WWF-Russia, serving as the regional implementation team for the hotspot, is accepting project proposals from non-government organizations, community groups, cultural organizations, women’s groups, private companies and other civil society organizations for projects.

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation.

The Mountains of Central Asia Biodiversity Hotspot consists of two of Asia's major mountain ranges, the Pamir and the Tien-Shan. Politically, the hotspot’s 860,000 square kilometers include southern Kazakhstan, most of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, eastern Uzbekistan, western China, northeastern Afghanistan, and a small part of Turkmenistan. CEPF’s investment focuses on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), defined as “sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity”, as well as priority species and corridors.

Themes

Projects funded by this Call for Proposal, may be based around one or several of the following themes:

• Protection of endemic plants, birds of prey and ungulates.
• Reducing pressures from over-grazing and illegal hunting.
• Wetland management focused on the conservation of threatened species.
• Inventorization of biologically important areas for the purpose of creating new and expansion of existing Protected Areas, taking into account ecosystems changes due to climate change.
• Technical support for PAs, preparation and implementation of Protected Area Management Plans, involvement of local communities in PA management and development of alternative environmentally sustainable forms of nature management in ecological corridors and buffer zones.
• Conducting trainings on adaptation to climate change in local communities and in Protected Areas.

Funding Information

Grant Size: Maximum amount US $20,000

Eligible Applicants

• Non-governmental and non-commercial civil society organizations, registered community groups and citizen cooperatives, and private universities may apply for funding. It is possible for commercial organizations, such as farms and to apply for funding by special consideration. Individuals must work with civil society organizations rather than apply directly.
• International organizations are encouraged to involve local organizations or communities as project partners and/or explain how local stakeholders will be engaged as part of project implementation.
• Organizations must have their own bank account and be authorized under relevant national laws to receive charitable contributions. Groups without a USD bank account may partner with other organizations that do have a USD bank account.

Note: working in Turkmenistan without a USD bank account: Turkmenistan-based non-commercial organizations without a USD bank account may receive funding according to budget lines. WWF-Russia can make disbursements to employees of the NGO; or to project implementer; or for invoices for field equipment purchased abroad that is being shipped to Turkmenistan; or for other relevant expenses. WWF Russia will make payments based on letters from the recipient NGO. All field equipment purchased with grant funding must be formerly submitted to the Protected Areas of Turkmenistan at the conclusion of the project.

Government-owned enterprises or institutions are eligible only if they can demonstrate that the enterprise or institution has:

• a legal personality independent of any government agency or actor;
• the authority to apply for and receive private funds; and
• may not assert a claim of sovereign immunity.

For more information, visit Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.