The mandate of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is to “stimulate, promote and support conservation actions for halting biodiversity decline, preventing species’ extinctions, and restoring and conserving intact habitats and ecosystems, both on the ground and in the water”. In partnership with the IUCN SSC and Fondation Segré, the goal of this request for funding is to halt further biodiversity decline by implementing species conservation plans for species and groups of species. We will support on the ground priorities of IUCN SSC Species Conservation Plans (e.g. Action Plans, Conservation Strategies, Population and Habitat Viability Assessments) as well as conservation actions that are endorsed by the relevant IUCN SSC Species Specialist Group.
We require that all applications include a letter of endorsement signed by Chair, Regional or Thematic Leader of the relevant IUCN SSC Species Specialist Group. This endorsement letter should indicate that the proposal either:
- Explicitly address priorities defined in a published IUCN SSC action plan, which you can find here and here.
- Addresses a conservation action identified as a priority even though no plan for the particular species or group of species has yet been published
Please note that applications without a completed and signed endorsement letter will not be considered.
DETAILS
Proposals that focus on the following themes are encouraged:
- Specific and defensible priority actions to avert decline of a species or group of species;
- Projects that include the active involvement of early career conservationists;
- Projects that support conservation leaders from the countries where the species or group of species occur
Typical proposal requests should be less than $30,000; however, applicants may request up to $50,000. Successful applicants may use awarded funds over one or two years. Up to 20 percent of the total can be used as a stipend for the applicant and/or team members. (Please see the Preparing Your Proposal page regarding stipend eligibility and other budgetary guidance.) All applications should include a clear review of the state of knowledge about the topic and a plan for evaluating the outcomes of the proposed work. Preference will be given to proposals that include feasible plans to demonstrate change in key, quantifiable indicators of: for example, reduction in drivers of population decline (e.g. unsustainable hunting, fishing or logging); or increase in numbers, degree of protection, or connectivity of populations of the target species or group of species. For any questions, please write to speciesrecovery@ssc.iucn.org.
When applying for this RFP, please select Wildlife in the Lens dropdown menu on the Project Description tab of the application.