PEFC launches small grants programme, calls for proposals by 26 February 2011

17 January 2011 Collaboration Fund

Building on a PEFC cornerstone of ‘Think Global – Act Local’, PEFC is pleased to announce the first call for proposals for the PEFC Collaboration Fund. The Fund seeks to support members and partner organizations in their dedicated efforts to advance sustainable forest management and forest certification around the world.

“Through the Collaboration Fund, we are looking to support locally relevant advancements in sustainable forest management”, explained Sarah Price, Head of Projects and Development at PEFC International. “We recognize innovative ideas and solutions at a local level can often be scaled up for global application, and the Fund seeks to catalyse this interaction.”

The Fund also represents an important element of PEFC’s contribution to the UN International Year of Forests 2011, which celebrates people’s action to sustainably manage the world’s forests.

The Funds objectives are to:

• stimulate new innovative approaches which contribute to PEFC International strategic priorities;
• act as a catalyst for locally relevant projects which embody PEFC International’s mission of ‘a world where people manage forests sustainably’;
• encourage the establishment of new partnerships amongst organizations and/or the strengthening of existing partnerships;
• provide co-funding that leverages funding from additional sources.

PEFC members and other non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit proposals for new and innovative projects by 26th February 2011. Project partners may also include private and public sector organizations.

Proposals requesting a PEFC Collaboration Fund contribution of up to 40,000 CHF and have a project timeframe up to two years will be considered. Grantees must provide evidence of at least 25% additional co-funding from other sources towards the overall project budget.

“An additional goal of the Fund is to foster existing and facilitate new partnerships among forest stakeholders,” emphasized Ms. Price. “With the total area of certified forests globally having stalled at around 9% in recent years, partnerships and collaboration are needed to provide an important boost to the forest certification movement.”