Call for Proposals: Nature-based Solutions

The Kenya-UK PACT call for proposals in Nature-based Solutions is now open

Please note the eligibility for this call has been updated. Only organisations registered as not-for-profit organisations are eligible to be the lead Implementing Partner of a proposal/consortium. For-profit organisations can participate in the call for proposals as partners within a consortium. 

Nature-based Solutions will be at the heart of delivering Kenya’s ambitious climate mitigation goals. The forestry sector alone represents nearly half of all abatement measures set out in Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which commits to reducing emissions by 32% by 2030.  Kenya has pledged to reach 10% forest cover and restore 5.1 million hectares of forest. As well as having positive environmental impacts, nature-based solutions provide many other benefits, improving jobs and livelihoods in related sectors, increasing biodiversity and ecosystem services provided to the economy, and the potential to support community-based forest management through improved governance and rights.

Within the Nature-based Solutions sector, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has outlined its priorities in the following policy documents. The Ministry has developed a new Forest Policy, a Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Strategy and Investment Plan, and a National Forest Management System framework; they set out key priorities for financing and implementing its ambitious goals. All these documents can be accessed on the Ministry's website in the 'Downloads' area. 

What are we looking for?

In consultation with the Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Kenya-UK PACT is seeking to fund projects that will strengthen regulation, coordination and financing of forest conservation and restoration activities. Projects will support emissions reductions and NDC implementation, enhance NDC ambition over time, and promote a green recovery.

We are seeking applications for grant projects that support and respond to Government of Kenya objectives in the Nature-based Solutions sector. The support will focus both on addressing key policy and institutional gaps in the conservation, management and restoration of forests, and the continued development and implementation of a national REDD+ system. All projects must embed Gender Equality and Social Inclusion considerations throughout.

Application specifications

How much should each project cost? 

Between £250,000 and £1,000,000 per year. Maximum £2,000,000 per project.

What type of activity are we looking to fund?

We want to receive applications for technical assistance and capacity-building projects that will deliver one or more of the following outputs:

  • training of key decision makers.
  • recommendations for action to tackle climate change or reduce emissions.
  • creation of new communications products and dissemination of knowledge products.
  • the establishment or strengthening of partnerships or networks between key stakeholders.

How long can each project be? 

All projects should aim to start on 1 July 2022 and end no later than 31 March 2025. The projects must have a clear indication of the outcomes and impacts expected to be achieved in the first year of implementation, as well as in each subsequent year of implementation.

Can a consortium apply? 

Yes, we welcome applications from consortia. All consortia must include a Kenyan organisation. Please note only organisations registered as not-for-profit organisations are eligible to be the lead Implementing Partner of a proposal/consortium. For-profit organisations can participate in the call for proposals as partners within a consortium. 

What type of organisations can apply? 

We welcome applications from consortia of organisations with capacity to deliver multiple interventions within a project. Only applicants that are registered as not-for-profit organisations are eligible to be the lead Implementing Partner of a proposal/consortium. For-profit organisations can participate in the call for proposals as partners within a consortium. 

Government agencies and/ or departments are not eligible to apply either as a lead organisation, or as a partner organisation within a consortium.  However, eligible applicants must demonstrate how they are responding to areas of priority and demand from the Kenyan government.

What type of costs are eligible?

All projects must be delivered on a not-for-profit basis. Eligible costs will include:

  • Consultancy and/or staff time required to deliver activities
  • Reasonable travel and subsistence costs
  • Other costs directly related to activities and outputs (workshops, seminars, production of reports, translation etc.)

We cannot award funding for tangible assets e.g. tree saplings and seeds. However, if such inputs are necessary for a project, then applications could include a co-funder to cover these elements.

Application timeline

The steps and indicative dates for each stage of the Nature-based Solutions call for proposals are outlined below:

Kenya NbS 9Feb website timeline

 

Market engagement event

At the market engagement event on 9 December 2021, we shared details about the contents of the call for proposals, eligibility and how to apply. You can watch the recording and download the presentation slides here. Please note the updates to the eligibility criteria for this call, see the application specification section above for more details.

Eligibility checker

Want to check if your project is eligible before you apply? Use the quick checklist below. You can find out more about eligibility for this call, and for UK PACT funding in general, by reading our Applicant Handbook and Nature-based Solutions Terms of Reference.

Q. Is your project aligned with the theme of the call?

Yes No

This indicates that your project may be eligible. Please proceed to the next question.

Unfortunately, this makes your project ineligible.

Q. Is the value of your project between £250,000 to £1,000,000 per year, and no more than £2,000,000 overall?

Yes No

This indicates that your project may be eligible. Please proceed to the next question.

Unfortunately, this makes your project ineligible.

Q. Can your project start on 1 July 2022 and finish no later than 31 March 2025?

Yes No

This indicates that your project may be eligible. Please proceed to the next question.

Unfortunately, this makes your project ineligible.

Q. Is your organisation eligible to apply for UK PACT funding? Note that only applicants registered as not-for-profit organisations are eligible to be the lead Implementing Partner of a proposal/consortium. Government agencies and/ or departments are not eligible.

Yes No

This indicates that your project may be eligible. Please proceed to the next question.

Unfortunately, this makes your project ineligible.

Q. Are the lead organisation and all partner organisations eligible to receive funding? Please note: only applicants registered as not-for-profit organisations are eligible to be the lead Implementing Partner of a proposal/consortium. For-profit organisations can participate in the call for proposals as partners within a consortium.  Government agencies and departments are not eligible to apply either as a lead organisation or as a partner organisation.

Yes No

This indicates that your project may be eligible. Please proceed to the next question.

Unfortunately, this makes your project ineligible.

Q. Are your project activities and costs eligible? Please note: we cannot award funding for infrastructure projects or for tangible assets and profit is not an eligible cost in UK PACT budgets, either as a direct cost or within overheads.

Yes No

This indicates that your project may be eligible.

Unfortunately, this makes your project ineligible.

Answering yes to all the questions above indicates that your project is eligible to apply for funding. Please click here to apply.

Answering no to any question above indicates that your organisation or project is not eligible for funding at this time. Please re-read our guidance documents carefully to find out how to design a UK PACT project