nofo-afr16-revised-12142015.pdf

Revised 12/14/2015

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

International Affairs

Division of International Conservation

Wildlife Without Borders - Africa Program

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.651

Funding Opportunity Number: F15AS00466

Submission Deadline: January 15, 2016

Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

Central Africa is a globally important region for forest and biodiversity conservation. The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) works closely with national governments, U.S. agencies, and a range of other partners to ensure a strategic, results-based approach to wildlife conservation in the region. In collaboration with U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Central

Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE), USFWS is providing this funding opportunity to reduce threats to key wildlife populations, and to develop the requisite individual and institutional conservation capacity to undertake long-term conservation programs. Please see

A Results-Based Vision for Conservation in Central Africa on the USFWS website for greater detail on our approach to wildlife conservation in Central Africa.

Funding will only be considered for projects that impact wildlife populations in the following countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and São Tomé and

Príncipe.

Please review each USFWS funding priority below for specific details, including what USFWS wants to achieve through its funding support (i.e., Desired Results). Each funding priority also identifies factors that, in USFWS experience, are basic requirements (also known as prerequisites or enabling conditions) for projects to effectively implement proposed activities. Applicants should address these factors in the proposal’s Statement of Need.

USFWS supports wildlife conservation projects in Central Africa through multiple mechanisms:

the Wildlife Without Borders Africa (WWB-Africa) Program, and the funds created by

Congressional acts for the conservation of African elephants, great apes and marine turtles. In general, applicants are encouraged to submit a proposal to WWB-Africa if their project falls under one of the six funding priorities listed below. In order to maximize funding opportunities, USFWS staff may move proposals between the WWB-Africa Program and the Species Funds.

1. Conserving Gabon’s Wildlife

Description: Gabon is a refuge for wildlife species that have been severely depleted in other parts of Central Africa. Despite composing only about 12% of forested Central Africa, Gabon is estimated to shelter more than half of the world’s remaining forest elephants, as well as important populations of western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. With low human population and forests covering 85% of its land area, Gabon has been prioritized by conservation scientists not only because of its high biodiversity value, but also because the expected return on investment is as high as any country in Africa. Gabon is also a favorable environment for conservation given the high level of government support for both terrestrial and marine resource management. Thus, USFWS has created a separate Gabon funding opportunity as a strategic use of resources to maximize conservation benefit in a country that has expressed strong political will for wildlife conservation and the fight against elephant poaching. USFWS will support activities by the partner organizations of Gabon’s National Parks Agency (ANPN) to reduce threats to wildlife in and around its protected area network, including both marine and terrestrial environments.

Applicants are encouraged to work with ANPN before submission to discuss current needs and coordinate activities. In the proposal’s statement of need, as a prerequisite, applicants should describe coordination with ANPN or other relevant government agencies and how this project fits within national conservation priorities.

Funding Mechanism: Multiple, one-year grants. Proposals are typically funded at $100,000 USD or less. Higher funding amounts will be considered with appropriate justification. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and individuals are eligible to apply.

Geographic eligibility: Proposals must impact wildlife and sealife populations within Gabon, including its territorial waters.

Government endorsement is required for all proposals. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with relevant government authorities prior to preparing applications for USFWS funds.

● Government endorsement by ANPN is required for proposed activities in all national parks, park buffer zones, peripheral zones, Wonga Wongue Reserve, Raponda Walker

Arboretum, Lopé World Heritage Site, and the Bas Ogooué Ramsar site. Government endorsement by CENAREST is required for all proposed research activities. Both the

ANPN and CENAREST point of contact for endorsement letters is Dr. Flore Koumba

Pambo (email: csar_cenarest@yahoo.fr).

● Any proposals for activities outside of ANPN’s mandate described above should be endorsed by the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Protection of Natural Resources.

Point of contact for endorsement letters is Brice Léandre Meye, Directeur Général (email:

meyebrice@yahoo.fr).

Desired Results:

● Reduction in the illegal killing of elephants.

● Reduction in the illegal commercial trade of bushmeat in cities and in and around extractive industries concessions.

● Sufficient investigative capacity to identify large-scale wildlife traffickers and secure the evidence that can be used to assist in their arrest and prosecution.

● Tactical deployment of field missions to detect and deter illegal activities, including apprehension of poachers and perpetrators of other illegal activities.

● Improved management of national parks, buffer and peripheral zones, including conservation and management of marine and aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems.

● Increased marine turtle survivorship.

● Increased habituation of great apes for nature-based tourism potential, research and biomonitoring.

● Sustainable revenue for conservation activities through nature-based tourism.

● Minimized impacts of extractive industries in national parks, marine protected areas and buffer zones.

● Integration of Best Management Practices (BMPs) into relevant contracts and leases with appropriate systems for compliance monitoring and enforcement.

