Deadline: 7-Oct-22
The first call for proposals is open to existing, legally gazetted Protected Areas, both marine and terrestrial that contributes to Outcome 1 (Effective and sustainable managment of existing and future protect areas and other key biodiversity) of the Fund’s Theory of Change.
The mission of the Papua New Guinea Biodiversity and Climate Fund (BCF) is “… to catalyze financial and technical resources to enable present and future generations of Papua New Guineans to restore, protect, and enhance the country’s biodiversity and build resilience in the face of climate change”. The Fund’s purpose is to mobilize and manage funding and channel financial resources and technical assistance to conserve biodiversity and address climate change, by:
- Promoting and supporting effective and sustainable management of existing and future protected areas and other key biodiversity areas through effective conservation measures;
- Fostering climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives, focusing on nature/ecosystem-based solutions;
- Supporting sustainable development activities that deliver conservation outcomes and climate benefits and contribute to the economic well-being of the people of PNG – including customary landowners – while lessening the dependence on activities that degrade the environment;
- Increasing knowledge and understanding of biodiversity and climate issues by raising public awareness, promoting environmental education, and supporting field-based research;
- Building the capacity of local stakeholders to manage and implement biodiversity, climate, and economic development projects carried out in harmony with conservation objectives; and
- Supporting the country’s efforts to meet its national, regional, and global conservation and climate commitments.
The BCF offers grants to Papua New Guinea-based projects that contribute to the achievement of these objectives. The goal of the BCF is to competitively grant at least PGK 3.5 million (USD 1 million) annually to support the achievement of the Fund’s Theory of Change. The Fund hopes that these grants will help stimulate greater financial resources for conservation and climate action, creating stronger collaboration and coordination between partners and make a systemic change in PNG’s natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
BCF’s Theory of Change
The BCF has received grant funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support the implementation of Outcome 1 under the Fund’s Theory of Change. The PGK 9.5 million (USD 2.7 million) will be disbursed over the next four years. The inaugural allocation for this first funding call in 2022 is PGK 3.5 million (USD 1 million). The funding is managed in partnership with UNDP under their grant implementation rules.
Protected Area financing (including other effective area-based conservation measures – OECMs) are a priority for the Fund as part of its biodiversity portfolio. The approach recognizes that PNG’s protected areas are under-funded – fewer than 15% of the country’s existing 61 protected areas have any ongoing funding.
The objective under the Outcome 1 of the Fund is to enable meaningful financial support to priority protected areas, supporting them to effectively meet their conservation objectives. The scale of the interventions over the first three to five years will depend on mobilizing resources in addition to the funds provided under the GEF.
Funding Information
The BCF will provide grants up to a maximum limit of PGK 350,000 (approximately USD 100,000) to be utilized and acquitted within 18 months of initial disbursements. The Fund aims to fund as many initiatives as possible within the funding window and will select applications based on their cost-effectiveness and impact. Applications should not exceed the established maximum amount and should demonstrate that the funds can be spent in the designated time period.
Activities
The first call for funding is strategically focused on existing, legally gazetted Protected Areas, both marine and terrestrial, with the development of management plans and business plans. If management and business plans already exist, support is also considered to actions that support the sustainability of management activities and strengthen levels of biodiversity. As a result, the call for proposals will support the following activities:
- Planning
- Development of fully-costed management plans that align with the national guidelines and templates.
- Establishment of representative management – committees to govern the management of Protected Areas.
- Development of Protected Area business plans/financing plans.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring of managment and program activities.
- Implementation
- Initiatives that generate sustainable financing for the implementation of management actions.
- Development of community livelihoods projects that clearly demonstrate tangible increases in biodiversity as well as inclusion of women and youth.
- Initiatives that incentivise reduced environmental damage or enhance ecosystem services.
Eligibility Criteria
In line with the BCF’s grants manual and UNDP, locally registered non-governmental organizations or community-based organisations are eligible to apply. Public and private entities are not entitled to apply under this funding call. Lead organisations must have legally existed and operated in Papua New Guinea for at least two years. The BCF actively supports partnerships and collaborations. Organisations based outside PNG may be proposal partners but may not be the lead organization.
NOTE: The BCF’s due diligence requires us to screen the legal status of applicants. It is recommended to check that your application fully satisfies the screening procedures before submission.
Ineligible Actions
- Actions that take place outside of or do not contribute to an existing Protected Area;
- Activities with potentially significant adverse environmental and/or social risks and impacts that, individually or cumulatively, are hard to mitigate or reverse or are unlikely to be mitigated or reversed;
- Activities with potentially significant adverse impacts on vulnerable groups, particularly with respect to displacement, loss of livelihoods or cultural resources, which are unlikely to be compensated to the satisfaction of those affected;
- Activities which do not provide potentially impacted stakeholders, in particular vulnerable groups, opportunities to participate in consultation and decision-making during the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the activities;
- Activities with potentially significantly adverse impact on sites of significant archaeological, cultural or religious importance;
- Activities which do not have any measurable conservation or climate benefits, or which will not contribute to improved conservation and climate outcomes.
For more information, visit https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=95899