Download the PDF version here. Submit your concept note here.
Background and Objectives
One of Forest Foundation Philippines’ Results Framework, 2023-2027 target outcomes aims to enhance the socio-economic conditions of forest-dependent communities through sustainable livelihoods and incentives (Outcome 2: Grow Opportunities). The key strategy to achieve this outcome is to support improving the livelihood assets of communities – natural, financial, capital, social, physical and human – to catalyze, implement and sustain livelihood, in a manner consistent with the protection of the forests. These are also accompanied with the assistance to develop and diversify products, create various sources of income, as well as develop access to strong markets for both raw and secondary products obtained from the landscapes.
In the past years, the Foundation has supported projects that led to the development and improvement of several community livelihoods across its focal landscapes. Through these livelihoods and incentives, communities were motivated to adopt forest conservation strategies. While a few success models were established, the Foundation remains cognizant of the need to build and scale up more livelihoods and enterprises, that will address the communities’ need for diversified income sources, food security, resilience and sustainable resource use.
Given this, the Foundation is seeking proposals from qualified organizations and social entrepreneurs that will help strengthen or scale up the livelihoods and enterprise of community-based organizations within the target forested landscapes mentioned below. The output for this request for proposal aims to ensure that enterprises established will be sustained and will contribute towards the long-term conservation of forests and associated biodiversity.
Geographic and Thematic Focus
This Request for Proposals focuses on projects that would directly benefit forest-dependent communities in the focal landscapes of the Foundation detailed below. New and previously supported projects and community enterprises of the Foundation that need follow through support for strengthening and scaling up are encouraged to apply. Interested proponents may refer to Annex A for the detailed list of Non Timber Forest Products and High Value Crops that were previously identified and supported in each of the target landscapes. Specific priority sites, forest threats and thematic focus per landscapes are detailed below:
- Northern Philippines – Sierra Madre
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, development projects such as roads and dams and the increasing population (both local and migrants). Natural disturbances are the result of weather disturbances such as typhoons that result in flooding and landslides. These disturbances contribute to continued loss of forest cover and eventually affect the provisioning of ecosystems services.
For this request for proposal, we are looking for sustainable livelihoods and enterprises that will complement the protection and restoration efforts in watershed areas, such as crop diversification, sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, ecotourism, legal sources of wood, and sustainable production and harvesting of non-timber forest products.
| Northern Sierra Madre | Southern Sierra Madre |
| Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, San Luis)Cagayan (Baggao, Penablanca), Isabela (Municipalities covering the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park), Nueva Vizcaya (Castaneda)Quirino (Nagtipunan, Maddela, Diffun) | Bulacan (Norzagaray; San Jose Del Monte; Doña Remedios Trinidad), Laguna (Sta. Maria)Nueva Ecija (Gen Tinio; Gabaldon, Bongabong)Quezon (Gen. Nakar, Real, Infanta)Rizal (Tanay, Antipolo City, Rodriguez) |
- Central Philippines
Palawan
Palawan’s forests are primarily threatened by land conversion into agricultural and residential areas; utilization of forest and mineral resources; illegal, uncontrolled, and unregulated utilization of forest products; and increasing vulnerability to climate change risks.
With the rich natural resources available in Palawan, there is a need to provide holistic yet retrofitted interventions to community-based enterprises to sustainably manage these resources. Promotion and support for the development of community based sustainable tourism (CBSTs) are encouraged, along with support for agroforestry and crop production linked to watershed conservation, sustainable utilization of non-timber forest products and developing strong linkages to local and online markets. Mangrove conservation projects with prior assessments needing follow through support for developing community incentives are also open for support.
| Mainland | Calamianes Group of Islands | |
| Central and Southern | Northern | |
| Mt. Mantalingan Protected Landscape (Brooke’s Point, Rizal, Bataraza, Sofronio, Española, Quezon) Victoria Anepahan Mountain Range (Puerto Princesa City, Narra, Aborlan, Quezon) Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Cleopatra’s Needle Critical Habitat | KBA #60 (San Vicente, Roxas, Taytay) El Nido – Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (El Nido, Taytay) Dumaran (KBA #74) | Coron Busuanga Culion Linapacan |
Samar and Leyte
The provinces of Samar and Leyte are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change given the existing topography, climate, and soil characteristics. This condition is further aggravated by unselective, damaging, harmful uses and practices which resulted in the decline and dwindling level of productivity both on forest and marine resources.
