Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund 2019 for Organizations (Up to $40,000 USD)
Deadline: March 15, 2019
The Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Fund 2019 is open for applications. The Global Forest Watch Small Grants Fund (SGF) seeks to promote broad uptake and innovative use of GFW tools and data by civil society around the world. Successful projects translate information into action, applying GFW to overcome challenges in protecting the world’s forests.
The fund provides financial and technical support to civil society organizations to apply Global Forest Watch data and technology in support of their work to strengthen local forest management and conservation practices, conduct evidence-based advocacy and campaigning, and promote greater transparency in the forest sector. In 2019, the Small Grants Fund will continue to focus on rapid response to deforestation early warning – converting near real-time deforestation or fire alerts into action.
Funding and Benefits
Successful applicants will receive financial and technical support from GFW to implement their proposal.
- The SGF awards organizations between $10,000 and $40,000 USD
- The number of projects awarded can range from 8-15, with 12 being the average
- Trainings and technical assistance are provided throughout the project implementation period, which will run from June 2019 – May 2020.
SGF recipients become part of a network of organizations and receive benefits that extend beyond the lifetime of their grant, including membership in the GFW Partnership, opportunities to connect with likeminded groups through GFW events and online forums, participation in GFW trainings and webinars, and opportunities to test new GFW features and applications.
Eligibility
Organization Eligibility
In order to be eligible, organizations must:
- Be legally constituted as non-profit and non-governmental;
- Have a total annual budget greater than $30,000 USD;
- Possess a computerized financial system for tracking and recording expenses;
- Be able to complete an organizational assessment document (containing questions regarding organization governance, financial and compliance structure) in fluent English.
- Receive a rating of medium to low risk on WRI’s organizational assessment, which will be carried out once finalists are provisionally selected.
NOTE: Grant recipients are required to undergo a grant-specific audit at the end of the project. GFW will cover the cost of this audit up to a pre-determined amount.
Project Eligibility
The Small Grants Fund seeks applications for projects that clearly demonstrate how the organization intends to use Global Forest Watch’s near real-time data (GLAD alerts and/or VIIRS active fires alerts) to enhance local responses to forest threats. Applicants are also encouraged to use additional GFW data as relevant, including other datasets on forest changes (such as the GLAD annual tree cover loss layer), land cover (such as the Intact Forest Landscapes layer), and land use (such as concessions data). Applications should clearly articulate who the project aims to influence and how project activities will lead to improved identification and response to deforestation.
Projects may target one or more of the following actors:
- Companies
- Local or federal government agencies
- Communities
- Journalists
- General public
Projects may employ one or more of the following approaches to influencing these actors:
- Capacity building
- Advocacy
- Enforcement
- Storytelling/journalism
Selection Criteria
The committee will systematically score all applications based on the following criteria:
- Relevance: a clear indication of how your project will support using near realtime forest monitoring data for improved forest management, enforcement and campaigning
- Clear use of GFW: demonstrating how GFW data and tools are central to the success of the project
- Cost-effectiveness: proposed use of funds is efficient, and the proposal clearly articulates how WRI funding will be leveraged to enhance existing projects.
- Feasibility: carrying out the proposed activities within the project period and with the proposed budget is realistic.
- Potential for impact: GFW data and tools lead to outcomes, such as a change in policy or recognition of an area’s legal status, a lawsuit, an investigation, a fine or penalty, or a successful campaign or boycott.
Special considerations will be given to projects that promote gender equity or social inclusion.
Application