THIRD CALL FOR PROPOSAL OCTOBER 2023 - PROTECTED AREAS AND OTHER EFFECTIVE AREA-BASED CONSERVATION MEASURES (OECMS) IN PNG

The mission of the Papua New Guinea Biodiversity and Climate Fund (BCF) is “... to catalyze financial and technical resources to enable present and future generations of Papua New Guineans to restore, protect, and enhance the country’s biodiversity and build resilience in the face of climate change”. The Fund’s purpose is to mobilize and manage funding and channel financial resources and technical assistance to conserve biodiversity and address climate change, by: Promoting and supporting effective and sustainable management of existing and future protected areas and other key biodiversity areas through effective conservation measures; Fostering climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives, focusing on nature/ecosystem-based solutions; Supporting sustainable development activities that deliver conservation outcomes and climate benefits and contribute to the economic well-being of the people of PNG - including customary landowners - while lessening the dependence on activities that degrade the environment; Increasing knowledge and understanding of biodiversity and climate issues by raising public awareness, promoting environmental education, and supporting field-based research; Building the capacity of local stakeholders to manage and implement biodiversity, climate, and economic development projects carried out in harmony with conservation objectives; and Supporting the country’s efforts to meet its national, regional, and global conservation and climate commitments. The BCF offers grants to Papua New Guinea-based projects that contribute to the achievement of these objectives. The goal of the BCF is to competitively grant at least PGK 3.5 million (USD 1 million) annually to support the achievement of the Fund’s Theory of Change. The Fund hopes that these grants will help stimulate greater financial resources for conservation and climate action, creating stronger collaboration and coordination between partners and make a systemic change in PNG’s natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations.