Funding Information
The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) has commissioned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to carry out international calls for small scale projects. This small grants scheme is part of the BMU’s International Climate Initiative (IKI).
First call for project proposals: Objectives, procedures, and criteria
1. Background
Since 2008 the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has been funding projects that address climate change, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, conserving natural carbon sinks / REDD+ / forest landscape restoration (FLR) and the conservation of biodiversity (https://www.international-climate-initiative.com). IKI projects and programmes are comparably large in scale, calling for integrated approaches of project consortia. Smaller organizations are part of these projects but rather as members of larger consortia. However, the implementation of measures under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) also require the dedicated strengthening of the stand-alone capacities of small and local organizations from partner countries.
With the IKI Small Grants scheme, BMU, therefore, extends its IKI strategy and outreach to small organisations to encourage active citizen involvement and local approaches to threats caused by climate change and biodiversity loss. They will be supported through the financing of projects including capacity building and aided where possible and necessary by GIZ in integrating their activities into national policy objectives.
BMU has commissioned GIZ in the context of the project “Capacity Building and Finance for National and Local Action on Climate and Biodiversity” to implement the IKI Small Grants funding scheme. The call for project proposals, the selection process and the disbursement of funds are handled by GIZ and in accordance with GIZ procedures.
The IKI Small Grants scheme is exclusively aimed at promoting the work of small organizations in developing and emerging economies further defined below.
2. Objectives
The focus of the IKI Small Grants scheme is to provide support to the implementation of both the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in implementing the Paris Agreement as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in addressing the global loss of biodiversity (Aichi Targets and the goals of the future post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework).
As a primary goal project proposals have to clearly address one of the IKI funding areas:
- Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions
- Adapting to the impacts of climate change
- Conserving natural carbon sinks/forestry
- Conserving biological diversity
Please note that project proposals must clearly focus on solving challenges related to climate change or nature conservation. Proposals with another key focus will not be considered. Nevertheless, cross-cutting topics such as sustainable urban development and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) are also eligible for funding. Please refer to the IKI homepage for details on the IKI funding areas: https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/en/issues/.
Proposals that include social and economic co-benefits or contribute to good governance as secondary goals are welcome.
Proposals that include the empowerment of women and address gender-specific issues (as a secondary goal) are also encouraged. A limited number of projects which particularly address gender issues or are submitted by women’s organizations or networks will be selected.
Beyond the objectives already mentioned, this funding programme is aimed at strengthening the capacities of small national, regional or local organizations.
3. Partner countries and regions
Applicants of project proposals must be based and registered in countries that fulfil the criteria for Official Development Assistance (ODA) defined by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Please consult the DAC List of ODA Recipients. Projects must be implemented in countries included in this list. If more than one country is involved, they must be neighbouring countries. Projects with a global focus will not be funded.
4. Conditions for funding
The IKI Small Grants scheme will select project proposals with a funding volume of up to EUR 100,000 (one hundred thousand euros). Proposals which exceed this amount will not be considered. Project funding will only be granted to
- not-for-profit organisations,
- for-profit non-government organisations if they pursue strictly non-profit objectives within the scope of their proposed project.
Individuals or natural persons, one-man/woman organisations and government organisations are not eligible for funding. Also excluded are branches of organisations based in a non-ODA country.
Applicants will have to meet a set of requirements such as legal status and accounting capabilities and provide evidence for these.
- The average annual revenue of the organisation in the last three years shall not exceed EUR 500,000 (five hundred thousand euros).
- The funding volume shall not exceed one-third of the average annual turnover of the last three years.
- For project proposals with a funding volume of over EUR 50,000 (fifty thousand euros), the applicant organisation must employ a software-based accounting system which meets its respective national standards.
- The applicant has to have dedicated accounting staff and have accounting principles that ensure internal as well as external control mechanisms.
- There have been no allegations or investigations of corruption or other offences (e.g. fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust) against the organisation, its board members or officers in the last 5 years.
