2024 WWF Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Grant

WWF’s Russell E Train Education for Nature (EFN) Program invites proposals focused on collaborative capacity building related to (i) environmental and social impacts and risks of development projects on ecosystems and their services and (ii) enhancing inclusive conservation and sustainable development. The Environmental and Social Impact Grant aims to provide competitive financial support to teams and institutions working in Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar focusing on enhancing capacities to address environmental and social impact assessment capacity building needs with an emphasis on local communities and local practitioners.

The proposals should target diverse audiences involved in addressing social and environmental issues associated with the execution and management of conservation and development initiatives, particularly with a focus on WWF key goals including climate, food, forests, freshwater, oceans, and wildlife.

Focus Areas

 Proposals should seek to engage diverse groups and sectors with emphasis on the following: 

•  Developing skills, good practice, and standards. These should include hands-on activities and case-studies that directly address the dual institutional challenges and gaps to understanding and mitigating the potential social and environmental impacts and risks associated with development programs and projects and opportunities for enhancing inclusive conservation objectives to achieve sustainable development. 
• Engaging diverse stakeholders, including gender mainstreaming and involvement of local and indigenous people and communities.
• Fostering a professional network among individuals and organizations with emphasis on collaboration and information exchange. Priority will be given to proposals that seek to strengthen collaboration with local associations (e.g., conservation professionals, impact assessment professionals, environmental journalists, urban and regional planners or environmental lawyers), and regional bodies.
• Strengthening institutional capacities to address governance challenges related to conservation, development, and infrastructure projects and to improving the expertise and experience of individuals and communities to achieve impact assessment and conservation outcomes collaboratively, including attention to cumulative effects, strategic level cooperation and the use of nature-based solutions to environmental impacts and risks.

“It might catch your attention to investigate”

Funding 

• Applicants may request up to $ 15,000 with strong budget justification. 

Selection Criteria for 2024 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Grant

Project proposals will undergo a rigorous and competitive selection process and scored based on a set of criteria including, but not limited to the following score areas:

• Proposed objectives and goals – the proposed work demonstrates an understanding of the rationale, the proposed activities are feasible within the proposed work plan, and the budget is realistic.
• Project impact – both short- and long-term impacts as well as far-reaching outcomes on environmental and social sustainability beyond proposed timeframe whilst taking into consideration a risk assessment; Contribution to capacity development and ecological and social outcomes.
• Project measurability – the proposed initiative has measurable outcomes and outputs.
•  Project scalability and transferability – the proposed activities can be scaled to context specific and are replicable. 
• Collaborations – projects that enhance partnerships with a clear outline of each stakeholders’ role in delivering the proposed objectives.

Eligibility Criteria 

Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria to be considered for a grant:

• Organization must be legally registered in an eligible country (Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar).
• Teams or organizations must have a track record in capacity building related to environmental and social impacts, application thereof to local activities related to conservation and development; and ability to monitor results.
• Organization must submit all required documents by the application deadline. 
• Organization must complete all grant activities before August 2025.
• The proposals must include active learning, practical skill components, mentoring and/or field-based learning activity that build skills and knowledge for local stakeholders, institutions and networks. Priority is given to local organizations that focus on addressing challenges of development that affect ecosystems and their services and enhancing sustainable development and conservation.
• Organizations must commit to show how they will accomplish expected outputs within the context of country-specific regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Organizations must commit to support work that is focused on WWF’s six ambitious goals including climate, food, forests, freshwater, oceans and wildlife.

Application Process in 2024 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Grant

 The call for applications will close on December 18, 2023 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time. An overview of the grant timeline is below. The application is available here.

• December 18, 2023: Deadline for submissions of applications in the portal
• January – March 2024: Selection process 
• April 2024: Successful applicants informed
• June-July 2024: Contracts signed, and grants issued.

Applications should be submitted online by December 18, 2023 by 11:59 PM US Eastern Time.