Bahamas Protected Areas Fund was established by an Act of Parliament in 2014 to ensure sustainable financing in perpetuity for protected areas (PAs), within The Bahamas. The Act permits the Fund to extend grants to various PAs Managers including the Bahamas Natural Trust, the Forestry Unit of the Ministry of Environment, the Department of Marine Resources, Clifton Heritage Authority, Other Government Agencies and Ministries, academic and research institutions and other NGOs, whose grant requirements, align with the Act, BPAF’s Strategic Plan andGrants Priorities 2019-2022. To be considered for a grant from BPAF, the applicant must be a legally incorporated or registered NGO or an agency of the Government of The Bahamas. All grant applications must be submitted electronically and reviewed by the Grants Review Committee of BPAF. The Committee will be reviewing for applications that support our funding priorities and are expected to produce conservation impacts. The Committee may also review for scalability and sustainability, among other factors. Final approval of all grant applications is the responsibility of the Board of Directors.
General Instructions to Grant Applications
Grants-Making Process: The grants-making process involves three phases:
Phase I – Project Concept Application – We will gather details on your organization, your grant history and the basic concept of your proposal. Only applications that meet the basic criteria (legally registered, project aligned with BPAF’s purpose and funding priorities, and are expected to have conservation or other impact), will be invited to submit a full proposal in Phase II.
Phase II – Full Proposal Application – Applicants who have successfully passed Phase I will be invited to submit further project details including project outcomes, budget, logical framework and other necessary documents.
Phase III – Notification of results including signing of the agreement as applicable.
Please see BPAF Grants-Making Process Timeline for information on the timing of the grants making process and phases. Upon submission of this form, please attach background information on your organization (business licence, legislation, capacity, purpose/mission, geographic focus of work, specific environmental focus of work, source, type and value of recent grants). You may also attach any additional information that may be helpful in reviewing your project concept. Please note that you may be asked for additional information by the Grants Review Committee.
Eligibility
Grants may not be used to pay for—
Operating or administrative costs of ministries, departments or agencies (including salaries for public officers) of the Government of The Bahamas or any other country.
Salaries for executive officers and core staff of non-governmental organization.
Recurrent costs of Ministries, Departments or agencies of the Government of The Bahamas.
Activities relating to the extraction of non-renewable natural resources.
Activities inconsistent with BPAF’s funding priorities or general purpose. Grant funds may not benefit any individual, Director, Officer or other private person, unless specifically allowed under Section 10.1 of the BPAF Act.
Grants must also satisfy other criteria including donor intent and priorities and procedures that may be established in the BPAF Operational Manual, Grants Framework or by the Board. In addition, the proposed activities to be financed by BPAF funds must observe all Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies established by BPAF. An environmental and social assessment must accompany any proposal that may have a negative impact on our ecosystems.
Please note that all organizations must have been legally established/registered for at least one year prior to seeking the grant.