2. Improving Wildlife Security in Central Africa

Description: USFWS will support efforts to improve the security of Central Africa’s wildlife.

This opportunity is designed to support conservation activities for habitats, sites, and species not identified elsewhere in this Notice of Funding Opportunity, and will consider both field- and legal system-based projects. This funding opportunity has historically focused on patrols and other field missions, efforts to improve the application of the law and to disrupt illegal trade networks, and assisting protected area management. Other eligible projects include enhancing political will for conservation; assisting gazettement of new protected areas; countering habitat degradation in high value wildlife areas, including the degradation of marine turtle nesting beaches; minimizing the impacts of extractive industry on wildlife, including the reduction of bushmeat hunting and consumption in workcamps; and facilitating the recovery of protected species, such as pangolins and okapi.

For proposals requesting support for patrols and other field missions (e.g., aerial surveillance), applicants should describe in the proposal’s Statement of Need, as a prerequisite, that sufficient oversight exists to manage field personnel and address corruption, and the intelligence network in place to guide tactical deployment of resources. For proposals requesting support for improving the application of the law, applicants should describe the adequacy of the wildlife law and policy in place. For proposals requesting support for protected area gazettement, applicants should describe the legal framework and mandates for protected area creation, support of the appropriate protected area agency, the degree to which political will and leadership is expected to overcome obstacles, any existing civil society and/or community support, and the adequacy of funding to establish some level of protection presence. For additional guidance on what these descriptions should address, please see the relevant application questions in the Standard Measures of

Effectiveness and Threats for Wildlife Conservation in Central Africa document (Set up and http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/guidance-effectiveness-measures-central-africa.pdf manage patrols, p. 10-11; Wildlife law compliance and enforcement, p. 16-17; Protected area designation, p. 18-19).

Geographic Eligibility: Countries in Central Africa, African countries identified by the

Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Standing Committee as nations of primary or secondary concern or importance to watch with regard to the illegal trade in ivory (e.g., Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nigeria), and countries where the illegal wildlife trade in Central Africa's wildlife is expected to increase (e.g., Togo). Proposals for work outside Central Africa must justify the proposed intervention in terms of its potential impact on wildlife populations in

Central Africa, including evidence of the proposed location as an important transit point for wildlife products coming out of Central Africa en route to consumer countries.

Funding Mechanism: Two funding mechanisms are available under this opportunity: (a) multiple, one-year grants of $100,000 USD or less; and (b) multiple, two-year grants of $200,000 USD or less. To be considered for two-year support, proposals must include a Standard Threat

Assessment Indicator as recommended in Standard Measures of Effectiveness and Threats for

Wildlife Conservation in Central Africa: Guidance for USFWS Applicants, or an alternative measure of the direct threat proposed and justified by the applicant. Proposals for two-year grants may be considered by USFWS as candidates for conversion into multi-year Cooperative

Agreements. Higher funding amounts will be considered for crisis situations on a case by case basis with appropriate justification, and can be submitted after the submission deadline (although applicants are encouraged to contact USFWS beforehand). Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and individuals are eligible to apply.

Desired results related to the legal system:

● Sufficient investigative capacity to identify large-scale wildlife traffickers and secure the evidence that can be used to assist in their arrest and prosecution.

● Arrests and prosecutions of suspected wildlife traffickers, and appropriate legal penalties for convicted traffickers.

● Central African news and media coverage related to wildlife trafficking law enforcement, and an increase in public awareness that wildlife law is being enforced.

● Secured storage or destruction of items confiscated during anti-trafficking efforts so that they do not re-enter wildlife trade.

Desired results related to field missions:

● Tactical deployment of field missions to detect and deter illegal activities, including apprehension of poachers and perpetrators of other illegal activities.

● Items confiscated during field activities are appropriately secured or destroyed to ensure that they do not re-enter illegal wildlife trade or poaching activities.

● Reduction in the illegal killing of wildlife to supply the illegal trade.

Desired results related to management or gazettement of high value conservation areas:

● Legal declaration of conservation areas (if not formally protected).

● A management plan with clear authority, responsive and flexible enough to be adapted as needed, and implementation of plan by relevant wildlife authorities and other stakeholders.

● Illegal activities curtailed at the conservation area, and public use of the site is consistent with conservation goals.

