(Closed) Public Awareness activities - Call 2008

Introduction

The specific convention between the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGDC) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) aims to contribute to a better knowledge of biodiversity and to reach a better execution of international environmental conventions in developing countries.

In the framework of its CHM 'public awareness' component, RBINS desires to reinforces the activities of CHM National Focal Points in their contribution to the implementation of the CBD. National CHMs play an essential role in the education and information of the general public and policy makers, on the value of biodiversity and on the opportunities offered by the Convention.

For this reason, RBINS would like to contribute to concrete actions aiming for an easy access to information, the promotion of a greater transparency and the facilitation of public participation to the largest possible extent in the implementation of the Convention.

The RBINS offers some flexibility for the project proposals. However, some conditions are essential:

• The philosophy of the project must be in accordance with the mission of the CHM.
• The project cannot, in any case, be used to support the daily functioning of CHM focal points or of Secretariats of regional organisations.
• The project will not target the establishment or maintenance of CHM websites.

The project must identify clearly:

• The target audience (e.g. decision makers, the media, farmers, school children, etc.). It is appropriate to discuss why this target audience has been selected and how it will be reached;
• The thematic issue (e.g. forest protection, threatened species, bushmeat, fisheries, agrobiodiversity and urban gardens, wetlands, transboundary protected areas, etc.);
• The message (e.g. we overexploit our resources, healthy forest ecosystems are essential for our own health and survival, etc.).

Some ways to reach the target audience are, by way of example: environmental education, written and oral media campaigns, popular culture and entertainment, organisation of local communities. These ways can be implemented alone or in combination.

The CEPA web portal of the CBD Secretariat can be used as an inspiration source. Its URL is
http://www.cbd.int/programmes/outreach/cepa/home.shtml.

Themes in 2008-2009

The suggested themes have been chosen in accordance to the themes identified by the Convention on Biological Diversity for its celebrations on the International Day on Biological Diversity:

• Biodiversity and agriculture (CBD theme for 2008)
• Invasive alien species (CBD theme for 2009)

Projects financed in previous years

Eligibility

Are eligible in 2008:

• CHM National Focal Points of partner countries of the Belgium CHM:
  Algérie, Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiopie, Guinée, Madagascar, Mali, Maroc, Mozambique, Niger, R.D. du Congo, Rwanda, Viet Nam, Zambie

Countries, from the above list, that have been granted a project previously are still eligible. A follow-up of the earlier project is also allowed but only once. In this case, the added value to have a prolongation or an addition to the previous project must be clearly demonstrated.

Type of support

RBINS will finance the selected projects up to 80% of their estimated costs. The remaining 20% will have to be provided by the local partner.

The maximum amount eligible is 6,000 euros per project

The distribution of financing will be the following: 80% of the requested budget at the beginning of the project and 20% after the end of the project. This last payment will only be made after reception of original justification of expenses (receipts and supporting documents).

Estimated number of projects

In 2008, 3 to 4 projects will be financed. This number will depend of the type, size and quality of proposed projects.

Project promoter and partners

The official project promoter is the CHM National Focal Point of the submitting country or the Contact Point of the regional organisation, in agreement with the supervisory authority. An approval letter of the supervisory authority must be joined to the application file.

Collaboration or subcontracting with a local partner is possible. In this case, such collaboration or subcontracting must clearly be indicated in the application. The involvement of education and/or communication specialists is an asset.

Duration of the project

The projects must imperativily be completed by 29 March 2009. Activities undertaken after this date will NOT  be taken into consideration for our financial support within this call for proposals.
One-off actions (e.g. the organisation of a single event) are eligible if they enter in the framework established by RBINS.

Help for the preparation of projects

RBINS accepts the submission of pre-proposals if necessary, in order to examine with the partner if the project corresponds to the framework established by RBINS. If the partner has some difficulties in formulating a project, RBINS will provide help and advice. In no instance will RBINS write the project in place of the partner.

Preparation of a proposal and submission instructions

Projects must be submitted to RBINS by 17 October 2008 at the latest, at the electronic address cbd-chm@naturalsciences.be.

Alternatively, and only if there are e-mail problems, the application can be sent by regular mail at the address mentioned at the end of this document.

Projects must be submitted using the template available below

Reporting

A report of activities and a financial report must be submitted to RBINS at the end of the project. A sample of the available educational material will be joined to the report of activities (e.g. posters, brochures, T-shirts, etc.).

Information on and generated by the project should be made available on the national CHM website, so that a large audience is made aware of the achievements.

All original supporting documents and justification of expenses will be asked, in order to conform to the requirements of the Belgian Development Cooperation. Any expenses that cannot be justified will not be considered and will have to be supported by the partner.

Shipping costs of these reports and of the supporting documents will have to be foreseen in advance in the budget.

Financial reports must be submitted using the following templates:

• Template for the financial report: see below

Financial reports not using the template will not be taken into consideration.

Indicative dates for the examination of proposals and for the execution of the projects

Contacts

The following persons will be in charge of the evaluation and follow-up of projects, with the support of experts of the RBINS Education Department and of DGDC:

• Anne FRANKLIN, National focal point to the CBD
• Han DE KOEIJER, National focal point for the CHM
• François MUHASHY HABIYAREMYE, Scientific assistant at the RBINS

In order for each of these persons to be informed at all times of the status of the application, projects and all related correspondance can only be submitted through the generic e-mail cbd-chm@naturalsciences.be.

Physical address:

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Rue Vautier 29
1000 Brussels
Belgium
E-mail: cbd-chm@naturalsciences.be
Fax: +32 2 627 41 41