Support to civil society rainforest action
Update 19 March: Extended dealine for NICFI 2021-2025 call for proposals
Support to civil society organisations has always been an integrated and strategic component of the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI). Over a decade there has been four call for proposals for this funding scheme for civil society organisations administered by Norad.
A fifth call for proposals for 2021-2025 was announced in February 2020. Since then the application deadline has been extended to 19 May 2020 at 13:00 CEST due to Covid-19.
Civil society organisations may apply for support to projects that contribute to reversed and reduced loss of tropical forest, a stable climate, protection of biodiversity and enhanced sustainable development in developing countries.
“Civil society helps to preserve tropical forest both by uncovering and monitoring activities that lead to illegal deforestation and by providing incentives for governments, businesses and the financial sector to pursue policies and conduct activities that have no negative impact on the rainforest”, says Wenche Fone, director of the civil society department in Norad.
Making an impact
During the current period from 2016-2020, 39 civil society projects were supported through NICFI.
“Support through the climate and the forest initiative for civil society has, among other things, contributed to strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples and their ability to control their own natural resources and income”, says Wenche Fone.
“This has in turn contributed to increased conservation of tropical forest”, she emphasises.
Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, among others through efforts to improve forest and land management in tropical forest countries and by reducing the pressure on tropical forests from global markets.
NICFI grants up to NOK 3 billion each year to projects and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD +).
Strategic goals
Civil society organisations are invited to present proposals for projects that contribute to NICFI’s strategic goal, which is that reversed and reduced loss of tropical forest contribute to a stable climate, protect biodiversity and enhance sustainable development.
Projects funded under this grant scheme must address one or more of the five following categories:
- Indigenous peoples, local communities and environmental defenders
- Deforestation-free supply chains and financial markets
- Reduced forest crime and improved forest monitoring
- Mobilising ambition and support for forest friendly policies
- Groundbreaking ideas to reduce deforestation
These can be read in full in the announcement publicised in the Grant Portal, where you find the full announcement text and application form; grants.mfa.no.
Applications must be submitted electronically and in English through the Grants Portal and will not be accepted later than the extended deadline 19 May 2020 at 13:00 CET.
