Download the PDF version here. Submit your concept note here.
Background and Objectives
Under the Forest Foundation Philippines’ Results Framework 2023-2027, its grant-making activities will continue employing a sustainable forest landscape approach to protect and sustainably manage the forests for water, land productivity, and biodiversity — with the overarching goal of sustaining ecosystem services and forest-related climate action.
Watershed management is one of the key approaches that will contribute to the overall Foundation’s goal. The forests within and surrounding watersheds can be seen by their role in watershed protection, water resource enhancement, and watershed rehabilitation. Healthy forests yield high-quality water in a given watershed, which is important for agricultural and domestic use. Aside from this, watershed protection and management may provide multiple services and benefits, such as biodiversity and habitat conservation, among others.
The Foundation has been supporting watershed management projects in focal landscapes across the Philippines, such as Sierra Madre (Northern Philippines), Palawan and Samar/Leyte (Central Philippines), and Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte/Surigao del Sur (Mt. Hilong-Hilong Range within the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC), and the Lake Lanao watershed in Lanao del Sur (Southern Philippines). Grants and technical assistance support for watershed management included land cover mapping, science-based resource assessments, watershed governance assessments, increasing forest protection and restoration activities, capacity strengthening for both IPs and non-IP local communities and stakeholders, development of community- and forest-based livelihoods and enterprises, as well as increasing stakeholders’ awareness on the importance of watersheds. These projects aimed to contribute to a sustainable landscape approach to maintain the ecosystem services from the forests.
For the remaining years of the Results Framework implementation, the Foundation is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to implement watershed management projects within its focal landscapes. Watershed management projects under this Request shall aim to contribute towards the long-term conservation of forests for water and associated biodiversity.
Geographic Scope and Objectives
This Request for Proposals will prioritize the watersheds geographically located in the focal landscapes of the Foundation below:
- Northern Philippines – Sierra Madre
Dubbed the “backbone of Luzon,” the Sierra Madre Mountain Range is home to multiple critical watersheds for water sufficiency and flood mitigation. Despite its ecological and economic significance, Sierra Madre is faced with anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Anthropogenic disturbances include commercial logging operations in the past, the conversion of forests to farms, forest fires, utilization of forest and mineral resources therein, development projects such as roads and dams and the increasing population (both local and migrants). These disturbances contribute to continued decline of forest cover, resulting in flooding, landslides, and forest fires – leading to degradation of water sources, destruction of livelihoods, worsening food security, and loss of biodiversity.
Priority will be given to watersheds located in the following areas:
| Northern Sierra Madre | Southern Sierra Madre |
| Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, San Luis) Cagayan (Baggao, Penablanca) Isabela Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda) Quirino (Nagtipunan, Maddela, Diffun) | Bulacan (Norzagaray; San Jose Del Monte; Doña Remedios Trinidad) Laguna (Sta. Maria) Nueva Ecija (General Tinio; Gabaldon, Bongabong) Rizal (Rodriguez) |
- Central Philippines
Palawan. Known as the Philippines’ “last ecological frontier,” Palawan is rich in biological diversity, watersheds and micro-watersheds, and cultural diversity. Even with the several layers of protection and various recognition of Palawan’s rich ecosystems, there are still several threats and issues that persist in the province. Threats to forests and watersheds include conversion into agricultural and residential areas, encroachment to protected and key biodiversity areas (due to migration, mining, and other infrastructure projects), as well as the illegal, uncontrolled, and unregulated utilization of forest products.
Priority will be given to watersheds located in the following areas:
- KBA #60 (San Vicente, Roxas, Taytay)
- El Nido – Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (El Nido, Taytay)
- Dumaran (KBA #74)
Samar/Leyte. The landscapes of Samar and Leyte islands feature a number of macro- and micro-watersheds that support agricultural and domestic water use. The Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) provides diverse ecosystem services in the surrounding provinces. Meanwhile, the mountain ranges and unique ecosystems in Leyte provide services that are important for water regulation and biodiversity conservation. Anthropogenic activities such as illegal logging, unsustainable resource extraction, and conversion of forest lands to other land uses, continue as a threat to its forests and watersheds resulting in destruction of lives and properties. While both natural and anthropogenic factors threaten the region’s forest and marine life support system, these challenges are difficult to curtail as these are tied to the high incidence of poverty.