Poverty is one of the main issues and contributors to forest degradation in the landscape. The lack of a sustainable source of income and increasing population forced the communities to depend on their needs in the forest. For this call for proposal, we are looking for projects that will help improve the quality of life of forest dependent communities to co-manage and benefit from the forest landscape. Capacity building through the big brother/sister approach was seen as an effective strategy towards empowering peoples’ organization in the landscape. In particular, we are seeking proposals that will support and enhance existing livelihoods of communities such as sustainable fishing, farming and weaving. Support for ecotourism, agroforestry and further product development and developing strong market linkages for non-timber forest products and agricultural products are encouraged. Moreover, support for enterprises linked to mangrove management are also open for support.
| Samar and Eastern Samar: Municipalities within Samar Island Natural Park, coastal forests (mangroves and beach), forests within small islands ecosystem | Leyte Province: Municipalities with the following forested landscapes | |
| Eastern Samar Province: Lawaan Quinapondan Balangiga Salcedo Balangkayan Llorente Borongan Guiuan Taft | Samar Province: Basey Calbiga Calbayog Paranas | KBA # 89 – Anonang Lobi-Mountain Range Leyte Sab-a Peatland Forest areas |
- 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. On one hand, Lanao del Sur that lies west of Bukidnon is critical for the reliability of hydropower plants as renewable energy sources in Mindanao, while Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor, located east of Bukidnon, hosts a large proportion of the country’s unique floral and faunal species, and home to a number of Indigenous Peoples groups.
These remaining large forest blocks are threatened by timber poaching, conversion of forests to farms and plantation, increasing population, road development and mineral resources utilization. Priority projects in these sites include sustainable livelihoods and enterprises that will complement the protection and restoration efforts in watershed areas, agroforestry, utilization, processing and marketing of non timber forest products and high value crops.
| 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 Range Mt.Malindawag/Talabaan Watershed Mt. Tago-Pantaron Range Coastal forests of Misamis Oriental | Lake Lanao Watershed | Mt. Hilong Hilong Range |
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities for this request for proposal are categorized based on the nature of the livelihood/enterprise being proposed. Projects should undergo the step ladder approach of establishing livelihoods and should follow the Sustainable Livelihood Approach. In case earlier steps and interventions were done in the past, proponents are required to mention it in their proposal. Forest threats being addressed and challenges on the identified livelihood should also be reflected in the proposal narrative and concept notes.
In addition, project proposals must clearly provide information on its 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 of ancestral domain). Proposed project interventions must clearly address identified needs and threats to the forest and the associated ecosystem services.
| Eligible Activities for Non Timber Forest Products based Livelihoods | |
|---|---|
| Resource Planning and Inventory of Identified NTFPs | Assessment of available supply for business planningSupport for permitting process, including identification of sustainable harvest limits |
| Business Planning | Consultation with stakeholders Support for complying with government requirements (e.g. registration) Support for the development and/or enhancement of business plans |
| Capacity Building | Training on budgeting, planning, financial management, including bookkeeping Training on product costing and inventory Organizational strengthening, if needed Developing benefit sharing mechanisms |
| Product development and diversification | Value addition and development of new product use (research and development) responsive to market demandsCatalyzing partnerships and collaborations between community enterprises and social entrepreneurs Support for seed capital, tools, and equipment Skills training needed to operationalize the enterprise Mentorship and peer to peer learning among other communities |
| Developing strong market linkage | Development of improved packaging and product labels of existing forest-based productsCreation of a marketing plan and support for marketing activities and scanning, which can include collaborations with social enterprises, private sector, and artists and influencersLinking of community products to existing markets, both physical stores and e-commerce |
| Monitoring and Evaluation | Endline studies to assess changes in stakeholders’ income, well-being, resource use, and attitudes and practices toward sustainable forest management |
| Eligible Activities for Agroforestry Based Livelihoods | |
|---|---|
| Farm planning | Identification of agroforestry farms in relation to forest areas Nursery location Farm suitability Crop suitability assessment |
| Nursery Establishment, Planting and Maintenance | Support for nursery materials and inputs Development of planting and monitoring plan Support for planting |
| Capacity Building | Training on budgeting, planning, financial management including bookkeeping Training on good agricultural practices, soil and water conservationAgroforestry farm development |
| Marketing | Support for trading fund, if appropriate |
| Monitoring and Evaluation | Endline studies to assess changes in stakeholders’ income, well-being, resource use, and attitudes and practices toward sustainable forest management |
Depending on the commodity and crop cycle, we can also provide support for the following interventions:
| Product development and value addition | Value addition and development of new product use (Research and Development) responsive to market demandsLinkaging with hotels, resort, sari-sari stores for raw and semi processed produce Support for seed capital, tools and equipment Skills training needed to operationalize the enterprise Mentorship and peer to peer learning among other communities |
| Eligible Activities for Ecotourism Development | |
|---|---|
| Site Assessment | Consultation with relevant stakeholders Assessment of available attractions and extent of development Conduct of carrying capacity, if needed |
| Ecotourism Planning | Formulation of Ecotourism Management Plan (EMP), if not yet available Securing of necessary permits Development of business plan that will detail out the operations, marketing and management of the ecotourism enterprise Identification of capacity building needs of communities |
| Implementation and Capacity Building | Implementation of the Ecotourism Management Plan and Business Plan Training on budgeting, planning, financial management including bookkeeping Training on ecotourism operations, including tour guiding, customer relations, and marketing |
| Monitoring and Evaluation | Endline studies to assess changes in stakeholders’ income, well-being, resource use, and attitudes and practices toward sustainable forest management |
Eligible Recipients
Entities involved in livelihood and enterprise development, research and forestry, are encouraged to apply. This includes:
- Non-governmental, peoples, indigenous peoples, professional, socio-civic and community organizations;
- Social entrepreneurs and enterprises; 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.
