5.2 Special Programmes

Biodiversity Fund

Hivos and Novib together manage the Fund for Sustainable Biodiversity Management. The fund aims to support developments in agriculture, forestry or fishery that maintain or enlarge biological diversity. The Fund wants to contribute to the maintenance of the world’s biodiversity and for this purpose funds international organisations that support biodiversity friendly management and production. This biodiversity management should support the world's variety of genes and species and maintain important habitats or ecosystems. And this biodiversity management should be accessible by the low income and marginalized sectors of society. The fund specifically aims at small producers to increase the availability of production techniques to them, to increase their productivity, to strengthen their market position and to develop supportive policies, and a favourable legislative and institutional environment.

Programme for Small-Scale Local Activities (KPA)

Many people in the Netherlands are committed to help developing countries. Mostly organised in local groups and organisations, and together with project partners in developing countries, they try to initiate projects. In order to support these activities the Programme for Small-Scale Local Activities (Kleinschalige Plaatselijke Activiteiten - KPA) was set up. The programme is administered by the NCDO, the National Committee for International Collaboration and Sustainable Development. An important condition for awarding a KPA subsidy is that information about the project will be provided to the population of the town or region in the Netherlands where the fundraising action is held. The KPA contribution covers a maximum of 50% of the project costs that are eligible for a subsidy. There are three categories with maximum contributions up to €25,000.-, €50,000.- or €100,000.-.

A KPA contribution is only granted for projects in developing countries. Projects that are eligible contribute to improve the living conditions of the poorest population groups, by providing for their basic requirements and by assisting in their quest for social and economic independence. An important criteria is the fact that the project eventually will have to be sustainable without a contribution from the Netherlands. This means that the local population and authorities must support the project. The NCDO feels that it is important that there is a focus on the specific consequences of the project for the position of men and women. The project should preferably have a direct or indirect income-increasing effect for the target group.

IUCN-NL Small Grant Programmes

Through the Netherlands Committee for IUCN small grants are available for conservation projects, mainly in the tropics and set up and implemented by NGOs. The funding programmes are based on the Ecosystem Approach Principles that were accepted by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). All programmes, with the exception of the SPN Programme are financed by DGIS.

The first round for proposals will be held somewhere before the summer of 2004 (the date is not yet fixed). Before that date IUCN-NL has to decide on the exact criteria and formats, and the operational imbedding with the other small grants programmes of IUCN-NL. In line with these other small grants programmes, the DAS will be small grants or start up funding (max. 85.000 Euro), for projects executed by NGOs, with the objective of conserving biodiversity in dry areas. The focus of the first year will be on (West-)Africa, not excluding other regions however.

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