Position: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: A sub-grant provision under the project name “Keo Seima REDD+ Project”, funded by the Keo Seima REDD+ and coordinated by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)__Deadline:07Apr

Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 and based in New York, that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. The WCS Country Program in Cambodia, is a relatively large, vibrant program with long-term programs in four major forested and/or wetland landscapes: Eastern Plains (Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary), Northern Plains, Major Rivers, and Tonle Sap.

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS) covers nearly 300,000 ha, protecting lowland and hill semi- evergreen and deciduous forest. It supports globally significant primate and bird populations. Nearly 25,000 people live on the edge of or inside the protected area, many of them ethnic Bunong. Following the loss of forest to the south and west, KSWS is now located on a deforestation frontier. The protected area has been a REDD+ project for 13 years, generating and selling a significant volume of carbon credits. The challenge now is to prevent deforestation and maintain the integrity of KSWS in the face of mounting threats. Introduced in 2021, a five-year Strategy has been developed to achieve this goal, by motivating and inspiring government, local communities, and civil society to value and protect KSWS.

One of the key components of the Keo Seima REDD+ project strategy is a grant scheme coordinated by WCS, where local organizations are given grants to deliver specific activities and outcomes in an agreed timeframe (normally one to two years), which fits with the REDD+ project strategy objectives. Payments are made against agreed milestones related to the completion of activities and sub-activities.

The first tranche of grants issued in 2022 are now ending. The intention for 2023 is to (i.) consolidate and scale-up existing grants through contract extensions and at the same time; (ii.) to broaden the scope of the REDD+ sub-grant portfolio by issuing a Request for Proposals in some new thematic areas. As such, the following lots are being introduced in 2023:

2023 Lots
The Request for Proposals will be split into the following seven lots. Eligible applicants can apply for more than one lot using separate application forms.

Lot 1: Support, establish and operate small scale enterprises, include women’s enterprises, to improve family incomes in 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages1. Ceiling $100,000.

Lot 2: Provide financial literacy training and support for households in 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages so that they can make informed long-term decisions about land-use and taking on debt, especially MFI loans (include evaluation of training outcomes). Ceiling $100,000.

Lot 3: Learning interventions on REDD+ in KSWS. Develop plans and implement activities to increase participation and sense of ownership within 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages, with a focus on indigenous peoples and school children in four districts. Ceiling $100,000.

Lot 4: Support to the development and implementation of innovative responsible community based eco-tourism initiatives and strategies in KSWS, and the provision of eco-tourism hospitality training  and  capacity  building  support  for  local  indigenous  community  members.  Ceiling
$100,000 (potential for multiple lots).

Lot 5: Provision of scholarships to high school for 20 indigenous students from 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages who would otherwise not be able to attend school. Ceiling - $60,000.

Lot 6: Strengthen ICC members to continue the ICT registration process, empower committees to effectively manage community land, and raise the challenges of the ICT registration process with the Ministry of Environment and other relevant ministries. Ceiling - $100,000 (potential for multiple lots).

Lot 7: Provide targeted vocational training and capacity building to Bunong people from 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages to increase their employment opportunities. Ceiling $100,000 (potential for multiple lots).

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES PER LOT

LOT	Activities	Target
LOT 1	Support, establish and  operate small scale enterprises, include women’s enterprises, to improve family incomes in 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages. Conduct needs assessment to identify community potential for small scale enterprises (SSEs), based on the WCS 2022 livelihood feasibility study. Establish groups and support development of 5 SSEs including at least 50% women’s SSEs. Support development of a business plan and long-term strategic plan for each SSE. Provide capacity building to the groups on SSE process/business startup. Provide refresher training as necessary. Exit Plan.	5 villages; at least one group per village and minimum 8 villagers in each group. Complete strategic plan and business plan. Develop the internal rule/regulations                       to manage enterprises.

 

LOT	Activities	Target
LOT 2	Provide financial literacy training or planning assistance for households in 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages so that they can make wiser long-term decisions about MFI loans and receive support in improving their debt situation (includes evaluating the outcome of the training) Rapid training and support needs assessment (TNA) of financial knowledge in 20 KSWS REDD+ project target villages. Develop the selection procedures and criteria for participants (minimum of 20 villagers per community, which must include 2 REDD+ committee members and at least 40% women). Assess training and support requirements and analysis (pre and post assessment). Conduct financial literacy training based on needs of KSWS REDD+ households. Provide refresher training as necessary. Develop and implement support packages (i.e. mediating between lending institutions and borrowers, assessing lending and supporting restructuring, or other support)	TNA report 20 villages in REDD+ project. Rapid assessment of financial knowledge. Selection procedures and criteria. 20+ villagers  including 2 committee members from each village and at least 40% women.

