The Birdlife International Calls Letters of Inquiry for CEPF Investment in the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot

Deadline: 31 December 2014

The Birdlife International is accepting Letters of Inquiry from civil society organizations (NGOs, community groups, universities, private enterprises) for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) investment in the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot. The basic goal of the investment is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. This call aims to provide a rapid response fund to protect Key Biodiversity Areas under immediate and urgent threat.

Applications can be made for small grants up to USD 10,000.

Strategic Direction: To improve the protection and management of the network of KBAs (Key Biodiversity Areas/high conservation value areas) throughout the hotspot

Safeguard Policies and Procedures

1. The strengthening of environmental impact assessment implementation
2. Application of the World Bank policy on natural habitats
3. Application of the Equator Principles
4. International Finance Corp Standards
5. Certification and Accreditation Schemes

The projects that will support the role of civil society organizations in the application of above mentioned site safeguard policies and procedures in order to avoid or minimize/mitigate ongoing and emerging threats on critical biodiversity habitats posed by development projects are highly prioritized.

Other supported Interventions

1. Advocacy and technical input to environmental impact assessments
2. Review of such assessments
3. Support for consultations with local stakeholders
4. Building of alliances across different interest groups
5. Development of economic alternatives

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants can be from one of the following countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique
• Proposed projects can be implemented in all Afromontane terrestrial KBAs and all Afromontane priority freshwater KBAs.
• Applications can be submitted in one of the following languages – English, French or Portuguese.

Note: Applications can be submitted any time until further notice. Applicants are requested to submit proposals sooner to secure fund for their projects.

For more information, please visit Birdlife Call for Proposals.