Special Fund for Nature-based Solutions: Site-based Grants in Negros Occidental (English)

Deadline of Submission: December 20, 2024

[Download the .pdf version of the RFP by clicking this link.]

[Click here to read the Filipino version of the RFP]

[Click here to read the Hiligaynon version of the RFP]

The Philippines is among the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. Situated along the typhoon belt and ring of fire in the Pacific Ocean, the country is prone to natural disasters such as flooding, cyclones, droughts, and landslides. To withstand and thrive in the face of the climate crisis, the Philippines must continue to strengthen its climate resilience through a comprehensive approach involving mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Climate change adaptation is fundamental to transform Filipinos’ way of life and forge a path towards building resilience and achieving sustainable development. Adaptation efforts must be based on improving collective understanding of climate impacts, capacity building for adaptation measures, reinforcing governmental support through policies and resources, and ensuring inclusivity in decision-making, particularly by engaging women and local communities.

In the context of such developmental challenges in a biodiversity-rich country, Forest Foundation Philippines (“Forest Foundation” or “the Foundation”), funded by the Government of Canada, will implement the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS) (“the “Program”). Running from 2024-2028 and amounting to CA $8 Million, the Program will contribute to strengthening climate resilience of communities, particularly rural and indigenous women, while ensuring co-benefits from, and for, natural resources and healthy ecosystems. Grounded in the guiding principles of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, the initiative will specifically target the following three wins: biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and ensuring gender equality in natural-resource management (NRM).

The PCP4NbS program has identified Negros Occidental as one of its priority areas. Negros Occidental is part of the Negros-Panay faunal region in Central Philippines, a conservation priority due its high concentration of endemic species and the severity of threats it faces, including human activities degrading the environment, and climate change impacts affecting the flora, fauna, women, and communities.

In particular, efforts will be focused on the Malogo River Watershed and Sicaba River Watershed, which have been identified as the program’s target sites in the province. PCP4NbS will ensure that nature-based solutions are implemented in the target sites, and generate results that are aligned with the Logic Model of the Program (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Logic Model of PCP4NbS

II. Special Fund for NbS

To support participatory development, implementation, and enhancement of NbS projects for climate change adaptation, a Special Fund was established under the program. 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 design and implementation of projects under the Special Fund will be aligned with the Foundation’s Results Framework 2023-2027, while expanding the sustainable management of forests to coastal and marine ecosystems for water, land, and biodiversity, and fostering nature-based climate action. It will support projects that can establish participatory and coordinated strategies on a large scale, enabling the Program to meet a range of local needs, while contributing to national commitments and targets.

The Special Fund will support 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. This Request for Proposals pertains to applications for Site-based Grants in Negros Occidental.

III. Site-based Grants: Geographic Scope and Priority Issues

This is a Request for Proposals for NbS in Negros Occidental, with efforts to be focused in the Malogo River Watershed and Sicaba River Watershed. These target sites encompass the following barangays:

Malogo River Watershed

Sicaba River Watershed

Brgy. Celestino Villacin, Cadiz City Brgy. Cabatangan, City of Talisay Brgy. San Fernando, City of Talisay Brgy. XI (Gawahon), City of Victorias Brgy. XIII, City of Victorias Brgy. XIX, City of Victorias Brgy. XIX-A, City of Victorias Brgy. XX, City of Victorias Brgy. Igmaya-an, Don Salvador Benedicto Brgy. Pandanon, Don Salvador Benedicto Brgy. Alacaygan, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Alicante, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Canlusong, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Consing, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Cudangdang, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Damgo, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Manta-angan, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Nanca, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Pasil, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. San Isidro, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Tanza, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Eustaquio Lopez, Silay City Brgy. Kapitan Ramon, Silay City Brgy. Patag, Silay City

Brgy. Andres Bonifacio, Cadiz City Brgy. Burgos, Cadiz City Brgy. Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City Brgy. Caduha-an, Cadiz City Brgy. Celestino Villacin, Cadiz City Brgy. Luna, Cadiz City Brgy. Sicaba, Cadiz City Brgy. V. F. Gustilo, Cadiz City Brgy. X (Estado), City of Victorias Brgy. XI (Gawahon), City of Victorias Brgy. San Isidro, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia) Brgy. Purisima, Manapla Brgy. San Pablo, Manapla Brgy. Santa Teresa, Manapla

To ensure the effectiveness and responsiveness of the Program in contributing to climate, biodiversity, and gender-equality outcomes in the target sites, through appropriate and gender-responsive NbS, a Vulnerability and Risk assessment (VRA) and Gender-Based Analysis-Plus (GBA Plus) have been conducted in the target sites.