Priority will be given to watersheds located in the following areas:
| Samar and Eastern Samar | Leyte |
| Pan-As -Hayiban Watershed Forest Reserve (Part of the Calbayog-Hayiban Protected landscape) Taft, Paranas, Maslog, Basey, Balangkayan, Llorente (part of SINP for Philippine Eagle Habitat Protection) | KBA # 89 – Anonang Lobi-Mountain Range (watersheds of Palo, Daguitan-Marabong and Binahaan). |
- Southern Philippines
The forested landscape of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental are known for their lush forests, rich soils, and booming agricultural industry. Aside from being home to the Cagayan de Oro River Basin, the mountain ranges within these provinces host several watersheds that are vital to the ecological and economic balance of Mindanao. In the east of Bukidnon, the EMBC is a long stretch of lowland and mid- to high elevation forests that hosts unique floral and faunal species, and home to a number of Indigenous Peoples. On another hand, Lanao del Sur’s forests are critical for the reliability of hydropower plants as renewable energy sources in Mindanao. Given the continuing population increase, forests within these landscapes are threatened by farming activities, destroying wide swathes of forestlands, displacing wildlife, and disrupting natural waterways. Worsening floods have also severely affected upland and urban communities, as well as the landscape’s biodiversity.
Priority will be given to watersheds located in the following areas:
| Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental | Lanao del Sur | EMBC | |
| Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park Mt. Balatukan Range Natural Park Mt. Kimangkil Kalanawan Sumagaya Pamalihi (KKSP) Range Mt.Malindawag/Talabaan Watershed Mt. Tago-Pantaron Range | Lake Lanao Watershed | Mt Hilong-Hilong Range | |
Eligible Activities
The grant will support eligible activities that can be implemented until June 30, 2027. Projects should be at levels commensurate with achieving measurable impact on large landscapes while maintaining accountability and efficacy. The following watershed management activities are eligible for fund support:
| Eligible Activities for Watershed Management | |
|---|---|
| Activities that will protect and enhance the forests within watersheds | Participatory, threat-based, and multisectoral forest protection and monitoring (e.g. protection of the headwaters, provision for water quality/quantity monitoring as indicator of healthy forests) Science-based and participatory reforestation, restoration, and enhancement of forests within appropriate management zones Other relevant activities that will directly contribute to the effective management of the proposed watershed, anchored on its respective watershed management plan; |
| Following the sustainable livelihoods approach, activities that will improve communities’ livelihoods and incentives | Consistent with the manner of protecting the forests, product development and diversification (such as but not limited to diversified farming/cropping to enhance soil and water conservation, provision for support for optimization of water resources, small-scale community irrigation systems to enhance farm productivity) Market-linkaging and partnership-building with the government agencies and private sector Training, mentoring, and peer-to-peer learning to build communities’ livelihoods-related capacities, such as budgeting, planning, and financial management, among others |
| Activities that will strengthen cross-sectoral partnerships for sustainable watershed management | Participatory watershed management planning Formation and institutionalization of local councils and/or management boards and co-development and updating of plans Capacity building for CSOs and communities involved in the watershed management |
| Activities that will enhance knowledge, knowledge management, and strategic communications on watershed management | Co-development and dissemination of knowledge products and communication materials that will increase stakeholders’ awareness (e.g. publications, IEC) |
Eligible Recipients
- Non-governmental, peoples, indigenous peoples, professional, socio-civic, and community organizations; and
- Other appropriate local or regional entities active in the Philippines
Priority will be given to entities that can operate and work with the local communities in the priority geographic scope. Project implementation can also be done through integrated projects by one Civil Society Organization (CSO) or several CSOs in a consortium agreeing to perform or achieve particular outputs in support of common project outcomes.
