MFF Sri Lanka SGF Call for proposals 2013

Mangroves for the Future (MFF)

Investing in Coastal Ecosystems

Small Grant Facility – Phase 2 (Cycle 3)

 Call for Proposals

Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a regional initiative that is being currently implemented in nine countries -Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.  This initiative has two objectives: to strengthen the environmental sustainability of coastal development; and to promote investment in coastal ecosystem management. MFF provides a collaborative platform for the many countries, sectors and agencies tackling the challenges to coastal ecosystem conservation and livelihood sustainability and is helping them to work towards a common goal.

The MFF Sri Lanka National Steering Committee (NSC), chaired by the Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, provides overall guidance and technical oversight to the MFF Sri Lanka component, which is managed by IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Sri Lanka Country Office.  Under this initiative, a Small Grant Facility was launched to finance sustainable local level initiatives in coastal areas, with the main objective of financing small projects to support local community action for the restoration and management of coastal ecosystems and their use on a sustainable basis. The first phase of this facility was completed in 2010, while 32 grants have been awarded under Cycle 1 and 2 of Phase 2, which commenced operation in December, 2010. 

Proposals are now invited for Phase 2 (Cycle 3) of the Small Grant Facility.  The upper limit of a  grant value is Rs. 2, 000, 000/=.   The duration of projects will be 12 to 18 months.

The Small Grant Facility supports activities to address livelihoods, supplementary income for coastal communities, equality and gender concerns, initiatives to create public awareness on environmental issues and build local capacity to implement sustainable development initiatives, disaster risk reduction and environment management efforts, building resilience of coastal communities and actions to create an impact on policy at the national, provincial, district and the divisional levels.

Proposals can be submitted by national/local NGOs, CBOs, academic and scientific institutes, small scale businesses and enterprises.

During the current cycle, support for activities in the Batticaloa Lagoon, Kokilai and Nayaru Lagoons, Manalkadu sand dunes, Jaffna and Thondamanaru Lagoons, and the inhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, will be considered.

More details on the eligibility criteria on the Small Grant Facility and guidelines for submission of Pre-proposals can be obtained from the MFF National Coordinator, IUCN Sri Lanka, 53, Horton Place, Colombo 7 (Fax: 011 2682470; e-mail (kumudini.ekaratne@iucn.org) and from the website of IUCN Sri Lanka (www.iucn.org/srilanka).

Pre-proposals in accordance with the given guidelines should reach the IUCN Sri Lanka Country Office no later than 1700 hours on 4 April, 2013.

IUCN Sri Lanka Country Office

53, Horton Place, Colombo 7.