The results of the assessments, summarized below, provide a basis for identifying priority issues that need to be addressed and interventions to be supported therein.

Highlights of Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (based on the hazards assessment):

Malogo River Watershed 

• Barangays downstream of the Malogo River Watershed are at risk of flooding. The flood hazard occurs because precipitation (during extreme events) produces large quantities of rainfall so much that the excess water overflows from the natural channel of Malogo River watershed.
• Landslide events have been observed in the western foothills of the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP), which mainly consists of river banks that are susceptible to slope failure during rainfall events. 
• Storm surge will affect the coastal fringes of the Malogo River Watershed, particularly low-lying areas that cover agricultural areas near the coast and mangrove forests. Meanwhile, inundation is confined in low-lying coastal areas of the watershed. 
• Similar to storm surge, threats of future sea level rise are found along the coastal zones of the Malogo River Watershed, including some agricultural lands.. 
• Spatially, strong wind events are uniform across Malogo River Watershed but the intensity characteristics vary according to the probability of occurrence. It is expected that the area will experience less frequent yet more devastating winds.

Sicaba River Watershed

• Agricultural areas in the Sicaba River Watershed have the highest flood exposure rates. During extreme rainfall events such as typhoons, water from the river overflows and may cause flooding in barangays with low elevation and proximity to the natural channel of the Sicaba River.
• The headwaters of the Sicaba River watershed have high elevation and are steep, making it susceptible to landslides during extreme rainfall events. 
• Coastal flooding due to storm surge is found along the two coastal barangays of Barangay Luna and Barangay Sicaba inside the Sicaba River Watershed. Coastal flooding due to storm surge occurs in these barangays due to the flat coastal elevation. During typhoons, strong winds produced by typhoons can push ocean water easily to low-lying coastal areas which causes flooding. It is possible for storm surge events to reach the inland areas.
• Areas with low elevation and near the coast are susceptible to sea level rise. Future sea level rise is observed on the eastern coast of the watershed. By 2039, sea level rise will cover approximately 20.25 hectares, encroaching the coastal fringe of the watershed and the open channel of the Sicaba River. By 2065, the model shows that the threats of sea level rise could expand by 186.23 hectares. The foreseen sea level rise will affect low-lying sections such as open ditches, fishponds and mangrove forest.

Highlights of the Gender-Based Analysis-Plus (GBA Plus)

• Capacity development on Gender and Development (GAD) and gender-related policies are usually embedded in project implementation. Existing gender mainstreaming mechanisms in the Provincial Local Government Unit are pivotal in the integration of gender and natural resources management. 
• Leadership in people’s organizations are dominantly male. However, younger generations of leaders are emerging, with organizations electing women in leadership positions. 
• Women perform the tasks of producers, community managers, marketing specialists, care workers, and nurturers of the farms.  Care work is shared by men in the household, particularly care of the children when the women need to attend meetings or training and perform tasks for their community groups.
• The work of bantay bukid (farm guardian or patrollers) is perceived as dangerous and are consequently fit for the men. The men in focus group discussions reported that there are no women bantay bukid, some even pointing out that women are prohibited from joining the group of patrollers. 
• In terms of trainings within the associations, the trend was for men to be trained in the operation of equipment (e.g., depulper and grinder in coffee production) while women are deployed for the trainings on packaging, labelling and marketing,  This set-up limits women’s access to equipment provided to the association.
• Livelihoods top the most urgent concerns. Health, education, gender-based violence, peace and order, forest fires and flooding were mentioned in the interviews as secondary to the need to secure income and food for the families.
• There were also issues related to their land tenure. The certificates of stewardship contracts (CSC) of the associations interviewed have already expired. Discussion on alternative tenurial instruments is ongoing. 
• Some of the nature-based solutions that are practiced by the associations interviewed are: organic farming, reforestation prioritizing native crops and trees (cinnamon, batwan as well as lauan and uding are mentioned), and the practice of dagyaw or bayanihan (mutual aid).

