The BEST team is pleased to announce the launch of The Small Grant Facility on Biodiversity (BEST) Call for Proposals by the European Commission. 

This is a Call for Proposals for EU action grants in the field of biodiversity in the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and the Outermost Regions (ORs) under the Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). The call is launched in accordance with the 2021-2024 Multiannual Work Programme
and will be managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

Context

Inspired by and as a follow up of the current BEST Initiative, the LIFE -21 -BEST Call for Proposals aims at identifying a project that will run regular calls for small grants in the EU Overseas.

The proposed project shall aim to implement a small grant scheme for biodiversity action in the EU’s Overseas. The purpose of this funding mechanism for biodiversity would be to further unlock the local potential for biodiversity action in the EU’s OCTs and ORs, and to foster the implementation of concrete conservation activities in those areas aiming at protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. The proposed project should build on the experience of past programmes that supported a small grant scheme for biodiversity action in the EU’s OCTs and OCTs.

The overall objective is to support projects on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable use of ecosystem services, including ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Important financial information

Please note that the selected project coordinator or consortium will be tasked with launching calls for proposals for awarding small grants in the EU Overseas. The EU co-financing for the small grants is 95% of eligible costs and each grant can receive maximum EUR 100 000 of EU co-financing. It is also worth noting that one of requirements of the sub-grantees is that they need to contribute to at least 5% of their project costs; in other words, the financial support provided by the project coordinator or consortium from the EU funds would only cover at most 95% of the sub-grantees’ projects.