Deadline: 31 May 2019

The West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WA BiCC) Program is implemented by Tetra Tech ARD on behalf of USAID. The overall goal of WA BiCC is to improve biodiversity conservation and promote climate-resilient and low-emission development across West Africa.

WA BiCC is regional in scope and design and focuses on targeted geographical areas within the region to improve governance and policy over critical natural and human systems. By working through regional partners and with targeted national and sub-national institutions, WA BiCC seeks to increase the capacity of individuals and institutions at all levels to jointly address the three core WA BiCC components:

• Combat Wildlife Trafficking
• Increase Coastal Resilience to Climate Change, and
• Reduce Deforestation, Forest Degradation, and Biodiversity loss in selected coastal and forest landscapes across West Africa.

Grant Objectives

WA BiCC is interested in the development of PPPs that increase overall funding for and support to sustainable natural resource management, CWT and/or improved, eco-friendly and sustainable livelihood development within forest-buffer communities. These could be developed with the very companies that are directly or indirectly involved in or incentivize unsustainable practices or with others that are not but which are looking to fulfill CSR objectives.

Example Activities that are eligible for support include but are not limited to the following:

• PPPs between eco-tourism companies, NGOs supporting eco-tourism activities and other private sector entities interested in supporting eco-tourism;
• PPPs between buyers of NFTP or agricultural commodities grown by communities living around protected forest areas that focus on sustainable NRM while also improving the livelihood of forest populations. Potential companies include logging companies, cocoa and coffee buyers, those cultivating or sustainably harvesting medicinal plants, etc.
• PPPs that support income generating activities that have lesser impact on (or even support regeneration of ) wildlife or forest resources. they are particularly interested in innovative ideas for alternative, eco-friendly income generation activities.
• PPPs that support the development and adoption of new technologies that support local communities while also supporting sustainable NRM, community forest management, CWT and even community awareness of the importance of protecting protected forest areas while also supporting local community livelihood enhancement.
• PPPs that support the promotion of intensive agroforestry systems and linkages to market outlets.

Geographic Focus

Applicants must propose to work in one or more of the WA-BiCC targeted ECOWAS member countries which target local communities in WA-BICC targeted landscapes: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana.

Award Information

• WA BiCC anticipates awarding up to five (5) grants from this solicitation.
• Awards are anticipated to range from $50,000 to $300,000. In accordance with Automated Directives System (ADS) 302.3.4.13, U.S.-based organizations are limited to $100,000.

Period of Performance

The applicant shall specify the period of performance for the project being proposed. It is anticipated that the duration of the grants will be no more than 12 months. All grant activities must be completed and closed out on or before March 31^st , 2020.

Eligible Entities

The following types of entities are eligible for an award under this solicitation:

• Private enterprises or firms (profit is not allowed under USAID grants);
• Civil society organizations (CSOs);
• Community-based organizations (CBOs);
• International, national, regional, and local organizations;
• Non-US NGOs;
• US NGOs (up to $100,000);
• Private foundations and universities;
• Business associations

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically at the address given on the website.

For more information, please visit https://www.wabicc.org/ads/cfcn/