Applications Invited for Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants Program

Follow us@ngobox

About the Organization

The Waitt Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports marine conservation efforts around the globe through funding and grantmaking. We take a hands on, partnership-oriented approach to support governments, research institutions and NGOs in protecting the ocean.

We are founding partners of the Blue Prosperity Coalition, a coalition engaging in a multi-year partnership with governments to designate and implement 30% marine protection and establish a Blue Prosperity Plan.

We partner with governments across the globe to help them achieve their own ocean prosperity and sustainability goals.We support innovative ocean conservation through grants big and small.We perform and fund cutting-edge research and have an open source policy with all of our data.

About the Grant

The Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants Program is a project of the Waitt Foundation. ROC Grants provide small grants with a quick turnaround time for solutions to emerging conservation issues and ocean protection in support of island nations.

Priority is given to projects in countries with Blue Prosperity Coalition partnerships. This includes the Azores, Bermuda, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Maldives, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

This complements the Waitt Foundation’s existing major grants program and is responsive to conservation opportunities, supports higher-risk ideas at a low financial cost, and engages with small, local NGOs on a global scale.

Evaluation criteria:

• Funding Urgency – How quickly the project needs to begin for maximum effectiveness.
• Conservation Impact – Magnitude of ecological, socioeconomic, and policy benefit.
• Scale of Impact – Geographic area and likeliness of applicability/replication elsewhere.
• Feasibility of Implementation – Based on socioeconomic and public policy context.
• Organizational Capacity – Adequate human capital size and expertise to execute project.

Funding:

Proposals for grants up to $20,000 will be reviewed on a monthly rolling basis. Project funds will be distributed within 2 weeks of funding decisions.

Program Focus:

Grants will fund projects related to the Waitt Foundation's mission of supporting sustainable fishing and marine protected areas (MPAs). This includes sub-themes of:

• Scientific Research – Includes natural science or social science projects.
• Policy – Includes opportunistic projects around unique public policy windows, such as preparation of policy analysis and support of experts’ efforts to inform decision makers on upcoming government actions.
• Management – Includes enforcement and infrastructure support.
• Communications – Includes raising public awareness and engaging stakeholders, including advertising by a 501(c)3 group around a public policy moment.

Eligibility

• Location - Project must support island nations. Priority is given to projects in countries with Blue Prosperity Coalition partnerships. This includes the Azores, Bermuda, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Maldives, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
• Focus – Project must support sustainable fishing and/or Marine Protected Areas. Refer to the "Program Focus" section on this page. Funds cannot be used for event sponsorships.
• Project Duration – 6 months
• Experience – Applicant must possess commensurate level of experience and expertise with respect to the proposed project.
• Affiliation – Applicant must maintain affiliation with an academic institution or NGO for the duration of the grant project.

ROC Grants should constitute the sole or primary source of funding for the proposed project, not serve as complementary funding for larger, more costly projects.

How to Apply

Apply now

For more information please check the Link

Stay in the loop with the newest RFPs and Grants through NGOBOX's WhatsApp Channel. Join now by clicking here!

Tags Environment and Sustainability Governance Innovations and Technology Public Policy/ Policy Others