To support participatory development, implementation, and enhancement of NbS projects for climate change adaptation, a Special Fund was established under the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation. The Special Fund aims to:
- Increase capacities of women and communities in developing/designing and implementing NbS with biodiversity co-benefits;
- Ensure women and community participation in protecting, enhancing, and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity; and
- Protect and enhance biodiversity that provides multiple ecosystem goods and services.
The Special Fund supports three types of grants over the Program lifetime: (1) site-based grants to implement NbS; (2) thematic grants to demonstrate NbS; and (3) grants to sustain public support for NbS.
Public Support Grants are open to projects that enhance support for NbS in the Philippines by (1) strengthening the implementation of existing NbS initiatives by deepening specific approaches or expanding their scope, (2) mainstreaming NbS across more diverse contexts and audiences, and/or (3) contributing to the sustainability of NbS at various levels.
View the full Request for Proposals here (https://tinyurl.com/publicsupportRFP).
Find FAQs on the Public Support Grants below:
Eligible activities
| Question | Answer |
| What types of projects qualify under Public Grants? | Public Support Grants shall support projects that enhance support for NbS in the Philippines by: 1. Strengthening the implementation of existing NbS initiatives by deepening specific approaches or expanding their scope; 2. Mainstreaming NbS across more diverse contexts and audiences; and/or 3. Contributing to the sustainability of NbS at various levels. |
| Can research projects / baseline assessments / other knowledge generation activities be supported under the grant? | Eligible activities include, but are not limited to: 1. Enhanced capacity and knowledge building, knowledge co-creation and sharing on NbS (e.g. cross-site or thematic learning exchanges on NbS, participatory action research, co-development of knowledge products, toolkits, modules, and/or and knowledge sharing opportunities on gender-responsive NbS) for current PCP4NbS grantees, partners, and relevant stakeholders; 2. Supplemental funding for existing NbS initiatives that respond to climate-related hazards, to enhance particular approaches (e.g., gender-responsiveness, engagement of new/more stakeholder groups, technical and practical capacity to implement NbS, expansion or scaling of geographic scope, etc.); 3. Communications and advocacy that fosters awareness, understanding, and uptake of gender-responsive NbS (e.g., development of communications and knowledge products, awareness campaigns, involvement of new stakeholders, legal and policy advocacy for NbS institutionalization, etc.); and 4. Other complementary activities that contribute to the sustainability of gender-responsive NbS initiatives in PCP4NbS areas/sites and other areas in the Philippines. Note the limited budget and implementation period of the grant: PhP 1,000,000 to PhP 2,000,000, with an implementation period of up to 8 months starting in February 2027 onwards. Particular consideration will be given to strengthening, enhancing, or expanding existing or ongoing NbS initiatives that strongly contribute to Program outcomes. |
Geographic scope
| Question | Answer |
| What are sites covered under the Public Support Grants for NbS? | Priority shall be given to eligible projects within the PCP4NbS priority areas and project sites. These include: 1. Batanes 2. Calamianes group of Islands in Palawan 3. Camarines Sur 4. Negros Occidental 5. Negros Oriental 6. Davao de Oro & Davao Oriental 7. Maguindanao del Sur 8. Misamis Oriental 9. Sarangani Province 10. Leyte Projects in other areas across the Philippines may also be supported, provided they demonstrably contribute to strengthening the implementation and sustainability of ongoing NbS initiatives, and/or the improved understanding and recognition of NbS as an effective response to climate change impacts. Particular consideration will be given to strengthening, enhancing, or expanding existing or ongoing NbS initiatives that strongly contribute to Program outcomes. |
Eligible recipients
| Question | Answer |
| Who can apply for a Public Support Grant? | The following entities are eligible to receive funds under the Program: 1. Non-government organizations (NGOs) active in the Philippines involved in environmental conservation, development, education, scientific research, ecosystems management, gender equality, and/or other related fields. NGOs refer to non-government organizations duly registered under Philippines laws; 2. Organized, registered and/or recognized community-based organizations, people’s organizations (POs), indigenous peoples’ organizations (IPOs), and/or women’s rights organizations (WROs) who work in the environment and/or development field; and 3. Other appropriate local or regional entities active in the Philippines. Implementation may be through integrated projects by one organization, or several organizations in a consortium agreeing to perform or achieve particular outputs. Consortium members may include a combination of private and public entities that involve local communities in project planning and execution. However, the main proponent and fund recipient must be an eligible recipient as identified above. We encourage eligible proponents to form partnerships and collaborations with other organizations and institutions, including LGUs, government agencies, educational institutions, local associations, etc. |
Proposal template and annexes
| Question | Answer |
| Where can we download the proposal templates? | The proposal template and required annexes can be downloaded from the Request for Proposals, at https://www.forestfoundation.ph/proposals/special-fund-for-nature-based-solutions-public-support-grants/ . |
