Manila, Philippines — Forest Foundation Philippines, through the Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Adaptation (PCP4NbS), officially opened its Request for Proposals (RFP) for site-based grants in Batanes on March 31, 2025, focusing on the power of nature to ensure climate resilience of communities.
Indigenous Peoples organizations, civil society organizations, and government agencies joined Forest Foundation Philippines in its launch of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for site-based grants, focusing on initiatives that harness the power of nature to mitigate climate impacts, on March 31, 2025 at Davocol’s Inn, Basco, Batanes.
The RFP for site-based grants in Batanes calls for community-based and gender-responsive NbS project proposals to help reduce vulnerability and increase resilience of communities to climate change impacts in the island of Basco. The country’s northernmost province is a protected area, key biodiversity area (Batanes Islands Protected Landscape and Seascape), ancestral domain of the Indigenous Ivatan, and lies along the typhoon belt.
“This partnership offers us a meaningful opportunity to develop solutions that are not only effective, but also culturally relevant and inclusive. NbS provides us with the tools to leverage our natural ecosystems for protection and sustainability. By integrating traditional knowledge and practices of the Ivatans with innovative techniques, we can create resilient communities that thrive even in the face of environmental challenges,” said Melissa Gretchen Pama, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II, for Hon. Marilou Cayco, governor of Batanes.
To ensure gender-responsive NbS implementation, the Program conducted baseline Vulnerability Risk Assessment (VRA) and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) assessments in its priority areas. Based on the results, PCP4NbS identified target sites for support. Site-based Grants in Batanes will support NbS projects covering the six Barangays of San Joaquin, Ihubok II (Kayvaluganan), Kayhuvokan, Ihubik I (Kaychanarianan), Chanarian, and San Antonio in the municipality of Basco.
Proposed projects should respond to the results of these baseline assessments, addressing the hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks experienced by communities in the target sites. This includes floods, rain-induced landslides, storm surges, sea level rise, and severe wind events. Priority will be given to solutions that provide equal opportunities to women and men in accessing and managing natural resources, and strengthen women’s capacities and support women’s leadership.
NbS are cost-effective actions that protect, regenerate, and enhance ecosystems while responding to the needs of the community and safeguarding biodiversity. The Government of Canada has committed PhP 332 million (CA$8 million), a fund managed by Forest Foundation Philippines, to support local organizations in implementing holistic, community-based, and gender-responsive initiatives based on NbS principles.
Indigenous Peoples organizations, civil society organizations, and government officials at the
PCP4NbS Request for Proposals Launch, envisioned thriving and resilient
Ivatan communities in Basco, Batanes.
The program could fund two to three (2-3) projects (within Php 2 million to Php 6 million for each project), to be implemented for up to two (2) years. Eligible proponents include Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), People’s Organizations (POs), and other community-based organizations registered and active in the Philippines.
Interested organizations can visit the Forest Foundation Philippines website, the PCP4NbS microsite, and its social media channels (@forestfoundationph) for more information about the program and its grants in Negros Oriental.
