[Download the .pdf version of the RFP by clicking this link.]
[Basahin ang RFP sa wikang Filipino]
Deadline of Submission: November 29, 2024
I. Background and Objectives
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).
PCP4NbS will ensure that nature-based solutions are implemented in the target areas and 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 Thematic Grants.
III. Thematic Grants: Geographic Scope and Priorities
Thematic grants are open to NbS projects located in areas and sites in the Philippines with rich biodiversity and high climate vulnerability, which seek to respond to climate change impacts, address societal challenges, provide biodiversity co-benefits, and promote gender equality in natural-resource management.
The Program shall prioritize NbS proposals which are supported by existing baseline assessments and studies. These may include, but are not limited to, vulnerability and risk assessments, biodiversity assessments, and gender-based analyses.
IV. Thematic Grants: Eligible Activities
Thematic grants shall support projects that demonstrate NbS for climate adaptation through interventions such as integrated risk management, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity conservation.
These activities shall promote disaster risk reduction, participatory protection, management, and enhancement of forests and coastal and/or marine ecosystems that provide multiple products and services, and may include, but are not limited to:
- Water regulation and soil protection;
- Protection from hazards such as fire, strong winds and waves;
- Livelihood diversification;
- Enhancement of agrifood systems; and
- Regulation of temperature and water in urban areas.
Priority shall be given to NbS projects that align with existing local/community plans and frameworks, and consider past projects implemented in the area. Throughout implementation, gender-based activities and innovation shall be introduced, tested, and/or adapted to support effective delivery of results.
Each proposal for a thematic grant shall be between Php 1 Million and PhP 4 Million, with an implementation period of two-and-a-half (2.5) years starting in April 2025 onwards.
V. Thematic Grants: Eligible Recipients
Thematic grants will be open to all interested eligible proponents in any part of the Philippines. 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 who meet the evaluation criteria identified in Section VII.
VI. Thematic Grants: Application Process
To apply for a thematic 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 November 29, 2024.
VII. Thematic 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:
- Technical soundness and feasibility;
- Financial soundness and feasibility;
- Social soundness and feasibility;
- Organizational capacity to implement the project;
- Clear outcomes and results with high likelihood of achievement (feasible and attainable given the budget and duration); and
- 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:
- Does the project address local climate change adaptation needs?
- Does it work on restoring, managing, and/or conserving ecosystems or ecosystem services?
- Does it aim to solve a societal challenge, beyond purely conservation issues?
- Does it provide biodiversity co-benefits?
- 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.
- Does the project support development of gender-responsive community enterprises and sustainable livelihoods, consistent with the manner of protecting biodiversity?
- Does the project contribute to strengthening organizations and promote cross-sectoral partnerships?
- Does the project contribute to community and gender empowerment in the area?
- Does the project support transdisciplinary knowledge sharing, strategic communications and/or learning mechanisms and processes towards building capacities on NbS towards transformative change?
- 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 thematic grants, please note the indicative timeline below.
Proposal Submission and Evaluation Timeline
Activity | Tentative Schedule |
First Request for Proposals (Issuance) | October 2024 |
Virtual Information Session(s) | October 2024 |
Project Development Workshop(s) | October to November 2024 (as needed) |
Deadline for Technical Questions | November 15, 2024, 5:00 pm (PHT) |
Deadline of Submission of Proposals | November 29, 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 |
Virtual information session(s) shall be conducted to provide further information about the Program, the scope of thematic grants, the types of projects that may be supported, and the grant application process, among others. These sessions will be open to all interested proponents. As needed, Project Development Workshops will be organized to provide technical assistance on the grant application process to enhance and strengthen submissions for possible funding.
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) November 15, 2024.
All proposals shall be submitted no later than 5:00 pm (Philippine Time) on November 29, 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
Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS)
Forest Foundation Philippines
1F Valderrama Bldg., 107 Esteban St., Legaspi Village
1229 Makati City, Philippines
Phone: (+63 2) 8891 0595; (+63 2) 8864 0287
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Email: pcp4nbs@forestfoundation.ph