PNG Biodiversity Program | RFI 492 18 PACIFIC 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFI 492 18 PACIFIC 001

The PNG Biodiversity Program is a USAID-supported grant opportunity focused on improving how environmental resources are managed in Papua New Guinea so that the country s globally significant biodiversity is better protected while communities become more resilient. The program is designed to address major threats affecting key biodiversity hotspots by backing community-led stewardship of customary lands and waters, recognizing that long-term conservation in PNG depends heavily on local landowners and traditional tenure systems. In practical terms, the program aims to help communities manage their natural resources more sustainably while also strengthening the national and local systems that make that possible.

A central feature of the opportunity is its alignment with USAID s Pacific Islands Results Framework, specifically Intermediate Result 2: Environmental Resilience of Papua New Guinea Strengthened. The approach is intentionally multi-level. At the national level, the work is expected to build or improve enabling systems such as policies, institutional capacity, coordination mechanisms, and pathways for financing that support conservation and sustainable resource management. At the local level, the program is expected to directly support communities with the tools and capabilities they need to manage customary areas, including legal support, technical assistance, and access to financial resources. The overall intent is to move beyond short-term project activities and instead strengthen the structures that allow communities to protect biodiversity over time.

The funding instrument for this opportunity is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means USAID anticipates substantial involvement during implementation, such as collaboration on planning, monitoring, learning, and adaptive management. The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources and is listed as an earmark. The total anticipated award amount can be up to 17,000,000 dollars, with USAID expecting to make one award. The planned period of performance is up to five years, subject to the availability of funds, which signals a longer-term investment intended to produce durable improvements in conservation outcomes and community resilience.

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is generally open to a wide range of organizations, although applicants would still need to follow any additional eligibility clarifications included in the full solicitation. The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with the posting associated with USAID-Manila (Agency for International Development, Philippines). Key administrative details include the opportunity number RFI 492 18 PACIFIC 001, a creation date of May 18, 2018, and an original closing date of May 30, 2018.

• The Agency for International Development, Philippines USAID-Manila in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PNG Biodiversity Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $17,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for RFI 492 18 PACIFIC 001

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