The Ecosystem based Adaptation Facility is the instrument through which the CBF currently delivers on its Climate Change Program. Designed as a sinking fund, the EbA Facility award grants that support actions on climate change adaptation and poverty alleviation through biodiversity conservation and ecosystems management. The grants aim to assist organisations in beneficiary countries in their on-the-ground efforts to maintain and increase resilience and reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and people in the face of the adverse effects of climate change. The EbA Facility resources are currently composed of a 45 million EURO contribution from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety through KfW. This financing is being programmed and disbursed during the 2018 – 2025 period. The CBF uses open Call for Proposals for the identification and selection of projects.
Through the First Call for Proposals, which was launched in October 2018, a total of US$12 million were committed to 11 projects covering 10 countries. In the CBF’s May 2020 Newsletter we shared details on these 11 projects. The implementation process for these projects has been slowed by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, good progress was made after the signing of the respective Grant Agreements in the preparation and approvals of First Annual Work Plans (AWPs) and Procurement Plans (PPs). These documents are critical for guiding implementation and for procurement of goods and services. Up to this date, 10 AWPs and 9 PPs were approved with implementation on the ground of these projects moving forward.
The Second Call for Proposals was launched on February 26th, 2020 at the CBF EbA Workshop held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Eligible countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This Call which was opened until May 31st was very successful attracting 79 applications. The concept notes submitted are being evaluated by the CBF Secretariat and the EbA Facility Committee. Organizations which submitted concept notes short listed through this evaluation, will be invited to submit full proposals for consideration. We expect that these short-listed organizations will be contacted by the beginning of October 2020. Full proposals submitted will be evaluated to determine projects to be supported through the second call for proposals. This selection process is forecasted to be completed by February 2021.