Taking adaptation to the ground: Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility piloting enhanced direct access to adaptation finance in South Africa
Taking adaptation to the ground:
Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility piloting enhanced direct access
to adaptation finance in South Africa
What is the Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility?
• SGF = 4 year community-based adaptation pilot project, funded by the Adaptation Fund (USD 2,442,682).
What is the Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility?
• Two target areas = most vulnerable to CC (Turpie & Visser 2012).
Figure 1. Map of South Africa showing the two project target areas for the Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility (SGF) project, Namakwa District (Northern Cape Province) and Mopani District (Limpopo Province).
Namakwa vs Mopani District Municipality
Climate: Semi-arid vs. Sub-tropical Area: ca. 126,000 km2 vs.
ca. 20,000km2
Population: 115,842 vs. 1,092,507
Economy: Livestock farming, mining, eco-tourism vs. Mixed farming, fruit crops, mining
Social situation: High unemployment & poverty
Land-use & tenure: Large rural population & areas of communal land
Climate projections: Increasing temperatures & aridity, unpredictable & extreme rains
Governance and decision-making
Na onalImplemen ngEn ty:SouthAfricanNa onalBiodiversityIns tute
Execu ngEn ty:SouthSouthNorth
NamakwaDistrict:Conserva onSouthAfrica
Facilita ngAgencies
MopaniDistrict:CHoiCeTrust
±6Namakwaprojects
±6Mopaniprojects
Na onalDesignatedAuthority:DepartmentofEnvironmental
Affairs
Funder:Adapta onFund
Na onalImplemen ngEn tySteeringCommi ee
ProjectAdvisoryGroup(DEA,NamakwaMunicipalOfficial,MopaniMunicipal
Official,Adapta onNetwork,NIE,EE&*SGFPMT)Namakwaand
MopaniTechnicalAdvisoryGroups(DEA,Namakwa/MopaniDistrict
Municipality,LocalNamakwa/Mopani
Municipality,Namakwa/MopaniProvincialDept,
relevantna onalsectordepartments,ter aryins tu ons,civilsociety&FA) Projectmanagementandexecu on
Projectgovernance
Flowoffunds
Ongoingworkingrela onship
Key:
Repor ngandtrackingoffunds
Non-vo ngmember*
SGFProjectManagementTeam
12smallgrantsintwotargetareas
Funder:Adapta onFundNa onalDesignated
Authority:DepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs
Na onalImplemen ngEn ty:SouthAfricanNa onalBiodiversityIns tute
Na onalImplemen ngEn tySteeringCommi ee
Execu ngEn ty:SouthSouthNorth
Learning
1. Strength and value of public – private (civil society) partnership • Need to manage relationships • Value of Interlocutor
2. Funding environment is increasingly constrained by risk management • Leading to complexity of systems and processes • Cascading of responsibilities
Learning
3. Competitive procurement has limitations and draw-backs
• Identification of climate vulnerability (all applicants struggled)
• Design of climate response to enhance resilience (sector skills, multiple
engagements
• Community default is development priorities
4. Layered decision-making and governance processes can be alienating, frustrating and demoralising for recipients
Learning
Learning
5. Co-creation, capability building and effective project design takes time and
resources (including investment in applicants)
• Ultimately better outcomes? and better value for money?
6. It was vital that the participating institutions (the NIE, EE and FA’s) were
established entities, whose mandates enabled them to commit (or at least
advance) their own resources
5. The complexity of setting up a new grants facility supporting Adaptation at
community level, requires collaboration and ability to learn by doing and
needs flexibility (adaptive programming) going forward.
5. The call for proposals process, requiring minimum levels of language and
organizational, governance and administrative capacity, excluded a number of
possible applicants, including promising new entrants.
