 | NEWSLETTER CONTACT FAQ SEARCH SITE MAP |
| ||
|
  |   | ||||
 |   | ||||
 |
|
 | ABOUT CEPF OUR STRATEGY NEWS WHERE WE WORK PROJECT DATABASE APPLY FOR GRANTS  |  | Frequently Asked Questions - CEPF Grants EligibilityWho can apply for a CEPF grant? Nongovernmental organizations, community groups, private enterprises, and other civil society applicants may apply for funding. Government-owned enterprises or institutions are eligible only if they can establish that the enterprise or institution i) has a legal personality independent of any government agency or actor; ii) has the authority to apply for and receive private funds; and iii) may not assert a claim of sovereign immunity. Can Conservation International programs apply for grants? CI is not eligible to receive a set share of the funds but may apply for grants and have its application considered following the same process as all other applicants. However, as CI administers the global program, its proposals must also be approved by the CEPF Working Group to avoid potential conflict of interest. Proposals will be reviewed and, where appropriate, approved based on their merit and the applicant’s comparative advantage in helping to implement the CEPF strategic directions for the region in question. Can CEPF Regional Implementation Teams apply for grants? To avoid potential conflict of interest at the hotspot level, neither the individual groups that comprise the Regional Implementation Teams nor other offices and programs of those organizations will be eligible for additional grants in that particular hotspot. Applications from formal affiliates of those organizations that have an independent operating board of directors will be accepted, but subject to additional external review.What types of proposals does CEPF approve? Proposals that target direct global environmental benefits and meet the following eligibility criteria are welcome:
Yes. If an applicant wishes to perform work in multiple areas or support more than one strategic direction for a particular area, separate proposals may be submitted.Applying for CEPF GrantsWhere is CEPF currently accepting proposals? Currently, unsolicited applications for grants are accepted only in the following regions: How can an organization apply for funding? All applicants must first submit a letter of inquiry. Letters of inquiry for a grant of $20,000 or less constitute the full proposal. For grants of more than $20,000, if invited, applicants then submit a more detailed proposal. The letter of inquiry form is available in the Apply section or can be requested and returned via other means: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Timeframes and procedures for submitting proposals may vary for each region. Details are available in the Apply section. CEPF will stop accepting proposals for a particular area or strategic direction in that area once the designated funds are committed. If this occurs, grant applicants will be advised on this site. What is the maximum time a grant can cover? Five years, however the time available for each project may differ depending on the region in question and the amount of time remaining for implementation of the overall investment strategy. Is there a maximum amount an applicant can request for a project? Yes. As of July 2007, CEPF will not fund projects of $1 million and above. Specific requests for proposals may also include a ceiling on the amount an applicant could request. In general when determining the amount to request, applicants should keep in mind that CEPF aims to create a diversified portfolio of grantees and projects to best meet its conservation objectives and help strengthen the involvement of civil society in conservation. Will CEPF cover core costs? Yes. CEPF can cover core costs, such as salaries, rent, and maintenance. These costs, however, must support a specific grant proposal and within that proposal, a specific output. Core costs are inevitable in achieving conservation outcomes, but they must be merited, budgeted, and reported on appropriately.Is technical assistance available? Yes. Technical assistance is available by e-mailing: cepfsupport@conservation.org or through Regional Implementation Team or CEPF staff directly for both parts of the process. Detailed help and instructions are also available in the applications themselves. How are decisions made? The CEPF partners have agreed on a specific grant decision-making process. For new regions approved for investment beginning in 2007, the Regional Implementation Team will determine whether applications up to $20,000 will be funded. The relevant CEPF grant director together with the Regional Implementation Team, and in consultation with the CEPF Executive Director, will determine whether an application for above $20,000 will be supported.Why might a proposal be rejected? Funding for the appropriate strategic direction in the ecosystem profile may already be allocated or the activities may duplicate efforts already supported. In other cases, the proposed project may fall outside geographic or thematic funding priorities. In some cases, the project may be too ambitious for the requested time frame or beyond the demonstrated expertise of the applicant. Sometimes a proposal includes activities that CEPF cannot support, such as relocation of people or the purchase of land. Whatever the reasons, CEPF will communicate these directly to the applicant. Grant ManagementHow are the funds disbursed to grantees? CEPF grant agreements describe the terms of reference, payment schedules, and disbursements procedures for each grant. Grant payments are made based on approved financial reports and projected cash needs specific to the project supported. What are the reporting requirements for CEPF? All grantees must submit regular programmatic and financial reports in a specific format. The frequency of programmatic reporting required is specified in each grant agreement. The format has been designed to be a useful program management tool. The programmatic reporting relates to demonstrating progress with respect to the performance indicators in the project design. The financial reporting is based on the approved budget. 
| | |