Funding Allocation and Grant Categories
The grant will support eligible activities that can be implemented up to 2nd quarter of 2027, depending on the project components and activities necessary to achieve the expected outcomes as stated in the Forest Foundation Results Framework. Projects should be at levels commensurate with achieving measurable impact on large landscapes while maintaining accountability and efficacy. The categories of the grants are listed below:
- Medium Grants – up to PhP 6M of total project cost, to be implemented in a minimum of one year up to a maximum of three years. Projects under this grant category shall deliver specific output or outputs 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
Counterpart funding from the proponent, partners, and other donor institutions and projects/programs is highly encouraged.
Evaluation
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.
The proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
| CRITERIA | GUIDE QUESTIONS |
| 1. Design | Are the objectives, methods and outcomes coherent? Does it follow the sustainable livelihood approach? |
| 2. Capacity | Can the proponents successfully implement the project? Are the peoples’ organizations to be engaged functional? Does the proponent have prior experience and expertise on livelihood and enterprise development? |
| 3. Impact | Is there a clear link between the livelihoods/enterprise to be established and the conservation and protection of the forest? Does it address the threats identified in the forest? |
| 4. Relevance | Is the project relevant to the target group and the community? Are the raw materials available in the area? Is there a strong market for the commodity/product to be developed? |
| 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? Will the communities gain profit from the enterprise? Are benefit sharing mechanisms in place? Are there safeguards to ensure that enterprise expansion will not contribute to unsustainable practices? |
Application Procedure
Eligible entities must submit their concept notes following the templates that can be downloaded here:
- Concept Note for NTFP-Based Livelihood
- Concept Note for Agroforestry Livelihood
- Concept Note for Ecotourism Livelihood
For proponents who would like to submit a full proposal instead, you may refer to the prescribed Medium-Large grants template that can be downloaded from Forest Foundation’s website, and create an account and upload it at https://grants.forestfoundation.ph.
In case of multiple livelihoods being proposed, proponents may use the form for the primary livelihood for the project and just include in the concept note the other livelihoods to be introduced.
Upon determination of the number and/or merit of the Concept Notes, the Foundation may organize information sessions and/or individual meetings with the proponents. See Section 8 for the timeline of activities, including the conduct of information sessions in each of the landscapes.
Eligible entities can submit the accomplished Concept Notes on or before the deadline through the following link.
Timeline
| Activities | Tentative Dates |
| Release of the Request for Proposals | February 28, 2025 |
| Submission of Concept Notes | on or before March 14, 2025 |
| Information Sessions in the Landscapes and Individual Meetings Note: Venue and arrangements will be provided depending on the number of concept notes/proposals submitted. Final dates for each of the landscapes will be announced. Check the Foundation’s website (www.forestfoundation.ph) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/forestfoundationph/) regularly for updates. | March 17 – April 4, 2025 |
| Deadline of Submission of Proposals | April 30, 2025 |
| Review of Proposals | May 2025 |
| Announcement of Results and Start of Project Implementation | June 2025 |
Information Sessions
Information sessions serve as venues for the Forest Foundation to discuss the Request for Proposal in detail, as well as provide technical assistance to interested 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 number of concept notes and proposals received by the Foundation, information sessions may be organized in the landscapes. Please check the Foundation’s website and social media pages for regular updates. A maximum of two representatives per Concept Note (preferably the project leader and/or community leader) may participate in the session. Due to the bulk of project proposals and inquiries received by the Foundation, registration for the information session is required to secure a time slot and receive the final program arrangements. Entities based outside of the targeted landscapes that are interested to implement a project may request for individual consultations.
The above activities are subject to change. Please check the Foundation’s website and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/forestfoundationph/) for updates. Note that submissions beyond the deadline shall be considered based on the availability of funds.
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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