 

LOT	Activities	Target
LOT 3	Learning interventions on REDD+ in KSWS. Develop plans and implement activities to increase participation and a sense of ownership within 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages, with a focus on indigenous peoples and school children in four districts. Assessment of participation and attitudes to the REDD+ project across communities within KSWS, such as using surveys or group discussions, and development of a clear theory of change for removing barriers to participation. Identify groups that are currently being underserved. Develop strategic plan for a campaign in KSWS (across 4 districts and 8 communes) based on a clear theory of change, including activities to reaching currently underserved populations, as well as developing communications in the Bunong language. Positive and committed liaison with local authorities in Keo Seima, Orieng, Senmonorom (Mondulkiri) and Snoul (Kratie) with regards to planning and implementation of the campaign (including with 4 districts and 8 communes), and with PDoE. Implement activities to increase participation and sense of ownership using a range of formats and communication media. Provide a report, based on the preliminary assessment,                      containing               further recommendations for WCS to improve engagement with communities, including actions beyond the scope of this campaign. A clear monitoring and evaluation strategy to understand the impacts of the communications campaign (can be developed in cooperation with WCS).	TNA report Develop strategic plan & stakeholder engagement. Plan and implement activities in at least 16 communities. Work               with         REDD+ committees in Keo Seima to develop messages and communications strategies. Other public-engagement modalities including use of social media, local news pieces, and production of short educational videos.

 

LOT	Activities	Target
LOT 4	Support to the development and implementation of innovative responsible community-based eco- tourism initiatives and strategies in KSWS, and the provision of eco-tourism hospitality training and capacity building support for local indigenous community members. Present concept, strategic plan and business case for eco-tourism initiative in KSWS. Include itemized budget of specific eco- tourism activities – hard (infrastructure) and soft (capacity building & training) approaches required.	Ecotourism concept, strategic plan and business case. Detailed itemized budget.

 

LOT	Activities	Target
Lot 5	Provision of scholarships to high school for 20 Bunong students from 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages who would otherwise not be able to attend school. Develop  a  clear  plan  and  criteria  for  the students selection process. Coordination with department of education and other relevant government institutions. Assist students to complete grade 12.	Selection criteria 20 students enrolled into high school

 

LOT	Activities	Target
Lot 6	Strengthen ICC members to continue the ICT registration process, empower committees to effectively manage community land, and raise the challenges of the ICT registration process with the Ministry of Environment and other relevant ministries. Build capacity to ICCs/ ICT members on land tenure and property rights. Provide training to ICCs on land management, negotiation and conflict resolution. Coordinate with relevant government institutions (e.g. MoE) for completion of ICT registration. Capacity strengthening to 10 ICTs that have not received land titles yet on the by-law and internal rules, land law and PA law. Land use mapping within the ICT boundary and management. Provide ongoing support on the ICT registration process. Complete the process of ICT registration. ICC and ICT member review where necessary. Build solidarity of indigenous communities.	Capacity strengthening and support in the registration process to 10 ICT villages in KSWS without land title.

 

LOT	Activities	Target
Lot 7	Provide targeted vocational training and capacity building to Bunong people from 20 KSWS REDD+ target villages to increase their employment opportunities. Assess training needs and design training program. Provide vocational trainings. Refer trainees to potential employers to facilitate employment and on the job training.	20   people  receive vocational trainings.

 

Closing date for this call for proposals
The deadline for the submission of your proposal/s is 5:00pm (SE Asia Standard Time) 07th April  2023.

Eligible applicants for this call for proposals
a)    Must be registered as either a local or international NGO, Cambodian national or local institutions, or business / for-profit organization legally registered in Cambodia.
b)    Must share list of management board members and submission of latest board meeting minutes.
c)    Prior experiences in working within Mondulkiri province geographical region.
d)    Prior experiences and demonstrated success in the delivery and implementation of the relevant proposed activities listed under each lot (see table above).
e)    The applying entity has a social safeguard policy promoting human rights, indigenous rights, gender and/or is willing to commit to implement their sub grant activities in adherence with WCS Cambodia's social safeguard standards through a commitment to promoting gender equity, non-discrimination, and disability inclusion.
f)    Prior experiences demonstrating capacity in its programming, finance, organizational development, functioning board, and competent staff and/or volunteers (reviewed on completion of a sub award risk assessment).
g)    The applying entity must be willing and able to enter into a sub-grant agreement with Wildlife Conservation Society Cambodia Program to work together to design and implement the KSWS REDD+ project.
h)    The applying entity has a proven background in collaboration with local government, civil society organizations, and local indigenous communities.
i)    Project should be for a 12-month period unless project implementation requires longer (in which case applicants should provide a clear justification).
j)    All funds must be spent in Cambodia.

Submission Requirements

• Interested parties are advised to download the proposal and budget templates from the following link: https://1drv.ms/u/s!As1uIypzNeFjas1CPS-kN5qpAug?e=Pnvcc7 before responding to this call.
• An orientation webinar will be organized on 22th March 2023 in person in Senmonorom, Mondulkiri, or via TEAMS and is open to all interested parties. Interested applicants should please register in advance by sending an email with your organization name, along with the name and email address of webinar participants, to the following email:  vem@wcs.org to get the TEAMS link for the meeting.

The  proposal  should  be  completed  in  English   and   submitted   in   PDF   format. Applicants are required to submit their completed proposal/s and all required documents  for the attention of the Sub Grant Coordinator, via email: vem@wcs.org or by post to WCS Cambodia (No. 21, Street 21, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkamorn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia).
Enquires: tel. 012454224 / 0712296899.

Moreinfo: https://cambodia.wcs.org/About-Us/Careers.aspx

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