EbA Call for Proposals Archives | Caribbean Biodiversity Fund

EbA Call for Proposals

General

Could you share the awardees’ proposals of the first round of CBF funding / financing, to have some reference to CBFs priorities?

We cannot share the successful proposal documents. However, you can view the project flyers for EbA Facility grantees from the 1st Call for Proposals.
Will the submission deadline change due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

The CBF Secretariat is monitoring the dynamic situation and will discuss the options. Any change to the deadline that might be decided would be communicated through this website. In the meantime, the deadline of 30 April remains in effect.
Is it possible to get abstracts and contact details for projects funded under the 1st Call for Proposals in Haiti and the Dominican Republic?

Our two grantees with activities in Haiti are J/P Haitian Relief Organization (contract: Marc Kenson Theus, kenson@haititakesroot.org) and the Dominican Institute for Integrated Development (contact: David Luther, david.luther@iddi.org.

Budget

Will consortia need to have singular money management capacity, or will the collective sum of money managed be assessed?

The money management capacity of the “Applicant Organization”, as the prospective grant holder, will be assessed, as will all relevant experience of other consortia members. The lead agency is responsible that the other consortia members apply proper management of the funds.
Are there any guidelines regarding overhead costs for the lead applicant organization? Does the fund cover administrative costs of partner organizations in the consortia? If overheads are capped, would we be able to apply some of the costs of our Cuba consultant attorney as a direct cost?

The EbA Facility cannot provide price estimating guidance/regulatory limitations. Administrative costs should be kept to a minimum and be efficient and cost sensitive. Consultants should be budgeted as direct costs.

Concept Note

Can we delete the whole tabular format of the concept note template provided. I have seen a previous submission that made it through the first round, and it was without the tabular format?

The preference is that you use the tabular format represented in the concept note template.
Can we submit a concept note without the financial audit or will we be disqualified for not meeting that requirement, even though we have a promise of audit?

You will need to provide audited financial statements at the concept note stage as described in the Call for Proposals to be qualified for consideration. As identified in the concept note template, Government Ministries are exempt from this requirement where separate audited financial statements are not produced.

Eligibility

Only a few countries are listed as eligible to apply under the CBF EbA Facility Second Call for Proposals. Will any exceptions be made to community based organizations within neighboring Caribbean countries that are not listed on the CBF website?

Eligibility for EbA funding is based on the list of low and middle income countries that are eligible for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), as identified by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) (DAC-List-of-ODA-Recipients-for-reporting-2020-flows.pdf). Additional Caribbean countries may receive support through their participation in multi-country projects. Multi-country projects are projects involving activities in more than one country, and the majority of countries (at least three- quarters) must be on the list of eligible countries referenced above. These multi-country projects could benefit the following additional insular countries: The Bahamas, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago
What are the limitations for Cuban applicants?

For projects that include Cuba, project proponents (lead agencies) must be US based organizations. These must have experience in implementing projects and other activities in compliance with US Government regulations concerning Cuba. Applicants must include documentation that demonstrates such experience as well as any additional evidence that provides information on internal systems in place to ensure compliance.
Are island coalitions (5 NGO/CSOs with MoU) considered an acceptable project applicant?

Consortia are welcome to apply. However, there should be a clearly defined lead agency, the “Applicant Organization”, as detailed in the concept note template. This agency, if successful, would be the responsible contract party.
Does the following footnote apply to a conservation organization based in the USA and with work in Cuba?

Yes, it applies to all applicants who wish to propose projects with activities in Cuba.

“Organizations from outside the Caribbean applying for funding should have EbA experience/expertise, as well as one or more local partners. It is expected that international organizations applying for grants will incorporate local knowledge transfer and capacity building activities in their projects.”
We are going to apply as a consortium with a number of local partners. Do we need to list our partners’ past projects as well? If our partners have matching funds available from other projects, should we list them in the budget?

The relevant experience of all consortia members will be assessed. As such, it may be useful to list partners’ relevant project expertise. Partner co-finance should be included in the budget section under “Are there in-kind contributions from your organization or from other supporters or partners? In-kind support may include labor, travel costs, equipment that is provided to the project, training, etc.”