IV. Site-based Grants: Eligible Activities

Each site-based grant shall be between Php 2 Million and PhP 6 Million, with an implementation period of two-and-a-half (2.5) years starting in April 2025 onwards. 

Site-based grants under the Program shall directly support community-based and gender-responsive NbS to help reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to climate change impacts in the target sites. These NbS shall respond to the results of the VRA and GBA Plus, as summarized above. 

The table below enumerates potential NbS that may respond to the priority issues identified through the VRA. Site-based grants shall be awarded to projects that seek to implement, but are not limited to, these potential NbS. Proponents are encouraged to introduce other tested or innovative NbS, especially those supported by local experiences and expertise.

Target Site	Hazard	Risk*	Potential NbS
Malogo River Watershed	Flooding	10/18 (55%) barangays within Malogo Watershed have high risk from flood hazard Approximately 26,107 to 33,891 people are at high risk from flood hazard Approximately 7,762 to 10,034 households are at high risk from flood hazard	Flood mitigation initiatives  (e.g., women-led reforestation, afforestation, natural water retention ponds) Augmenting water supply during calamity (e.g., rainwater harvesting) Stabilizing floodplains and riverbanks (e.g., establishing/delineating riparian zones) Water retention initiatives (e.g., constructed wetlands, women-led establishment of green spaces integrated with edible landscapes using native fruit trees and shrubs, road verge/curb strip and median strips, urban greening) Initiatives to revive and reshape old river channels (e.g. desilting, removal of obstacles or flow barriers)
	Landslide	2/18 (11%) barangays within Malogo Watershed have high to very high risk from rain-induced landslide Approximately 1,706 to 1,707 people have high to very high risk from rain-induced landslide Approximately 479 households have high to very high risk from rain-induced landslide	Strengthening of riverbanks that are prone to slope failure (e.g., use of vetiver grass, establishing freshwater mangrove, bamboo propagation) Soil erosion control measures (e.g.,  sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), contour hedgerow intercropping for hilly lands)
	Storm surge	2/18 (11%) barangays within Malogo Watershed have moderate to high risk from storm surge hazard Approximately 22 to 3,560 people have moderate to high risk from storm surge hazard Approximately 6 to 930 households have moderate to high risk from storm surge hazard	Coastal defense (e.g., women-led mangrove forest restoration and protection, restoration of barrier islands/wetlands that promotes biodiversity)  Natural coastal barriers initiatives (e.g. maritime/coastal forests, natural breakwater structures)
	Sea level rise	5/18 (28%) barangays within Malogo Watershed have high to very high risk from storm surge (with sea level rise) hazard  Approximately 8,537 to 14,165 people have high to very high risk from storm surge (with sea level rise) hazard Approximately 2,381 to 3,766 households have high to very high risk from storm surge (with sea level rise) hazard	Shifting to flood-resistant and/or salt-resistant crops
	Strong winds	18/18 (100%) barangays within Malogo Watershed have high to very high risk from strong wind hazard  Approximately 95,322 people have high to very high risk from strong wind hazard Approximately 27,097 households have high to very risk from strong wind hazard	Coastal defense (e.g., women-led mangrove forest restoration and protection that promotes biodiversity) Establishment of natural wind barriers
Sicaba River Watershed	Flooding	1/12 (8%) barangay within Sicaba Watershed has high risk flooding across Approximately 96 to 130 people are at high risk from flood hazard across Approximately 24 to 33 households are at high risk from flood hazard	Flood mitigation initiatives (e.g., women-led reforestation, afforestation, natural water retention ponds) Water retention initiatives (e.g., constructed wetlands, women-led establishment of green spaces integrated with edible landscapes using native fruit trees and shrubs, road verge/curb strip and median strips, urban greening) Initiatives to revive and reshape old river channels (e.g. desilting, removal of obstacles or flow barriers)
	Landslide	1/12 (8%) barangay within Sicaba Watershed has very high risk from rain-induced landslide Approximately 1,722 people have very high risk from rain-induced landslide Approximately 359 households have very high risk from rain-induced landslide	Landslide risk reduction (e.g., deep-rooted plant growth with civil engineering work for drainage and slope stability, soil bioengineering) Soil erosion control measures (e.g., sloping agricultural land technology (SALT), contour hedgerow intercropping for hilly lands)
	Storm surge	2/12 (17%) barangays within Sicaba Watershed have high to very high risk from storm surge Approximately 1,551 to 2,446 people have high to very high risk from storm surge Approximately 458 to 728 households have high to very high risk from storm surge	Coastal defense (e.g., women-led mangrove forest restoration and protection, restoration of barrier islands/wetlands that promotes biodiversity) Natural coastal barriers initiatives (e.g. maritime/coastal forests, natural breakwater structures)
	Sea level rise	2/12 (17%) barangays within Sicaba Watershed have high to very high risk from storm surge (with sea level rise) Approximately 1,628 to 3,725 people have high to very high risk from storm surge (with sea level rise) Approximately 478 to 1,112 households have high to very high risk from storm surge (with sea level rise)	Creation/restoration of wetlands that promotes biodiversity and rehabilitation of rivers to regulate water flow
	Strong winds	12/12 (100%) barangays within Malogo Watershed have high to very high risk from strong wind hazard Approximately 75,523 people have high to very high risk from strong wind hazard Approximately 21,499 households have high to very high risk from strong wind hazard	Coastal defense (e.g., mangrove forest restoration and protection that promotes biodiversity) Establishment of natural wind barriers