End of Mr Carl Wesselink’s Presentation
GEF Small Grants Programme
South Africa
GEF SGP Governance Arrangements & Objectives
• The SGP is implemented by UNDP
– Global level - managed by a Central Programme Management Team (CPMT)
– Country level - National Coordinator (NC) and Programme Assistant (PA)
• Corporate programme of the GEF - started in 2001 in South Africa
• Projects approved only by the National Steering Committee (NSC)
• NSC composed of representatives from civil society organizations , academia, private sector, govt incl DEA, UNDP CO. NC serves as Secretariat
• SGP provides grants of up to US$50,000 to CSOs. Strategic grants of $150,000
• Duration of projects: 1-3 years
• The SGP supports community-level initiatives across the range of global environmental issues addressed by the GEF (CC, SFM, land degradation, biodiversity conservation, chemicals mgt & int waters)
• Project must meet envtal objectives while supporting poverty reduction & local empowerment objectives
GEF SGP Project Application Procedure
Capacity development support
• Limited support due to funding constraints – technical support on CC
• Planning grant of up to US$5,000
• Outreach to CBO’s in remote areas limited- 85% NGOs & 15% CBOs
• Improve capacity development support through landscape approach
• Partnership with local university & NGO to also include monitoring & mentorship support
Key Programme challenges & lessons learnt Challenges
• Resource mobilisation vis-à-vis demand
• Communication & visibility
• Capacity constraints of CBOs
• Sustainability of projects
• Balancing social & environmental needs
Lessons learnt
• Unique strength of CBOs
• Hands-on training vs awareness campaigns
• Importance of monitoring visits & CD support
• Projects succeeds with better integration of economic and social co-benefits
• Demand-driven / responsive to the needs of the target community
• Project sustainability is improved with projects linked with existing (larger) initiatives or receive larger co-financing & have greater community ownership (esp. through volunteerism)
• Introduce innovative ideas such as video proposals for CBOs
End of Ms Anele Moyo’s Presentation
Managing Funds for Community
Benefits
Challenges- CBOs 1.Finding funds 2.Governance 3.Financial management & procurement 4.Report writing 5.Monitoring & Evaluation
Challenges -Fund
1. Identifying projects that need it most
2. Selecting projects that fit the criteria of the
fund
3. Ensuring the funds reach the intended
beneficiaries
4. Meeting the governance requirements of
the fund
Governance of the fund
1. Multi-stakeholder PSC
2. Set clear criteria
3. Have user-friendly template documents
4. Technical support staff
5. Encourage collaborative approaches
6. Due diligence
7. Theory of change approach
8. Co-investment
9. Link grants to existing economic activities
Selection of Beneficiaries
1. Networking
2. Advertising
3. Site visits
4. Previous experience
5. Linkages with the community
Technical support
Hand holding
1. Project development
2. Project management
3. Reporting
4. Financial management
5. Monitoring & Evaluation
Annie Sugrue
annie@luhlazafoundation
0828955101
End of Ms Annie Surgrue’s Presentation
Wildlands Small Grant Funding Process SANBI Green Climate Fund Workshop 16 FEBRUARY 2017
Introduction
4 SMALL GRANT MECHANISMS
EXTERNAL:
CRITICAL ECOSYSTEMS PARTNERSHIPS FUND (CEPF)
BLUE FUND
INTERNAL:
CONSERVATION CAPITAL FUND (CCF)
WILD SERIES
PURPOSE OF FUND
Support conservation efforts across the MPAH that
contributed toward the 4 different Strategic Directions of the
CEPF’s vision for the MPAH
FUND OPERATION PERIOD 2010 – 2015
TYPE/S OF RECIPIENTS CBO/ NGO/ ACADEMIA/ PRIVATE SECTOR
SIZE OF GRANTS AND DURATION (RANGE) US$ 650 000 – 800 000 [within fund period]
PROJECT DURATION (RANGE) AVG 6 – 18 months
PERCENTAGE (%) ADMINISTRATION FEE 5 %
* 42 GRANTS AWARDED
* 30 ORGANISATIONS AWARDED GRANTS – BUT 65 BENEFITTED DIRECTLY
PURPOSE OF FUND Support marine/coastal conservation and research
efforts along the Southern African coastline
FUND OPERATION PERIOD 2014 – PRESENT [open-ended]
TYPE/S OF RECIPIENTS CBO/ NGO/ ACADEMIA/ PRIVATE SECTOR/ GOVERNMENT
