Funding Call to Enhance Ecosystems & Educate Responsible Communities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Deadline: 15 January 2020

The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Conservation Fund (SVGCF) is seeking applications from eligible registered government agencies, local universities or colleges, registered local or regional (Caribbean) non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private businesses, local community associations, and other appropriate local entities of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines under its Grant-Making Framework.

Types of Projects

The call for proposal will focus on projects with activities that directly support:

• Biodiversity conservation programs (e.g., trainings on climate change adaptation for marine and terrestrial ecosystems)
• Implementation of restoration activities
• Habitat, species, and natural resources conservation and management (e.g. habitat management, control of invasive species),
• Survey and assessment of coral reef health and regeneration (including establishment of regular coral reef ecosystem monitoring),
• Promote community awareness about PAs
• Biodiversity and conservation Workshops (e.g., to raise awareness of climate change and Protected Area regulations)

The grant-making process will conform to the grant-making policies and procedures in the Operations Manual of the SVGCF and the Grant-Making Framework. This Request for Proposals is financed with resources from The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) under the management of SVGCF.

Grant-Making Goals

Projects to be supported should contribute to the realization of the two (2) Grant-Making Goals of the SVGCF, which are:

• Grant-Making Goal – Protect and enhance ecosystems: Protect and enhance critical ecosystems in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines against threats inclusive of pollution, unsustainable development, climate change.
  • Projects to be supported which will contribute to the realization of this Grant-Making Goal will include:
    • Increased capacity for conservation, restoration, and climate change adaptation planning and implementation, Decreased pollution from land-based sources in ecosystems, Ecosystems and habitats restored
  • This intervention category covers a range of activities that directly restore or rehabilitate habitats in order to reduce climate risks. Illustrative activities include:
    • Biodiversity conservation programs (e.g., trainings on climate change adaptation for marine and terrestrial ecosystems) implementation of restoration activities
    • Habitat, species, and natural resources conservation and management (e.g. habitat management, control of invasive species)
    • Survey and assessment of coral reef health and regeneration (including establishment of regular coral reef ecosystem monitoring)
    • Provision of ecosystem surveying and monitoring equipment
• Grant-Making Goal – Educate and create responsible communities: Educate, raise awareness and empower citizens of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to support conservation efforts, with a focus on youth and gender mainstreaming.
  • Projects to be supported which will contribute to the realization of this Grant-Making Goal will include:
    • Increased collaboration between communities, agencies/ministries, and individuals to respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations
  • This intervention category covers activities on community engagement to raise awareness about PAs and climate change. Illustrative activities include:
    • Promote community awareness about Pas biodiversity and conservation Workshops (e.g., to raise awareness of climate change and Protected Area regulations)

Projects Size

Approximately $350,000.00 XCD is allocated under this Call for Proposals. Grant size may range from $5,000 – $50,000 USD.

Project Duration

Funded projects may be implemented within a maximum of 24 months.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications for funding from the SVGCF may be received from the following entities:

• Public sector agencies of the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines responsible for natural resource, protected areas and biodiversity conservation. Public sector agencies must provide a 1:1 match of funds through in-kind or cash contributions for all proposals; in-kind contributions may be no more than 50% of the match.
• Local universities or colleges conducting activities relevant to the vision, mission, goals, and strategies of the SVGCF.
• Local or regional (Caribbean) NGOs established, legally-registered and existing in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for no less than 5 years and with an established track record and complementary source of funds.
• Private corporations or other companies from relevant industries involved in marine/terrestrial ecosystem and biodiversity clean-up, protection, conservation, and/or monitoring. Private corporations must provide a 2:1 match of cash funds for all proposals, and they must not generate a profit through project activities.
• Local community associations/community bodies with direct impact on marine and/or terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem resources (e.g., fisherfolk associations, youth groups, church groups).
• Other appropriate local entities of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines working toward the vision, mission, and goals of the SVGCF.

For more information, visit https://svgcf.org/index.php/resources/