SMILO launches Call for Proposals: Grants for Small Islands Solutions (GSIS) Program

Deadline: 30-Jun-2020

SMILO is launching its new call for proposals: Grants for Small Islands Solutions (GSIS) to support representatives and local associations, and more broadly the action of the civil society in Senegal, Cabo Verde, Tunisia, Sao-Tome & Principe, and Madagascar.

It will also allow SMILO to discover and support stakeholders from islands that are not already part of its network. They strongly believe that they have the potential to create inspiring initiatives that will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and which are therefore worth being promoted to other islands, on a larger scale.

SMILO NGO supports small islands of less than 150km² towards the sustainable management of their territory and resources. It bolsters integrated operations for the preservation of islands’ natural resources, in relation to water and sanitation, waste, energy, biodiversity, landscapes and heritage issues. The Sustainable Island label rewards the positive local dynamics and sustainable practices. Currently, 18 islands are involved in the labelling process.

SMILO provides further support with the Islands Fund, which finances concrete and sustainable operations on the ground. To strengthen cooperation and solidarity between islands, the NGO coordinates an international network, with members from West Africa, the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean.

Funding Information

The amount of this grant goes from €1,000 to €3,000.
The funded activity will be implemented during the period going from July 2020 to February 2021.

Eligibility Criteria

You are a civil society organisation and your activities take place on island smaller than 150 km2 in Tunisia, Cape Verde, Senegal, Madagascar or São Tomé and Príncipe. Whether you are a member of SMILO’s network or not, you can apply to this grant!

Your project is eligible under two conditions:

It is part of a sustainable development approach, as described in the SMILO strategic principles (available here). Its main objective is to meet the need for biodiversity and ecosystems conservation (e.g. it concerns the conservation of endemic species of your island or the protection of an essential ecosystem for the biodiversity of your island, such as a mangroves or coral reefs…). In a complementary way, it could fall under one of the following sustainable development areas:
- Sustainable management of clear water and sanitation;
- Energy, sustainable energy and energy efficiency, etc.;
- Waste reduction and treatment, development of alternatives to plastic;
- Landscape and heritage (integration of landscape in projects, enhancement and conservation of exceptional cultural and/or natural heritage, etc.);
It is innovative and inspiring for your territory, its population and its biodiversity. As such, it could:
- Motivate other islands to replicate it (e.g. the island of Bolama (Guinea-Bissau) would like to replicate the organic waste treatment project that has been implemented on the island of Principe (São Tomé and Príncipe));
- Could possibly be developed over the medium/long term by creating a local initiative (e.g. the “Zlarin plastic-free island” initiative which purpose is to make the island of Zlarin (Croatia) the first plastic-free Croatian island) or a new artisanal production chain (e.g. creation of traditional jewellery from recycled glass on the island of Gorée (Senegal));
- Mobilise numerous local stakeholders over multiple months through the implementation for example of an awareness campaign for tourists, involving well-known local personalities (such as actors, singers, politicians, etc.).