Applications are now open for the Biodiversity and Climate Fund that aims 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.
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) is allocated until 2025. The funding is managed in partnership with UNDP under their grant implementation rules. This funding stream specifically focuses support on Protected Area contributes to the achievement of Outcome 1: to enable meaningful financial support to priority protected areas, supporting them to effectively meet their conservation objectives. 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.
Strategic Approach
The third call for proposals under the same GEF window is existing, legally gazetted Protected Areas, both marine and terrestrial that contribute to Outcome 1 of the Fund’s Theory of Change. However, it also broadens its interest to consider cross-cutting activities under Outcomes 3, 4 and 5 that directly contribute to Outcome 1. Specifically, the call for proposals considers proposals that include one or more of the following:
Protected Area Planning: If an eligible site or organization was unable to submit a funding proposal in the first call for proposals, this will be considered. Please ensure that your proposal satisfies the strategic approach of the first finding call, available here.
Livelihood initiatives: Livelihood projects that clearly demonstrate tangible increases in biodiversity as well as the inclusion of women and youth. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the project reduces pressure on the protected area and how it will be sustained beyond the funding period. Initiatives that generate an income or in-kind contributions towards implementation of the Protected Area management plan would be considered favourable.
Research: Under this call for proposals, conducting research that aims to understand or solve an existing challenge or threat is considered if it is focused on a specific, applicable site. The research should be action-orientated and lead to an actual intervention at the site. Research component may not exceed PGK 70,000 (US$ 20,000) of a grant proposal.
Infrastructure and equipment: The call for proposals has a strong preference for supporting nature-based solutions – initiatives that use the power of nature to strengthen biodiversity or reduce a threat. Examples of nature-based interventions include mangrove restoration, wetland rehabilitation, agroforestry, reforestation or coral reef management. The purchase of equipment of built infrastructure may not exceed 30% of the total requested grant, and projects not reliant to the purchasing of equipment will be preferred. Any application with equipment or built infrastructure will be required to clearly demonstrate how it will be maintained beyond the funding period.
Capacity building: It is expected that proposals will contain a component of capacity building of local stakeholders to manage and implement biodiversity. The capacity building programme should be site specific, action-orientated and based on capacity needs that will directly lead to better management and monitoring of biodiversity and implementation of their management and business plans. The capacity building component may not exceed PGK 70,000 (US$ 20,000) of a grant proposal inclusive of all training costs.
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 24 months of signature of grant agreements.
Eligibility Criteria
Type of Organisation: 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 call for proposals. 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. A copy of Investment Promotion Authority certificate will be required as evidence.
Existing BCF Grantees: An organization or Protected Area is currently implementing a BCF grant may not apply for this call for proposals. If your organization or Protected Area applied for a grant under the first call for proposals but were unsuccessful, you may apply, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and scope of third call for proposals.
Scope of the call for proposals: Proposals submitted that do not directly relate the Strategic approach of the third call for proposals will not be considered. If you are unsure whether your initiative meets the scope, please contact the Secretariat directly. Please note, confirmation that the project meets the scope is not a guarantee of funding. The funding window is limited and the call for proposals is a competitive process.
Endorsement: At the full proposal stage the applying organization will be required to submit endorsement that this project is supported from both the proposed beneficiaries as well as relevant government entity.
Note: The BCF’s due diligence requires them to screen the legal status of applicants. It is recommended to check that your application fully satisfies the screening procedures before submission.