5. Capacity Building
As mentioned above this funding programme is aimed at strengthening the capacities of small local, national or regional organisations in ODA countries. For this reason, a defined share of up to 10 % of the overall budget of a project may be allocated for internal capacity building of the applicant. This exclusively applies to non-profit organisations. For-profit organisations that propose a project which pursues strictly non-profit objectives are eligible for funding, but are excluded from using project funds for internal capacity building.
For details consider the application template and the application guidelines.
6. General funding priorities
In the context of the above mentioned funding areas the IKI Small Grants scheme is looking to support projects that focus on areas such as,
- present new approaches to climate and biodiversity protection,
- promote policy development (local, regional, national or transnational),
- place climate change or biodiversity issues on the agenda of local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes,
- address the risks, challenges and opportunities of global transition, global megatrends (e.g. digitalization, urbanization) and social change with regard to climate change or biodiversity loss,
- develop innovative technologies, tools or methods to address climate or biodiversity related problems,
- strengthen networks, knowledge sharing and cooperation of organisations working on climate change and biodiversity related issues,
- develop and promote the use of climate smart technologies,
- contribute to awareness raising and education,
- reduce multiple anthropogenic pressures on vulnerable ecosystems,
- develop and introduce economic incentives favourable for climate and biodiversity.
Project proposals that combine bottom-up approaches with national policies will be appreciated.
Proposals that engage in cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder cooperation, involve the local population, and strengthen the role of women in society are encouraged.
The project should be embedded within an enabling environment and produce tangible and practical results that can be replicated further.
The IKI Small Grants scheme will not finance research projects unless they have a strong implementation component.
7. Selection criteria and formal regulations/requirements
- The proposals must address a funding area within the scope of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) – see above under chapter 2.
- The duration of the proposed projects shall be a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years. Longer durations may be acceptable if justified appropriately.
- The funding amount for individual projects will be between EUR 20.000 (twenty thousand euros) and EUR 100,000 (one hundred thousand euros). Additional own funds are appreciated and encouraged.
- The applicant must adhere to the environmental and social safeguards system applied in this programme.
- The proposal must include an operational plan including indicators and a detailed budget plan demonstrating how the funding will be used.
- The proposal must convince through effective implementation methods and ensure that project achievements and results can be maintained and continue to benefit the target groups even after the project has ended.
- An important criterion for the selection of a proposal is the potential to upscale or adopt the results beyond the immediate scope of the project and potentially be integrated into the policies of your country/region/community.
- Projects will only be funded if their successful conclusion within the given timeframe and budget limits is considered feasible. Any increase of funding during or after the end of projects is not envisaged.
- Forwarding funds to other implementing partners will not be permitted.
- By submitting a proposal, the applicant agrees that in case of approval and funding of the project, project details including a summary of the approved budget will be published on the IKI website.
- Submitting an application is possible until March 5 of 2020. Details of the submission process will be available and regularly updated under https://www.international-climateinitiative.com/en/project-funding/information-for-applicants/small-project-funding/
- After the call is closed, the submitted proposals will undergo a selection process and the submitting organisations will be informed in due time. This might take several months. Please do refrain from inquiries about the status of your proposal.
- Please note that the successful submission of a proposal does not represent any commitment for funding and does not give rise to any legal entitlement. The decision of whether to fund your project will be based on the review of your proposal and the assessment of your organisation.
- When planning your project, please plan to start it in the fourth quarter of 2020.
- The GIZ contract templates and requirements are binding for the implementation of the project.
- The project proposal has to be submitted in English.
8. Other important information
Please note that only a limited number of project proposals can be chosen during each of the upcoming calls for proposals (approximately 20-40 per year).
Applicants who do not submit the complete set of required documents, or for whatever reason are unable to submit the documents within the given timeframe (closing of the call), will not be considered in the selection process. In case you fail to submit the required documents in time, further calls to submit project proposals will follow and be announced in due time.
In case of approval and funding of a project, the relevant Ministry of the applicant’s country will be informed about the project.
GIZ may have the projects audited or evaluated at its own expense at any time by independent chartered consultants commissioned by GIZ, by its own experts or by its own audit authority.
- Please find all relevant information on this website: https://www.international-
climate-initiative.com/en/ project-funding/information- for-applicants/iki-small-and- medium-grants/iki-small- grants/?iki_lang=en