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APPLICATIONS OPENED FOR SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMS IN CENTRAL ASIA
Projects are to be implemented in the territories of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Application budgets cannot exceed USD 20,000
Participation is open to nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations, registered communities, citizen cooperations, and private universities. Farm enterprises are also welcome to apply. To learn more on the participation in each programme please visit project's web site.
"This is a major project intended for five years," said Grigoriy Mazmanyants, Director of WWF-Russia's Central Asian Program. "Recently, applications have been closed in Kyrgyzstan. In total, 22 nonprofit organizations participated. There are going to be more calls this year, including those with budgets of up to USD 150,000."
The biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains includes two major Asian mountain chains, the Pamir Mountains and the Tian Shan. On the political map, 860,000 sq. km of such hotspots stretches over the southern part of Kazakhstan, major parts of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, eastern Uzbekistan, western China, northeastern Afghanistan, and a small portion of Turkmenistan.
The preservation program of biodiversity hotspots in the mountains of Central Asia is financed by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) that was established jointly by the French Development Agency, WWF, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Japanese Government, and the World Bank. One of the CEPF main goals is to ensure civil engagement in biodiversity preservation activities. CEPF grant activities are focused on key biodiversity areas (KBAs) that are defined as "sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity" as well as on priority species and corridors.
WWF-Russia acts as a Regional Implementation Team (RIT) and manages the small grants program. Qualifying applicants will be offered a contract containing CEPF requirements by WWF-Russia.
Detailed information is available on the project's website. Candidates are also recommended to explore the website of CEPF, especially the Eligibility and Before You Apply sections.
Photo credits: (c) Nikolay Kuznetsov / WWF-Russia
Polina Shkividorova
Grigoriy Mazmaniants
Director of the Central Asian program of WWF-Russia