SIZE OF GRANTS AND DURATION (RANGE) R 50 000 – R 200 000 [currently]
~ 10 GRANTS AWARDED [catalytic projects]
PROJECT DURATION (RANGE) ≤ 12 MONTHS
PERCENTAGE (%) ADMINISTRATION FEE 10 %
* ZAR 1 MILLION FROM GRINDROD & WILDLANDS – ENDOWMENT FUND (5 YEARS) – CURRENTLY 7 MILLION (AFTER 2
YEARS)
* IN ADDITION – GRINDROD COMMITTED TO SPONSORSHIP OF 1 MILLION PER YEAR FOR 5 YEARS
* AFTER 5 YEARS – MONEY FROM ENDOWMENT USED TO SUPPORT PROJECTS
* INVESTMENT KEEPS GROWING – THEREFORE LONG TERM SUPPORT FROM MARINE/COASTAL CONSERVATION
Conservation Capital
Fund
PURPOSE OF FUND Provide support to EKZNW’s conservation
efforts
FUND OPERATION PERIOD 1989 – PRESENT
TYPE/S OF RECIPIENTS GOVERNMENT
SIZE OF GRANTS AND DURATION (RANGE) R 4.2 MILLION
EVERY 4 YEARS
PROJECT DURATION (RANGE) 4 YEARS
PERCENTAGE (%) ADMINISTRATION FEE 0 %
* # OF GRANTS AND AMOUNT PER GRANT VARIES EVERY 4 YEAR CYCLE
* FUNDING FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS:
* RESEARCH & MONITORING
* PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
* CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM
PURPOSE OF FUND Support conservation efforts in key areas through
hosting stage races/events
FUND OPERATION PERIOD 1989 - PRESENT
TYPE/S OF RECIPIENTS CBO/NGO/GOVERNMENT
SIZE OF GRANTS AND DURATION (RANGE) DEPENDENT ON PROFITS MADE AT EVENT/S
PROJECT DURATION (RANGE) 12 MONTHS
PERCENTAGE (%) ADMINISTRATION FEE 10 %
5 EVENTS HELD:
* THREE CRANES CHALLENGE
* MFOLOZI CHALLENGE
* MONT AUX SOURCES CHALLENGE
* GOLDEN GATE CHALLENGE
* KRUGER 2 CANYONS CHALLENGE
Governance & Grant Approval Processes
DESIGN STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS
ADVERTISE CALL FOR PROPOSALS
PROPOSALS TO ALIGN TO STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
APPROVED GRANTEES SIGNED CONTRACT WITH WILDLANDS
GRANT FUNDS – SET EXCHANGE RATE
Identification & Selection of Grantees
PROPOSALS EXTERNALLY REVIEWED
PROPOSALS CHOSEN ALIGNED TO STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
42 GRANTS AWARDED TO 30 ORGANISATIONS
65 ORGANISTAIONS BENEFITTED DIRECTLY
SMALL ORGANISATIONS WHICH NEEDED ASSISTANCE/GUIDANCE
Grantee Support & Capacity Building
WILDLANDS DEDICATED SMALL GRANTS CO-ORDINATOR – PROVIDED ASSISTANCE
APPLICATION FOR SMALL GRANTS WAS MADE SIMPLER
SEVERAL LEARNING EXCHANGES & WORKSHOPS – ALLOWING CROSSING LEARNING
RELIANCE ON SANBI
THANK YOU
CONTACT DETAILS:
Nikara Mahadeo
033 343 6380
CONTACT DETAILS:
Dr. Roelie Kloppers
033 343 6380
End of Ms Nikara Mahaedeo’s Presentation
Experiences and Lessons Learned:
SGF Mopani
CHoiCe Trust (Facilitating Agency)
Birchwood Conference Centre
16 February 2017
SG
R E
xperiences
• Access to SGF increased knowledge of climate change adaptation within District
• Is opportunity to improve capacity of local grassroots organisations on different levels (technical capacity and organisational development), even prior to contracting
• Opportunity to connect civil society with government stakeholders
SG
R E
xp
erie
nce
s
• Many concepts submitted, but little capacity on climate change adaptation and expected them to make their own case
• Many tiers of approval required to be approved meant back-and-forth communication and time delays which had impact on project proposed work plans
• Process of re-working concepts meant original timeframes presented were not honoured
• Great deal of effort spent on managing risk of grassroots projects
• Technical capacity gaps in grassroots organisations and expensive process to engage with experts
Le
sso
ns L
ea
rne
d
• Keep concept development process simple and form straightforward to recognise opportunities for further engagement
• Have detailed briefing with applicants and use as capacity building process with clear explanation of parties, timelines, expectations, etc.
• Make ample time available to work on concepts and proposal and keep applicants motivated to keep up with process
• Remember accessibility in terms of language and support structures
• Recognise in advance what expert opinions will need to be engaged and have network available for quick and easy reference
• Prioritise organisational development along with technical capacity building
End of Nikki-Stuart Thompson’s Presentation