| Overview : 1.BACKGROUND The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Ministry of Environment of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry (METHI), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) developed a project to mitigate development challenges associated with biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change consequences. The challenges to be addressed include, poaching and illegal wildlife trade, human wildlife conflicts and retaliatory killings, deforestation, and climate change consequences (droughts, floods, increased frequency of veld fires) in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Area of Zimbabwe. The project is entitled “Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management and Climate-Smart Landscapes in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe”, also known as the “Zambezi Valley Biodiversity Project (ZVBP)”. ZVBP overall objective is to promote an integrated landscape approach to managing wildlife resources, carbon and ecosystem services in the face of climate change in protected areas and community lands of the Mid to Lower Zambezi Areas of Zimbabwe. The Project has four components, and these are (1) Strengthening capacity and governance frameworks for integrated wildlife and forest management and wildlife and forest crime enforcement in Zimbabwe; (2) Strengthening Zimbabwe’s Project Area estate and CAMPFIRE Wildlife Conservancies in areas of global Biodiversity significance; (3) Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Ecosystems management, and climate change mitigation, into the wider landscape; and (4) Knowledge Management, M&E and Gender Mainstreaming. ZVBP is being implemented under the National Implementation Modality (NIM) through which the METHI is the Implementing Partner (IP). There are four entities (Responsible Parties), that have been selected to act on behalf of the IP, to directly collaborate with project partners and local communities in delivering relevant project outputs. The Responsible Parties (RPs) are Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), CAMPFIRE Association and Forestry Commission (FC). This Call for Proposals (CfP) is specifically focused on components 1 and 3 of the ZVBP. Through this CfP, UNDP is inviting interested NGOs/CBOs to develop innovative proposals for projects towards supporting awareness and education on conservation, sustainable livelihood activities on community based Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Management, Alternative Sources of Income and Energy in targeted Community Wildlife Conservancies (CWCs) in Hurungwe, Mbire and Muzarabani. The focus should be on any one of the following thematic areas: Thematic area 1 -Awareness and Education: Awareness campaigns targeting Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), deforestation and climate change adaptation and mitigation across the project area covering all 3 districts. This thematic area contributes to output 1.6 of the ZVBP Thematic Area 2 - Livelihood Enhancement: Sustainable livelihood activities that contribute directly to community based SFM, SLM and HWC management outcomes. This thematic area contributes to output 3.2 of the ZVBP Thematic Area 3 - Alternative Energy: The provision of alternative sources of energy, clean energy and energy saving technologies in the target Districts. This thematic area contributes to output 3.4 of the ZVBP. RATIONALE From the ZVBP baseline findings, it was noted that in the Zimbabwean context, protected areas are mostly in arid and semi-arid areas with communities living adjacent to these areas having high poverty prevalence rates due to poor agricultural yields. There is a great reliance on natural resources as coping mechanisms. Natural resources in the communal lands and protected areas become the next available sources of income resulting in increased pressure on natural resources. There is increased illegal activities (wildlife, forest crimes) and the subsequent depletion of natural resources as communities seek to earn a living through these natural resources. In areas of high wildlife populations, there is greater interaction between people and wild animals resulting in conflicts as animals raid crops and attack livestock further affecting already strained livelihoods. Given the increase in international illegal wildlife trade syndicates, the protected areas require cooperation and support from local communities to curb IWT. Protected areas and rural communities are in the same landscape and require coordinated planning and implementation to avoid displacement pressure that manifests in the outlined challenges. Zimbabwe’s vast natural resources provide a basis for social and economic transformation. However, the challenges of deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss are not only enhanced by high levels of poverty, but also directly affect the livelihoods of local communities negatively. Climate change is also recognized as a major threat in the Environment Management Cluster. The ZVBP area is expected to experience increasingly variable rainfall, increased frequency and intensity of dry periods and temperature increases in the coming years and the Zimbabwean government therefore stresses the need to develop comprehensive fire management frameworks, advocacy on climate change adaptation options and enacting legislation to effectively manage the environment in the face of climate change. Within the Protection and Conservation sector, the government also note to deal with poaching and to develop methods of increasing wildlife species populations. Therefore, poaching, IWT, climate change, deforestation and land degradation are significant threats towards the attainment of the country’s priority SDGs (Goal 2 Zero Hunger, Goal 5 Gender Equality, Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 7 Affordable and clean energy, Goal 13 Climate Action) as well as other SDGs (Goal 1 No Poverty, Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities, Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, and Goal 15 Life on Land). The ZVBP has a small grants window for NGOs and CBOs, focusing on Component 1, output 1.6 and Component 3, Outputs 3.2 and 3.4 of the ZVBP. This Call for proposals is therefore founded on these three (3) outputs, which are (i) project area awareness campaigns targeting IWT, deforestation and climate change adaptation and mitigation, (ii) livelihood activities on community based SFM, SLM and HWC management and (ii) provision of alternative sources of energy, clean energy and energy saving equipment for local communities in target areas. UNDP and METHI are committed to implementing the small grants projects through local NGOs/CBOs because these are locally rooted institutions that have great potential in promoting sustainable community development. This is also an opportunity to strengthen capacities of local NGOs/CBOs in delivering results for locally owned development project activities. International NGOs can also apply but preference will be given to those that engage local NGOs/CBOs. The proposed projects are targeted for Muzarabani, Mbire and Hurungwe Districts. Prospective applicants should submit the following: A completed Request for Information form (RFI) Completed UNDP ZVBP Small Grants Proposal Template Completed UNDP ZVBP Small Grants Financial Template (Budget) Provide Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of key personnel that will be assigned to support the project Proof of registration as an NGO/CBO including copies of registration certificate and constitution or other governing documents. To apply View the full detailed Call for Proposals that has been uploaded on this website and access downloadable templates that applicants must use. All proposal templates should be written according to the UNDP ZVBP Small Grants templates. Local NGOs/CBOs are strongly encouraged to apply. Submission Proposals must be submitted electronically through emails provided in the detailed call for proposals. The deadline for submission is 17:00 hr. on 24 September 2019 (Zimbabwe time). Proposals received after the deadline WILL NOT be considered.
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