The 3rd Call for Proposals Small Grant Facility Mangroves for the Future (MFF SGF) ประกาศรับสมัครการให้ทุนโครงการขนาดเล็กโครงการป่าชายเลนเพื่ออนาคต รุ่นที่ 3

What is Mangrove For the Future (MFF)

Mangrove For the Futureis a regional initiative involving six Indian Ocean countries that were profoundly affected by the Tsunami of December 2004. Each of the six countries has a strategy setting out its approach to the sustainable development of its coastal areas, with particular emphasis on improving living conditions of its coastal habitants, the establishment of resilient communities and the sustainable conservation and utilization of the natural resources that are a fundamental part of the development infrastructure.  

What is MFF Small Grant Facility (SGF)

It is a corporate programme of MFF, implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). MFF SGP specifically aims to give grants to community based activities. Characteristics of MFF SGP projects are as follows:

v  Involve community participation in their design, implementation and evaluation, and cooperation/ coordination from both public and private sectors in locality.

v  Contribute environment benefits to integrated coastal resources management, community resilience to natural hazards, disasters preparedness, including adaptation to climate change impacts

v  Include at least 50% of in cash/ in kind local/ national contribution and cost sharing by other stakeholders such as national government, local government other donors and NGOs and business sectors.

v  Are consistent with community livelihood security with regard to consumption of natural resources, community capacity building and financial viability prompting community behavioral adjustment.

v  Encourage the application/ replication of indigenous knowledge, observe traditional ways of life and promote participation from woman and youth groups in implementation of the projects.

v  Are cost-effective estimated by sustained activities after project completion, by comparison of benefit in relation to budget, by comparison with other projects/ activities with similar objectives and by replicable of activities. In addition, project results must be explainable, describable, and measurable.

Who are eligible to apply for grants

Proposals can be submitted by Community-based organization, Non-Government Organization, Community Occupation Group and Tambon Administrative Organization which meet the following criteria:

1. Demonstrate a proven, or otherwise strong potential capacity to implement community-based projects in the fields of coastal rehabilitation, conservation and/or sustainable use of natural resources

2. Have a proven record of working with local communities in a participatory way.

3.  Can demonstrate experience in project management and financial administration

Geographic focal areas

Two geographic focal areas are on the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand coast. The Andaman coast ranges from coastal zones and islands of Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi with possible extension to Trang. On the Gulf of Thailand coast, the areas cover Chumporn, Surat Thani and Nakorn Si Thammarat.

Basic criteria

1. The SGF will have two categories of project funding:

• small (< US$ 10,000)
• medium (< US$ 25,000)

1. The maximum financial assistance provided by the SGF will be USD 25,000 per project. There is no project minimum. 
2. For medium grants (USD 10,000 to 25,000) the NCB may first request a pre-proposal or concept paper, depending on the experience of the project proposer, or the nature of the project.
3. SGF project proposals with a budget request of less than US $10,000 may be prepared in the local language without the need for translation into English.
4. The maximum period for a SGF project will normally be 18 months, and exceptionally 2 years.
5. Only after successful completion of a project (approved final technical and financial report), can the grantee apply for a second SGF project.
6. The SGF project proposal must be based on a participatory approach; it should show that the project (a) will not adversely affect the positions of the various stakeholders, (b) it seeks to harmonise with the needs, views, expertise and experience of local stakeholders and associate them with the management and (c) it is based, whenever possible, on a participatory approach.
7. Project proposals must explicitly integrate gender issues and/or address gender related concerns.
8. Funding will only be provided for projects in the priority coastal areas, based on the MFF National Strategy and Action Plan.

Potential eligible activities

v  Provision of alternative livelihoods and natural resources management for local and indigenous communities residing in the focal areas of marine biological diversity

v  Promote innovative community based coastal rehabilitation, both from natural (Tsunami, coastal erosion) and man-made damage (shrimp farming and pollution).

v  Build local capacity to implement sustainable development strategies, creating ‘local ownership’ and community networking.

v  Create public awareness on environmental issues as an integral part of the project.

v  Address livelihood, incomes, and equality and gender concerns.

v  Demonstrate potential for replication or scaling-up, and co-financing.

v  Create an impact on policy at National/State/District level with evidence-based information as decision support and demonstration of good practices.

 For more information please contact

poonsin.sreesangkom@undp.org

suwimol.sereepaowong@undp.org