CEPF calls for applications from 14 countries and territories
Apia, Samoa, 1 March 2010 – The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the Conservation International Pacific Islands Program (CI-PIP) invite applications for grants for critical activities to help conserve the natural wealth of the Polynesia-Micronesia biodiversity hotspot.
The Current Call for Proposals period is from Monday 1 March 2010 to Friday 9 April 2010.
In September 2008, CEPF and CI-PIP launched a special fund to conserve the terrestrial biodiversity of the Polynesia-Micronesia region. The fund is active for five years from 2008 until 2013 and is being managed by a partnership between CI and CEPF called a Regional Implementation Team. The purpose of the fund is to engage and build the capacity of non-governmental organizations to achieve terrestrial conservation.
CEPF is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the World Bank.
Since the launch of the fund in the Polynesia-Micronesia Hotspot, two Calls for Proposals (CFPs) in September 2008 and March 2009 have been completed for 14 eligible Pacific Island countries and territories (Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Fiji, Niue, Cook Islands, Palau, FSM, Marshall Islands, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Eastern Island, Pitcairn and Tokelau). The fund focuses on three main elements: the prevention, control and eradication of invasive species in key biodiversity areas; strengthening the conservation status and management of a prioritized set of 60 key biodiversity areas and building the awareness and participation of local leaders and community members in the implementation of threatened species recovery plans.
Of the total grant envelope of US$6 million for the Polynesia-Micronesia Hotspot, more than 50 percent ($3.2 million) has already been committed to projects. In Year-1 of the program (May 2008 – June 2009) most of the eligible countries have received grants with only Niue, Wallis & Futuna, and Easter Island yet to receive grants. Twenty six projects are currently being supported, 12 of these receive large grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 USD, while the remaining 14 are small grant projects with a ceiling of $20,000 USD. The largest grant portfolio is under the first strategic direction of the fund targeting the prevention, eradication and control of invasive species, followed by the conservation of threatened species and finally the conservation of key biodiversity areas.
The Polynesia-Micronesia Biodiversity Hotspot is one of the most threatened of Earth’s 34 biodiversity hotspots, with only 21 percent of the region’s original vegetation remaining in pristine condition. The Hotspot faces a large number of severe threats including invasive species, alteration or destruction of native habitat and over exploitation of natural resources. The limited land area exacerbates these threats and to date there have been more recorded bird extinctions in this Hotspot than any other. In the future climate change is likely to become a major threat especially for low lying islands and atolls which could disappear completely.
CEPF and CI Pacific are currently inviting applications from eligible organizations for a CEPF grant.
In this call for proposals period, priority will be given to applications that demonstrate the following characteristics:
General Criteria
• Existence of co-financing or the ability to leverage additional funds;
• Demonstration of coordination with other organizations to reduce duplication of effort;
• Priority consideration will be given to NGO and CBO applications however partnerships with regional or international organizations, or consultants to provide technical support and expertise are eligible;
• Endorsements are obtained from relevant local agencies or authorities;
• Clear plans for continuation and/or replication after initial CEPF funding;
• Support indigenous and local communities in community-based or co-management activities for biodiversity conservation and actions that enhance local communities’ tenure and resource use rights;
• Applicants are encouraged to provide detailed information on the sustainability component of the project in the proposal (it would be a bonus to have income generating activities promoted through local communities).
Geographic Focus:
• Whilst all 14 countries are eligible for CEPF grants, applications from Niue, Wallis and Futuna and Easter Island are particularly encouraged to submit LOIs for a small or large grant.
Thematic Focus:
Species Conservation:
• Applications are encouraged that deal with conservation of highly threatened native plants and land snails;
• Applications targeting threatened species conservation are encouraged to focus on the implementation of species recovery plans and on environmental awareness work on the ground.
Key Biodiversity Area/Sites:
• Projects to be implemented in priority CEPF KBAs are encouraged to include local communities residing around the site to be involved and be part of the project from the beginning until the end;
• We encourage applications that secure KBA sites and improve their conservation and management especially in the following countries – French Polynesia, Fiji and Federated States of Micronesia which together have the highest number of priority KBA sites in the Polynesia-Micronesia Hotspot.
Invasive Species Management:
• We encourage applications in invasive species to target on-the-ground field work demonstration on invasive species management and control.
For more information on the funding criteria and how to apply for a CEPF grant please visit:
www.cepf.net/where_we_work/regions/asia_pacific/polynesia_micronesia/Pages
/default.aspx or www.cepf.net