*based on the populated areas in Malogo River Watershed (18 out of 24 target Barangays) and Sicaba River Watershed (12 out of 14  Barangays)

Priority will be given to proposed NbS that strengthen women’s capacities and encourage leadership of women in project delivery and management of their natural resources. Proponents are encouraged to refer and respond to the societal and gender-related vulnerabilities and gaps identified in the GBA Plus. Throughout implementation, gender-based activities and innovation should be introduced, tested, and/or adapted to support effective delivery of results. 

Alongside the above interventions, the proposals may also include the following or similar activities in support of NbS:

• Development of gender-responsive community enterprises and sustainable livelihoods, consistent with the manner of protecting biodiversity;
• Legitimization and registration activities of community organizations and groups and individual members;
• Community-based enforcement in upland and coastal/marine protection activities (i.e., patrolling, equipment and tools)
• Localized, cross-sectoral partnerships and strengthening of organizations; and/or
• Community and gender empowerment critical to the protection of the ecosystems.

Proponents are also encouraged to develop projects that align with existing local/community plans and frameworks, and consider past projects implemented in the area.

V. Site-based Grants: Eligible Recipients

Site-based grants will be open to all eligible proponents interested in implementing projects in the target sites in Negros Occidental. Entities eligible to receive funds under the Program include:

• 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;
• Organized and 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
• 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, for example in support of a common project outcome, conservation agreements, a project based on local development plans.

Priority will be given to women’s rights organizations.

Proponents are encouraged to provide confirmation of support for the proposed NbS project  from the target community or community beneficiaries, and to demonstrate established partnership or engagement with the relevant local government unit(s).

VI. Site-based Grants: Application Process

To apply for a site-based grant, eligible organizations shall complete and submit the requirements for proposals listed below.

Requirements for Project Proposals

Full Proposal	☐
Annex A: Timeframe and Budgetary Requirements	☐
Annex B: Activity and Budget Plan	☐
Annex C: Proponent Information Sheet	☐

The full proposal and other templates may be downloaded from the Grants Portal on the Forest Foundation website, downloaded at this link, and/or requested by sending an email to pcp4nbs@forestfoundation.ph.