Full Proposal

Would the EbA Facility accept a proposal for a regional project that would serve the coasts of the Central American Caribbean?

The EBA Facility currently only finances projects in the insular Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Thus, the Central American Caribbean is not eligible for an EbA Facility Grant.

Project Implementation

How much research may a project employ in comparison with implementing different EbA measures?

The testing and development of new EbA approaches and models are identified as possible options in the call documentation together with the scaling-up and replication of proven concepts.
Our consortium members have a small structure and a recent operation. We are therefore considering the possibility of partnering with an international institution to provide the project management services (receiving the project resources, managing the bank account, financial transfers and payments, financial reporting, consolidated technical reports) and present our concept note as the applicant. However, the technical supervision and decisions will be shared with a committee of the 7 consortium members, which is designing the project. Is this arrangement acceptable to the EbA Facility?

We can consider such an arrangement if the criteria and guidance provided in the Call for Proposals are met. The “Applicant Organization”, as detailed in the concept note template, would be the responsible contract party and accountable for proper technical and financial management by the other consortia members. In such consortium applications, the applicant organization could sign sub-grant contracts with other organizations that will be responsible for specific roles during the project implementation.
Will the project implementation and reporting reminders be in line with KfW procedures?

EbA Facility projects follow CBF procedures. These currently include some KfW procedures and where these are included, they will be identified in the grant agreements. The reporting schedule will be defined in the grant agreement (see Q&A 15) and does not contemplate reminders.

Project Location

Can a non-Caribbean entity be the main applicant and project lead?

This Call for Proposals focuses on improving the management and/or restoration of EbA-supporting marine and coastal zone habitats. Where a ridge to reef approach is being proposed we would expect that the share of EbA supporting coastal/marine habitats will be in the majority of measures of the overall proposal.
Our multi-country project includes actions in 7 countries, from which 2 do not qualify directly to the ODA assistance (Bahamas and Saint Kitts and Nevis). Will the project be allowed to transfer financial resources to projects in these two countries?

The Bahamas and Saint Kitts & Nevis may receive support through their participation in multi-country projects. The majority of countries (at least three- quarters) must be on the list of eligible countries.
If we cover a number of geographies within the country and address several EbAs at the seascape scale, would it be possible to apply for a larger grant?

Grants would generally range from US $250,000 to US $2 million, with some exceptions for larger grants involving multi-country/regional projects. National projects have a USD 2 million ceiling.
Can we submit potential project sites and then select the specific site during project implementation?

It is expected that your site(s) is very specific in the concept note stage and does not change later in the process.

Project Size

Our organization does not meet certain criteria mentioned in your call such as: past grant size, relevant project experience or publications. How best can we present our proposal?

Only applications meeting the criteria specified in the Call for Proposal documentation will be considered for funding in a highly competitive selection process. A consideration is to partner with an organization that fulfills the required criteria.

Reporting

We are very interested in applying and wanted some more information regarding the reporting requirements.
Reporting requirements will be specified in the grant agreement with successful applicants. Current grantees under the 1st CfP are required to submit the below-listed. Additionally, the CBF may request other information or reports, as may be required in order to assess the project and/or to comply with any internal policies, procedures, and obligations pursuant to its funders:

An Annual Work Plan within 25 business days of signing and subsequently annually, on the same date;

Project Financial Reports for the 6-month period up to the 31st of December and 30th of June of every year to be delivered by the final business day of the following January and July, respectively;

Audited annual financial statements promptly following such audit, by June every year following the respective financial year.

Project Progress Reports for the 6-month period up to the 31st of December and 30th of June of every year to be delivered by the final business day of the following January and July respectively,

A Final Narrative Report and a Final Financial Report to be delivered 40 business days after expiry of the grant agreement; and

A Close-out Report to be delivered within 25 Business Days from the expiry of the grant agreement.

It is likely that the agreements under the 2nd CfP will follow the same, or a very similar, reporting schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

EbA Call for Proposals

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