Apply for the CCAC $500,000 to $1 Million Grant
Important Dates:
- Post Date: March 6, 2024
- Deadline Date: April 30, 2024
- Donor Name: Sign In/Sign Up
- Grant Size: $500,000 to $1 million
- Category: Grant
The global community faces a critical juncture in addressing climate change, with the agricultural sector playing a pivotal role. Recognizing the urgency, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has launched a transformative call for proposals, seeking innovative projects in the agriculture sector. This initiative aims to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) and bridge information, implementation, and finance gaps in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture.
Addressing Challenges in Agriculture
The call is a strategic response to the challenges faced by the agriculture sector in tackling SLCP. It emphasizes the need for solutions that not only address environmental concerns but also promote sustainable practices. The CCAC envisions these projects as catalysts for change, enabling stakeholders and governments to implement and scale up mitigation actions in alignment with the coalition’s 2030 objectives.
Objectives of the Call
The primary objectives of this call are to advance innovative approaches and technologies that enhance the speed, scale, and access to mitigation actions. The focus areas identified reflect the diverse challenges within the agriculture sector:
- Advancing Sustainable Intensification Technologies for Livestock (Focus Area 1): Projects in this area should explore breeding, feed improvements, and herd health to promote sustainable livestock practices.
- Shifting Agriculture Subsidies for Climate-Smart Practices (Focus Area 2): Proposals should aim to redirect subsidies away from water-intensive rice production, excessive fertilizer use, and unsustainable livestock practices toward climate-smart alternatives.
- Utilizing Digital Technology in Agriculture Extension Services (Focus Area 3): Projects in this category should leverage digital solutions to enhance awareness of climate mitigation measures in the livestock and rice sectors.
- Piloting Business Solutions for Agricultural Methane (Focus Area 4): This area seeks projects exploring innovative business models to incorporate agricultural methane into voluntary carbon markets.
- Innovative Models for Straw Management (Focus Area 5): Proposals should focus on piloting new models to manage straw effectively, reducing the need for agricultural residue burning.
It is crucial to note that this call specifically targets projects that implement mitigation solutions. Entities interested in supporting national policy and planning projects are advised to wait for the CCAC’s call for proposals for national planning and policy projects, which will launch in the second quarter of this year.
Eligibility Criteria
The CCAC is committed to funding non-profit entities, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and government entities. For-profit entities, while ineligible for CCAC funding, are encouraged to participate as stakeholders, collaborators, or co-funders, particularly when their involvement is integral to project success.
Project proposals must meet specific eligibility criteria:
- Completeness: Proposals should be comprehensive, addressing all relevant aspects of the project.
- Relevance: Projects must align with the focus areas and objectives outlined in the call.
- Timeliness: Proposals must be submitted within the stipulated timeframe.
- Budget Range: Projects should adhere to the budget range specified in the call for proposals.
- Duration: The proposed projects should have a duration of fewer than 24 months.
- Gender Criteria: Projects must be compliant with CCAC gender criteria.
Successful proposals will not only align with CCAC’s Sector Engagement Strategy and recommended SLCP mitigation measures but also demonstrate:
- Support from targeted governments and relevant leaders.
- Co-funding or in-kind contributions.
- A plan for sustaining project results after completion.
- Connection to existing priorities, efforts, or needs within the targeted region, country, or state.
- Availability of resources to implement the project upon approval.
- A reasonable estimate of the project’s SLCP mitigation potential and resulting co-benefits for climate, air quality, and development.
- No negative impact on vulnerable populations and biodiversity, with a preference for generating a positive impact.
The CCAC encourages multidisciplinary collaboration and the involvement of private sector stakeholders to enrich the projects.
For detailed information on CCAC’s general project evaluation criteria, applicants can refer to the Applicant Resources page.
Additional Requirements
In addition to the eligibility criteria, applicants seeking CCAC funding must provide their last three audited financial statements. These statements can be submitted with the initial application form or during the evaluation process.
Qualified implementers, excluding United Nations agencies, must meet specific criteria:
- Financial health: adequate financial resources to perform the contract and meet existing commitments.
- Registration and Not-for-Profit Status: Ability to provide proof of registration and not-for-profit status.
- Performance Record: satisfactory performance with UNEP/CCAC, when applicable, and no suspension or debarment by UNEP/CCAC or another UN agency.
- Misconduct Prevention: Implementation of rules, policies, or processes to prevent misconduct and corruption, particularly regarding the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH).
As a general rule, project budgets must minimize costs for incidental procurement.
- For agreements of $200,000 and below: up to $20,000 or 15% of the total amount, whichever is lower.
- For agreements above $200,000: up to $40,000, or 15% of the total amount.
Incidental procurement includes costs related to contractual services, equipment, vehicles, furniture, operating and other direct costs, supplies, commodities, and materials. Detailed guidelines can be found in the application form.
Important Deadlines
- Deadline to submit the project concept note: April 30, 2024.
- Longlist notification: May 15, 2024.
- Full project proposal deadline (for selected applicants only): June 14, 2024.
- Award notification: Q4 2024.
- Expected project start: Q1 2025.
This call follows a two-stage application process, beginning with the submission of project concept notes. Longlisted applicants will advance to the second stage, developing full funding proposals within one month. Evaluation will involve the CCAC Secretariat, Funding Task Team, and Board in consultation with relevant CCAC Partners. Successful applicants may be invited to present their proposals in detail and respond to follow-up questions.
The selection process, including the project implementation plan and detailed budget development, may span up to 6 months after the call for proposals closes. Due to the anticipated high volume of requests, the CCAC will not respond to updates or feedback requests during this period.
Important Links
About CCAC Project Funding
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is the only international body working to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs)—methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone—that drive both climate change and air pollution. Our goal is to reduce global warming in the near term to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and support economic development, improved health, and environmental and food security benefits.
Each year, the CCAC provides grants for SLCP mitigation projects through two complementary calls for proposals: one focused on supporting national policy action and another on advancing transformative solutions in key emitting sectors.
Conclusion
The CCAC’s call for innovation projects in agriculture stands as a beacon of hope, inviting transformative ideas to reshape the future of sustainable agriculture. This initiative beckons stakeholders, governments, and organizations to contribute to a greener and more resilient planet. As the global community grapples with the challenges of climate change, this call signifies a collective effort towards a more sustainable and climate-friendly agricultural sector. Submit your proposals and be a part of the change our world urgently needs.