Completed project proposals shall be uploaded and submitted through the Grants Portal on or before 5:00 pm (Philippine Time) on December 20, 2024.

VII. Site-based Grants: Proposal Evaluation and Approval

Project proposals will initially be reviewed to ascertain merit and completeness of design and technical aspects. Proposals that meet these criteria will be elevated to the Program Committee of the Foundation, which will prepare and submit recommendations to the Board of Trustees (BOT) on proposals to be funded.

Projects are expected to encapsulate the climate-biodiversity-gender nexus and align their proposed activities and outputs with the Program’s target outcomes and priorities. Proposals shall be evaluated in a holistic manner, according to: (a) general criteria on soundness, feasibility, and alignment with the Program’s Logic Model (see Figure 1); (b) NbS-specific criteria; and (c) other criteria in support of NbS. Proposals must meet general criteria and those demonstrate that the project is NbS, while criteria in support of NbS are not required, but may serve to strengthen the proposal. 

The proposal must meet the following general criteria:

1. Technical soundness and feasibility;
2. Financial soundness and feasibility;
3. Social soundness and feasibility;
4. Organizational capacity to implement the project;
5. Clear outcomes and results with high likelihood of achievement (feasible and attainable given the budget and duration); and
6. Alignment of the expected results (outputs and outcomes) with the Program’s Logic Model (see Figure 1).

The proposal must also demonstrate that the project is a nature-based solution, responding to the following questions:

1. Does the project respond to the priority issues identified in the VRA and GBA Plus?
2. Does the project address local climate change adaptation needs?
3. Does it work on restoring, managing, and/or conserving ecosystems or ecosystem services?
4. Does it aim to solve a societal challenge, beyond purely conservation issues?
5. Does it provide biodiversity co-benefits?
6. Does it promote gender equality in its design and implementation?

The proposal may be strengthened by responding to the following questions, demonstrating actions in support of NbS. These are optional.

1. Does the project support development of gender-responsive community enterprises and sustainable livelihoods, consistent with the manner of protecting biodiversity?
2. Does the project contribute to strengthening organizations and promote cross-sectoral partnerships?
3. Does the project contribute to community and gender empowerment in the area?
4. Does the project support transdisciplinary knowledge sharing, strategic communications and/or learning mechanisms and processes towards building capacities on NbS towards transformative change?
5. Does the project target other NbS criteria under the IUCN Global Standard for NbS?

Awarded grants shall be publicly announced by the Foundation and communicated to the grantee. Once a proposal is approved, the Foundation will enter into a legally-binding Special Fund Agreement with the grantee.

VIII. Timeline

For this round of proposals for site-based grants, please note the indicative  timeline below. 

Proposal Submission and Evaluation Timeline

Activity	Tentative Schedule
First Request for Proposals (Issuance)	November 6, 2024
Project Development Workshop	November 7-8, 2024
Deadline for Technical Questions	December 2, 2024, 5:00 pm (PHT)
Deadline of Submission of Proposals	December 20, 2024, 5:00 pm (PHT)
Proposal Evaluation	December 2024 to January 2025
BOT Deliberation	February 2025
Announcement of Results	February 2025 to March 2025
Start of Project Implementation	April 2025 onwards

A Project Development Workshop will be conducted to provide further information about the Program, the scope of site-based grants, the types of projects that may be supported,  and technical assistance on the grant application process to enhance and strengthen submissions for possible funding. The workshop is open to all eligible proponents for projects in Negros Occidental. Additional information sessions on the proposal development and submission process may be organized, as needed.

Proponents may reach out to the Foundation via email (pcp4nbs@forestfoundation.ph) for any assistance needed in proposal development. Technical inquiries, or those related to Proposal Evaluation and Approval in Section VII above, shall only be accepted until 5:00 pm (Philippine Time) on December 2, 2024. 

All proposals shall be submitted through the Forest Foundation Grants Portal no later than 5:00 pm (Philippine Time) on December 20, 2024. Proposals received after the deadline may be considered based on the availability of funds, and/or included and evaluated under a subsequent RFP.

IX. Contact