Locations
Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme
Global ICCA Support Initiative (GSI)
COVID-19 Support to Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ICCAs) in Belize
Call for Proposals
Objectives
Phase 2 of the Global ICCA Support Initiative (GSI) has been extended to provide support to territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities (ICCAs), with a focus on forty-five (45) countries participating in the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The ICCA GSI is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry of the Environment and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
In alignment with the GEF SGP Country Programme Strategy (CPS) in Belize for the GEF SGP 7th Operational Phase (OP7) running from 2020-2024 and relevant National COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan, proposals from eligible civil society organisations are invited to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. National and local civil society organisations (including community-based organisations, NGOs, and Indigenous Peoples organisations) are encouraged to apply based on the list of eligible criteria presented below.
ICCA-GSI Thematic Categories |
COVID-19 response: examples |
Food production systems: agroecology and agroforestry |
Strengthening sustainable and biodiversity-friendly food production systems in ICCAs focused on agroecology and agroforestry techniques aligned to Belize`s National Agroforestry efforts. |
Local bio-circular economy approaches based on reciprocity |
Income-generation activities, reciprocal food exchange networks, community-based ecotourism-based ventures, provision of food to at-risk populations, locally made personal protective equipment. |
Communication and lessons sharing through culturally appropriate means |
Translating and communicating medical and sanitary information on COVID-19 into local and vernacular languages. |
Sustainable and well governed wildlife consumption |
Promotion of sustainable and regulated wildlife consumption through good governance, customary regulation, and awareness raising. |
Prevention of zoonoses and future pandemics |
Strengthening of ICCAs to provide barriers for zoonotic disease transmission and habitat conservation through reduced habitat fragmentation. |
Transmission of traditional medical knowledge |
Documentation and transmission of sustainable techniques for harvesting, quality control, and transmission of traditional medicinal practices. Strategic efforts to safeguard Traditional Knowledge |
Territorial mapping and demarcation for self-isolation and conservation |
Mapping and demarcation to increase territorial zoning, self-isolation procedures, buffer zones and defence of conserved areas. |
Deployment of traditional knowledge of fire control and management |
Techniques to control bushfires (adapted to different savannah, forest and other ecosystems) leading to green recovery and employment opportunities. |
Criteria
Civil society organizations (CSOs) wishing to apply to the ICCA COVID-19 initiative will be expected to submit a proposal in line with the prevailing socio-economic, cultural, health and sanitary context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belize.
Individual ICCA COVID-19 projects will be expected to last for a duration up to 18 months and to have a maximum budget of US$50,000.00. All proposals will be reviewed and approved by the GEF SGP National Steering Committee (NSC). The organisation will compile a plan of action to respond to the COVID-19 crisis affecting either individual or multiple ICCAs and communities in Belize. As part of the submission, the proponent civil society organization must include the following elements:
a. A work plan and justified budget about when and how it will take action to fulfil an appropriate combination of activities, indicating but not limited to: (i) overall context on the specific ICCA, or group of ICCAs; (ii) information on previous grants and partnerships to strengthen the ICCAs; (iii) proposed activities to be undertaken to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
b. The list of expected activities and timing of delivery for a period of up to 18 months, starting in early 2021 through to mid-2023, should be in line with and respond to the GEF SGP OP7 Country Programme Strategy in Belize. The proponent organization will be expected to work closely with the GEF SGP National Coordinator (NC) in Belize, as well as other partners such as the national ICCA network and/or global ICCA Consortium.
c. Details on the specific experience and capacities of the proponent civil society organisation, including with respect to (i) community-based conservation; (ii) facilitation of networks and joint learning; (iii) monitoring and evaluation of conservation and/or governance initiatives; and (iv) capacity to work with spatial and monitoring data.
Qualifications
· Demonstrated commitment to protect and defend territories and areas conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities (ICCAs);
· Knowledge and awareness of biodiversity conservation efforts at the national level;
· Experience in organizing and hosting consultations and capacity development activities with indigenous peoples and local communities;
· Capacity to produce high quality written reports according to deadlines;
· Familiarity with key issues related to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), especially as they relate to indigenous peoples and local communities, considered an advantage
How can proponent organizations apply for a Grant?
Eligible organizations should prepare a proposal (15 pages maximum) using the standard GEF SGP proposal format and guidelines. Proponent organizations must ensure their proposed project ideas are responding to the COVID19 thematic categories and aligned to the GEF SGP OP7 Country Programme Strategy. The proposal format and the OP7 Country Programme Strategy can be requested via email at gefsgp@btl.net. For additional information please visit the GEF SGP website, www.sgp.undp.org.
The closing date for submission of proposals is on 29th January 2021 at 17:00 hours. Proposals that are not completed in the GEF SGP format and submitted after the deadline will not be considered and will be rejected. Complete proposals should be submitted electronically to gefsgp@btl.net and addressed to:
The National Coordinator
GEF Small Grants Programme
Email: gefsgp@btl.net
Telephone: 822 2462 / 610-8735
Website: www.sgp.undp.org
