[Coral-List] Reminder: RFP and Jan 31 deadline for proposals to the Coral Reef Conservation Fund (NFWF)

[Roger.B.Griffis]

Reminder - Jan 31 is deadline for proposals to the Coral Reef
Conservation Fund sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Coral Reef Conservation Program and other partners.

Information and applications available at: 
http://www.nfwf.org/programs/coral.cfm
________________________________

2006 Request for Proposals
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION FUND

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is accepting proposals
to the Coral Reef Conservation Fund for projects that build
public-private partnerships to reduce and prevent degradation of coral
reefs and associated reef habitats (e.g. seagrass beds, mangroves etc.).
Projects may address causes of coral reef degradation wherever they
occur, from coastal watersheds to the reefs and surrounding marine
environment. Proposals should support partnerships that provide
solutions to specific problems to help prevent coral reef degradation
through one or more of the following activities: 

Reducing impacts from pollution and sedimentation; 
Reducing impacts from over-harvesting and other fishing activities; 
Reducing impacts of recreational uses, tourism, and boating; 
Increasing the management effectiveness of coral reef/marine protected
areas; 
Restoring damaged reefs or associated reef habitats; 
Increasing community awareness through education and stewardship
activities.

Special Priority Emphasis for 2004-2006
The Foundation is continuing to focus on three areas for targeted
funding through 2006: 

Hands-on, measurable watershed approaches to reduce land-based pollution
and sedimentation to adjacent coral reefs and associated habitats. 
Efforts to measure and improve the management effectiveness of coral
reef protected areas, preferably using the NOAA-World Commission on
Protected Areas-World Wildlife Fund methodology. 
Reduction of anchor damage on coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and
Wider Caribbean by establishing mooring buoys. This priority area falls
under the Anchor’s Away! Partnership which was developed as part of the
White Water to Blue Water Initiative. Anchors Away! is designed to help
build partnerships to support the use of mooring buoys to conserve coral
reef ecosystems.

Please Note!
Pre-proposals must be submitted using our online pre-proposal
application (https://collective.nfwf.org/pre-proposal/Preproposal.php)
by January 31, 2006. Full proposals will be due by April 14, 2006 and
will be accepted by invitation only.

Background
Coral reefs and their associated habitats are among the most
biologically diverse and complex ecosystems in the world. This
incredible diversity supports economies through activities such as
tourism, fishing, and pharmaceutical production. Coral reefs are also
culturally significant resources which support a variety of
community-level subsistence and recreational uses. Despite their
importance, coral reefs are rapidly being degraded and destroyed by a
variety of human impacts such as pollution, overfishing, and physical
disturbance to the reefs. Priority projects will include those that: 

Build public-private partnerships, develop innovative partnerships, are
community-based, and involve multiple stakeholders; 
Provide solutions to specific problems to reduce and prevent degradation
of coral reefs in the above listed areas; 
Are coordinated and consistent with on-going coral reef conservation
initiatives such as the International Coral Reef Initiative's Framework
for Action and Renewed Call to Action; the U.S. National Action Plan to
Conserve Coral Reefs (U.S. Coral Reef Task Force); state, territorial,
or other coral reef management programs, including Local Action
Strategies developed per the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force; and the U.S.
All Islands Coral Reef Initiative, as appropriate; 
Are focused on U.S. domestic, U.S. insular (territory, commonwealth),
Freely Associated States (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of
the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau), Caribbean, or Mesoamerican
coral reef ecosystems; 
Address an unmet need that will provide direct benefits to coral reefs; 
Target a specific audience and address specific threats with a hands-on
approach.

Overall proposal evaluation criteria (for all proposals, including
Anchors Away!) include: 

Importance and/or relevance and applicability of proposed project to the
Coral Reef Conservation Fund priorities 
Long-term conservation merit 
Degree of conservation urgency
Technical merit 
Degree of technical credibility/feasibility 
Clarity of project logic framework 
Quality of proposed statistical indicators for assessing project outputs
and outcomes
Qualifications of applicant 
Experience and expertise of organization and individuals
Project Cost 
Cost effectiveness relative to outcome/products. 
Amount of leverage provided
Outreach and Education 
Degree of influence, exposure, and outreach 
Potential transfer of conservation methodology/lessons learned

Awards and Matching Funds
Most grants will be between $15,000 and $50,000. The average grant will
be approximately $30,000. Proposals should describe projects or progress
that can be achieved in a 12-month time period, but may be part of a
long-term effort. Proposals should clearly describe the activities that
will be accomplished using funds requested from NFWF. All projects
should include matching funding from project partners at a minimum ratio
of 1:1, although leverage ratios of 2:1 or higher are preferred. (The
amount of leveraged funds will be taken into account during proposal
evaluation.) The grantee match may include in-kind (non-cash)
contributions, such as volunteer hours.

Eligible Applicants
Applications will be accepted from U.S. or international non-profit
organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies (except
U.S. federal agencies). U.S. federal agencies are encouraged to work
collaboratively with non-federal project partners.

To Apply
Complete our online pre-proposal application by midnight, EST, January
31, 2006 (no exceptions). Be sure to select “Coral Reef Conservation
Fund” from the “Select the appropriate program” pull-down menu at the
end of the application form. (It is highly recommended that applicants
avoid the last-minute rush and apply at least several days in advance of
the deadline.) Applicants will be notified on or about March 15, 2006,
as to the status of their preliminary application and whether they are
invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals will be due by April
14, 2006 and will be accepted by invitation only. Award announcements
will be made in August 2006 and are contingent upon Foundation receipt
of funding from federal and private sector partners. If you have any
questions about the program, please contact Michelle Pico
(202-857-0166).