Deadline: 31-May-24
The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) has launched a request for applications (RFA) to invite non-for-profit organisations to submit applications to support reef-positive businesses through tailored technical assistance (TA) and/or concessional finance (i.e., loans, equity, guarantees).
Sectors
- Reef-positive businesses address local drivers of coral reef degradation which fall within the following sectors:
- Sustainable Ocean Production: Refers to projects and initiatives that promote environmentally responsible fishing and aquaculture practices aimed at reducing pressure on coral reefs. This includes projects focused on the development of marine protected areas, improved fish stock management, and measures to minimize bycatch.
- Sustainable Coastal Development: Pertain to projects that encourage sustainable ecotourism practices, coastal infrastructure, and coral restoration revenue models. These businesses are designed to benefit local communities while reducing pressure on coral reefs.
- Circular Economy and Pollution Management: Involve projects that promote sustainable infrastructure and waste management to reduce pollution and sedimentation adversely affecting coral reefs. This includes efforts to establish wastewater treatment plants, enhance solid waste management, and reduce the use of plastics.
Funding Information
- Proposals will include a budget and workplan and may request a minimum of USD 500,000 and a maximum of USD 5,000,000.
- The proposal development period will last 4-6 months and will be presented to the GFCR Executive Board for approval.
Deliverables
- The RFA serves to identify qualified non-profit organisations that can provide and/or coordinate one or both of the following for for-profit businesses:
- GFCR Flexible Technical Assistance: Targeted support for businesses and/or its associated value chain and ecosystem actors, either pre- or post-investment, focussed on increasing its social and environmental development impact in support of an integrated ecosystem approach for coral reef protection and climate resilience.
- GFCR Capital Acceleration: The provision of concessional loans, equity or guarantees to to strengthen credit history and de-risk private sector investment into innovative reefpositive businesses.
- These two modalities address GFCR’s need for nimble, flexible and adaptable support for individual investments and ecosystem interventions, ensuring they meet the GFCR’s Investment Principles, safeguards, risk management, and gender standards. Together, these modalities aim to catalyze investments in conservation, foster sustainable reef-positive initiatives, and serve as a valuable model for impact investors looking to promote environmental and social gains in complex and interconnected marine ecosystems.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications are open to non-profit organizations and UN Agencies only. Applicants must have the capacity to implement, procure and coordinate technical assistance and/or concessional finance (loans, equity and guarantees) for for-profit reef-positive businesses and entities. Applications to be considered are those found to be:
- Not in the UN’s Ineligibility list, the UN/PD list, or the 1267/1989 lists; and
- Be a legally registered non-profit NGO
- Capacity to provide technical assistance and/or concessional finance to for-profit entities
- Experience in GFCR geographies and sectors
- Showcase the ability to work in a participatory and inclusive manner, engaging with a diverse spectrum of stakeholders.
- Embrace a steadfast commitment to gender and indgenious and local stakeholder mainstreaming.Add something on ESG
For more information, visit GFCR.