Funding Allocation and Grant Categories
Medium Grants – up to PhP 6M of total project cost, to be implemented in a minimum of one year. Projects under this grant category shall deliver specific output/s that will contribute to at least two target outcomes as stated in the Foundation’s Results Framework.
Large Grants – up to PhP 18 M of total project cost, and shall deliver multiple project outputs that will contribute to ALL of the four expected outcomes in the Foundation’s Results Framework.
Project proposals must clearly provide information on their link with relevant management and/or development plans/frameworks (e.g. CRMF for areas with CBFMAs, Protected Area management plan, and/or ADSDPP or CDP). Proposed project interventions must clearly address identified needs and threats to the forest and the associated ecosystem services.
Project proposals may be linked with other past and/or existing projects and/or programs within the landscapes to establish a more participatory and coordinated strategy for forested landscapes restoration and ecosystem restoration.
Counterpart funding from the proponent, partners, and other donor institutions and projects/programs is highly encouraged.
Proposal Evaluation
The selection of projects for funding is a competitive process. The proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
| CRITERIA | GUIDE QUESTIONS |
| 1. Design | Are the objectives, methods and outcomes coherent? |
| 2. Capacity | Can the proponents successfully implement the project? |
| 3. Impact | To what extent will the project contribute to forest restoration and ecosystem recovery? |
| 4. Relevance | How relevant is the project to the target group and the community? |
| 5. Efficiency | Will the project be implemented in a timely and cost-effective manner? |
| 6. Sustainability | Can the project be scaled up, replicated or institutionalized after its implementation? |
Forest Foundation encourages community and stakeholders’ participation in project proposal development. During the proposal review process, Forest Foundation may conduct site validation, communities/stakeholders’ consultation, and request for documents/information as needed.
Timeline and Application Procedure
| Activities | Tentative Dates |
| Submission of Concept Note | March 7, 2025 |
| Information session,individual consultations, and mentoring (will be arranged upon submission of the Concept Notes) | March 17 to April 4, 2025 Check the Foundation’s website (www.forestfoundation.ph) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/forestfoundationph/) regularly for updates. |
| Deadline of submission of Full Proposal | April 30, 2025 |
| Evaluation of proposals | May to June 2025 |
| Announcement of Results and start of Project Implementation | As early as June 2025 |
The Concept Note template can be downloaded through the links below:
Eligible entities can submit the accomplished Concept Notes on or before the deadline through the following link.
Information Sessions and mentoring will serve as venues for the Forest Foundation to discuss its grant programs in detail, as well as provide technical assistance to eligible organizations and/or individuals who would like to enhance and strengthen their concept and/or ideas of a project for possible funding. Depending on the nature and number of Concept Notes that will be received by the Foundation, the Information Sessions may be organized in the landscapes. Please check the Foundation’s website and social media pages for regular updates.
Full Proposal Submission
Upon determination of the merit of the Concept Note, the Proponent may be invited to submit a full proposal. Proponents that will be eligible for submission of full proposals under Large and/or Medium Grants shall include detailed activity and budget plan for the first year; and indicative activity and budget plan for the succeeding years. Large Landscape Grants proposals shall have a clear phase-out/sustainability plan.
- Full proposal templates can be downloaded through https://grants.forestfoundation.ph and/or requested by sending email to proposals@forestfoundation.ph.
- Eligible entities must submit their full proposals through the grant portal: https://grants.forestfoundation.ph/
Contact
Should you have additional questions or concerns, please contact:
Forest Foundation Philippines
2F Valderrama Bldg., 107 Esteban St., Legaspi Village 1229 Makati City, Philippines
Phone: (+63 2) 8891 0595; (+63 2) 8864 0287
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