Deadline of Submission of Full Proposals:
November 3, 2025 (Monday)
I. Background and Objectives
As an archipelago, the Philippines’ island ecosystems present a unique and institutionally-recognized area for conservation. Collectively, island ecosystems are rich in endemism that contribute to biodiversity – the terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems of islands provide important natural resources necessary for the economies and cultures of the communities. On another hand, the characteristics of size, shape and degree of isolation make many of these islands more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and socio-economic implications. The numerous small islands in the Philippines are considered important because of their unique biodiversity, high endemism, and high vulnerability to climate change. Forests in these islands play important roles in hydrology and domestic water provisioning.
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. The Foundation and its partners will seek to achieve four immediate outcomes:
- Grow Forests: Enhanced forested landscapes that provide multiple ecosystem goods and services;
- Grow Opportunities: Improved multi-stakeholder engagement through sustainable livelihoods and incentives;
- Grow Partners: Strengthened cross-sectoral partnerships for sustainable forest management; and
- Grow Advocates: Enhanced knowledge management and strategic communications.
For two decades, the Foundation has been providing grants to support upland and mangrove forests conservation within the focal landscapes of Sierra Madre, Palawan, Samar, Leyte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Sur. Outside of these large blocks of forested landscapes, the Foundation provides grant support for scaling-up mangrove conservation, as well as the identification and establishment of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
Moreover, in the past years, the Foundation supported various projects that piloted forest management strategies in small island ecosystems. This grant program revolved on “research for conservation” interventions aimed to be replicated and/or scaled-up in the Foundation’s four focal landscapes. Under the Results Framework 2023-2027, the Foundation’s grant program for small island ecosystems will be uplifted to implement forest-based solutions that will support increasing climate resilience and adaptive capacity. The Foundation is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to implement such projects.
II. Geographic Scope
This Request for Proposals (RFP) will prioritize project proposals that will implement forest-based climate solutions in the following geographic areas:
- Small islands adjacent to Sierra Madre, such as (but not limited to) Calayan Island, Polillo Group of Islands, and Alabat Islands;
- Small island ecosystems within the Palawan, Leyte, and Eastern Samar Provinces;
- Other priority areas:
- Northern Philippines: Masinloc and Oyon Bay Protected Landscapes and Seascapes and adjacent small island ecosystems; Batanes Group of Islands;
- Central Philippines: Catanduanes
- Southern Philippines: Siargao Islands Protected Landscapes and Seascapes, Dinagat Island, and Tawi-tawi
To qualify for grant support, the small island should have the following features:
- a total land area of less than 2,000 square kilometers;
- a total population not more than 200,000;
- natural forest cover that is at least 30% of the total land area;
- with island endemics (unique flora and fauna); and
- presence of eligible partners willing to implement forest-based solutions project
Other small island ecosystems outside of the priority list above may be considered for funding, subject to availability of funds.
III. Eligible Activities
This Grant Program will support eligible activities that can be implemented until July 31, 2027. The proposed project must provide clear community- and forest-based climate action to help address threats to- and increase adaptive capacity of island ecosystems.
Projects should be at levels commensurate with achieving measurable impacts while maintaining accountability and efficacy. 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).
Primary activities (required) to be implemented should directly contribute to the Foundation’s target outcome: Grow Forests – Enhanced forested landscapes that provide multiple ecosystem goods and services. Eligible activities for support to contribute to this outcome may include the following, but not limited to:
- Facilitate the establishment of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures;
- Participatory, threat-based, and multisectoral watershed planning, protection and monitoring (e.g. protection of the headwaters, provision for water quality/quantity monitoring as indicator of healthy forests), and sustainable management of small islands;
- Science-based and participatory restoration of forests and watersheds;
- Science-based and participatory rehabilitation of Abandoned, Undeveloped and Underutilized (AUU) areas for fishpond purposes, restoration, and enhancement of appropriate management zones in mangrove forests;
- Establishment of alternative/sustainable sources of materials and livelihoods options that will reduce pressure on the forests and natural resources;
- Strengthening capacities of stakeholders and cross-sectoral partnerships for sustainable management of small islands ecosystems; and
- Increasing stakeholders’ awareness on small island ecosystems and its management.
IV. Eligible Recipients
- Non-governmental, peoples, indigenous peoples, professional, socio-civic, and community organizations;
- Other appropriate local or regional entities active in the Philippines
Priority will be given to entities that have previous operations and work with the local communities within the target small islands. Project implementation can also be done through integrated projects by one Civil Society Organization (e.g. co-funded by other development partners or government agencies) or several organizations in a consortium agreeing to perform or achieve particular outputs in support of common project outcomes.
V. Funding Allocation and Grant Categories
Up to PhP 4,000,000 per project may be requested from the Foundation, with a minimum of one (1) year project implementation.
Counterpart funding from the proponent, partners, and other donor institutions and projects/programs is highly encouraged.
VI. 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 increasing resilience and adaptive capacities of small island ecosystems? |
| 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 documents or additional information as needed.
VII. Timeline and Application Procedure
| Activities | Tentative Dates |
| Release of Request for Proposals | October 20, 2025 |
| Deadline of Submission of Concept Note The Concept Note template can be downloaded through the links below: Concept Note – English/FilipinoConcept Note – English/Bisaya Eligible entities can submit the accomplished Concept Notes on or before the deadline through the following link. | November 3, 2025 |
| Forest Foundation’s evaluation of Concept Notes | Upon receipt of Concept Notes until November 15, 2025 |
| Notification for Successful Proponents to submit full proposal | Between November 17 to 21, 2025 |
| Information Sessions and mentoring (face to face or online) for Proponents who are invited to submit full proposals(see additional notes below) | December 2025 |
| Deadline of Submission of Full Proposal (see additional notes below) | January 9, 2026 |
| Evaluation of Full Proposals | January to March 2026 |
| Announcement of Results and Start of Project Implementation | As early as February 2026 and latest June 2026 (depending on the completeness of the proposal) |
Concept Note Submission. Eligible entities can submit the accomplished Concept Notes on or before the deadline through the following link.
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 must include detailed activity and budget plan for the first year; and indicative activity and budget plan for the succeeding years. Proposals must 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/
Information Sessions and Mentoring. This will serve as venues for Forest Foundation to discuss its grant programs in detail and provide technical assistance to successful Concept Notes submissions to further enhance and strengthen their ideas of a project. Information Sessions may be organized face-to-face or online together with the Proponent and the community partners.
VIII. 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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Email: proposals@forestfoundation.ph
Office Hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.