, value added products and eco-tourism.

Funding Information

• The NCTFJ will support programmes and projects ranging from JM$ 500,000 to JM$ 5,000,000. Programmes and projects should be at least 12 months in duration and not exceed 36 months in duration.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications for funding from NCTFJ may be awarded to the following entities:
  • Public sector agencies directly involved in the management of PAs.
  • Local NGOs that have continuously maintained operations, for at least one (1) year prior to the application date for the Call for Proposals, with active PA management operations in Jamaica consistent with the purposes of the grant.
  • Local CBOs such as community associations or community bodies that are consistent with the purposes of the grant. Local community associations or community bodies must be established and registered in Jamaica for at least one (1) year prior to the application date for the Call for Proposals.
  • Private sector entities from industries involved in PA conservation, protection/or monitoring, consistent with the purposes of the grant. Additionally, the organization should be established in Jamaica for at least one (1) year prior to the application date for the Call for Proposals.
  • Other registered organizations continuously maintained for at least one (1) year prior to the application date for the Call for Proposals with active operations in Jamaica aligned with the purposes of the grant.

For more information, visit NCTFJ.