| Can the submitted proposal exceed the indicated number of pages in the proposal template? Can we attach other supporting documents to the proposal? | The proposal must be as concise as possible. If there are sections that need further elaboration, the proponent should summarize the key points in the main body of the proposal and add details as annex/es. Other supporting documents may also be provided. Please label all annexes clearly. The prescribed length of each section of the proposal is indicated in the proposal template. The proposal templates and required annexes can be downloaded from the Request for Proposals, at https://www.forestfoundation.ph/requests-for-proposals. The proposal, annexes, and all relevant attachments must be submitted via http://grants.forestfoundation.ph by November 23, 2026, 5:00 pm. |
| Should target outputs be quantified in the proposal? | Yes. Results must be measured as specific, quantified outputs, e.g.: # of persons trained, stakeholders engaged, knowledge products co-developed and shared – and sex disaggregated, etc. It is encouraged to include both quantitative and qualitative indicators in the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (PMEF). Please see the section on Expected Project Results in the proposal template, linked in the full Request for Proposals: https://tinyurl.com/publicsupportRFP. |
Budget
| Question | Answer |
| Can we purchase equipment related to project implementation? | Purchase of equipment is allowed under a project if it will be directly used for the implementation of activities. The proposal must illustrate the direct relevance of the equipment purchased to the planned activities. |
| Is a counterpart required? | Proponents are not required, but encouraged, to provide a counterpart. This may be monetary or in-kind (including professional fees, equipment, vehicle usage, among others). All counterpart contributions must be quantified and included in Annex A. Work and Budget Plan. |
Project timeline
| Question | Answer |
| Can the project start later than March 2027? | Yes. February 2027 is the earliest possible start date for a project, but may start later, as long as there is sufficient time to complete all project activities considering the close of project by October 2027. All awarded grants must be closed no later than October 2027, and should be considered in the proposed time frame. |
Proposal submission
| Question | Answer |
| How do I submit my proposal? | You may already access the proposal template and annexes in the Request for Proposals: https://tinyurl.com/publicsupportRFP To prepare for proposal submission, create an account in the Grant Portal (https://grants.forestfoundation.ph) as soon as possible, to ensure smooth activation and use of your account. Upon creation of an account, it must be activated within 24 hours. The activation link will be sent to the registered email. This is a security feature to limit the creation of spam accounts. Once your account is activated, you may also download the same proposal documents through the Grant Portal. Create your proposal in the Grant Portal under Public Support Grants, and accomplish the necessary templates and annexes. Submit all documents through the Grant Portal on or before November 23, 2026, 5:00 pm. For questions about proposal templates, submission process, accessing and using the Grant Portal, reach us at pcp4nbs@forestfoundation.ph. |
Using the grant portal
| Question | Answer |
| What should I do if I encounter problems accessing or using the Grant Portal, such as account creation, difficulty in logging in, password reset, etc.? I just created an account, but I am having trouble logging in. What can I do? | All proposals must be submitted via the Grant Portal (https://grants.forestfoundation.ph). Create an account as soon as possible, to ensure smooth activation and use of your account. Upon creation of an account, the account must be activated within 24 hours. The activation link will be sent to the registered email. This is a security feature to limit the creation of spam accounts. Any password change requests done before activation will result in automatic expiry of the account activation (even if 24 hours have not yet passed). If you are experiencing login or account access issues, kindly send an email to pcp4nbs@forestfoundation.ph with a description and screenshot of your issue. |
Proposal submission
| Question | Answer |
| Can we still ask questions regarding Public Support Grants after October 31, 2026? | The deadline for technical questions pertaining to Proposal Evaluation and Approval found in Section VII of the Request for Proposals is on October 31, 2026, 5:00 pm. However, other questions will be entertained until before the deadline of submission on November 23, 2026, 5:00 pm. These may include questions about proposal templates, submission process, accessing and using the Grant Portal, etc. Reach us at pcp4nbs@forestfoundation.ph. |
| Can an organization submit multiple proposals (for different sites)? | Yes, multiple proposals can be submitted, but each proponent may only hold up to two (2) simultaneous grants with the Foundation. |
| If my proposed project does not fit the criteria in the RFP, can I still submit a proposal? | Yes, you may consider submitting a proposal under our other grant programs, provided that your proposed project aligns with the priorities of the specific Request for Proposals (RFP). Please visit our website to learn more about our open RFPs: https://www.forestfoundation.ph/requests-for-proposals/. |
| What if I have a proposed project, but cannot meet the deadline for proposal submission? | All proposals shall be submitted no later than 5:00 pm (Philippine Time) on November 23, 2026. Proposals received after the deadline may be considered based on the availability of funds. |