3. Reducing Urban Demand for Protected Species in the Commercial Bushmeat Trade

Description: USFWS will support national and regional activities designed to reduce bushmeat consumption and its commercial trade in Central African urban centers. In the proposal’s

Statement of Need, as a prerequisite, the proposal should describe in detail the bushmeat trade being targeted, including a well-developed understanding of the behavioral and social context in which individuals make decisions to purchase and consume bushmeat. The proposal should identify and justify the most important barrier(s) to reducing demand and how the proposed intervention will address that barrier. Examples of barriers include cultural values and norms such as consumer preference for protected species, limited availability of domestic protein, and the economics of bushmeat vs domestic meat consumption. There should be a one-to-one match between the identified barrier and the proposed intervention. Proposals should clearly identify indicators to directly monitor changes in bushmeat consumption and/or trade. For assistance in developing indicators for commercial bushmeat hunting, please see p. 75-76 of Standard

Measures of Effectiveness and Threats for Wildlife Conservation in Central Africa. If there is not sufficient information available for the applicant to have a well-developed understanding of the behavioral and social context of the bushmeat trade, applicants are not encouraged to apply directly, but rather are encouraged to communicate with the Cooperative Agreement recipient

(see Funding Mechanism below) to explore potential collaboration or coordination of work .

Funding Mechanism: Two funding mechanisms are available under this opportunity: (a) multiple, two-year grants of $150,000 USD or less that intend to change behavior and reduce demand for protected species during the grant’s performance period; and (b) a five-year, multi-country cooperative agreement. Higher funding amounts for two-year grants will be considered with appropriate justification. The proposal for a five-year cooperative agreement should be developed in collaboration with relevant authorities and non-governmental organizations, and should focus on reducing urban demand for bushmeat. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and individuals are eligible to apply. To be considered for five-year support, proposals must include a Standard Threat Assessment Indicator as recommended in

Standard Measures of Effectiveness and Threats for Wildlife Conservation in Central Africa, or an alternative measure of the direct threat proposed and justified by the applicant.

● Reduced bushmeat availability and consumption in urban centers.

● Greater use of information collected on the bushmeat trade by in-country decision-makers and law enforcement agents.

http://www.fws.gov/international/grants-and-reporting/standard-measures-of-effectiveness.html http://www.fws.gov/international/grants-and-reporting/standard-measures-of-effectiveness.html

● Better monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of different interventions and approaches.

4. Developing Capacity for Conservation of Central Africa’s Wildlife

Description: USFWS will support the development and delivery of effective training and capacity development programs in Central Africa. Proposals should focus on strengthening the ability of Central African individuals, institutions, and networks to carry out conservation activities and techniques. Proposals should show how capacity development will address gaps in performance of personnel working on wildlife conservation and protected area management. In the proposal’s Statement of Need, as a prerequisite, applicants should describe the needed competencies and how trainees will have the opportunity to apply training within their organization, including the necessary authority, time, resources, respect and cultural acceptance.

Proposals should include a clear theory of change for how proposed activities are ultimately intended to reduce direct threats and improve the status of species and habitats. For assistance in developing a theory of change for training and capacity development, please see p. 47-50 of

Standard Measures of Effectiveness and Threats for Wildlife Conservation in Central Africa.

Example activities include competency-based specialized training; strengthening or developing new academic programs; support for Central African university faculty to incorporate emerging conservation threats into their curriculum; or the development of species conservation networks.

Support for tuition for individuals will not be considered.

Funding Mechanism: Multiple, one-year grants. Proposals are typically funded at $50,000 USD or less. Higher funding amounts will be considered with appropriate justification. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and individuals are eligible to apply.

● Successful identification of training and competencies needed to carry out specific conservation activities and techniques, and selection of trainers and individuals with high potential to effectively deliver and apply training.

● Successful completion of training and application of new competencies by trained individuals.

● Improved individual and institutional performance.

5. USFWS MENTOR Signature Initiative

Description: USFWS’s MENTOR Signature Initiative (Mentoring for ENvironmental Training in

Outreach and Resource conservation) builds trans-disciplinary teams of emerging African conservationists. Through mentoring, experiential learning, and academic and field-based training programs, these teams learn to work together to solve problems on high priority conservation challenges and develop leaderships skills. USFWS seeks to support team-building programs that address key threats to wildlife in the Congo Basin, including one or more of the following themes:

● Poaching for ivory

● Commercial bushmeat trade

● Illegal fishing and ineffective marine conservation

● Wildlife disease

● Incompatible extractive industry practices (forestry, mining, oil, agriculture, or fisheries)

● Limited political will for conservation

● Lack of effective conservation outreach and strategic communications

● Ineffective demand reduction initiatives

● Weak enforcement of wildlife law

● Wildlife trafficking

● Lack of species conservation networks.

Funding Mechanism: A two-year cooperative agreement. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and individuals are eligible to apply.

Partnerships between range country training institutions and field practitioners are encouraged.

Submission process: A pre-proposal concept of up to four pages should be submitted, including a Statement of Need and one-page summary budget. Pre-proposals should include a brief overview of the key threats to wildlife and landscapes addressed by the proposed MENTOR program; the potential to earn an academic degree or certificate by participants (e.g., post-graduate diploma); the number of MENTOR participants to compose team (at least eight recommended); possible team compositions (e.g., which academic disciplines or sectors would be represented); how participants will be selected; description of mentoring and team-building approach; and anticipated outputs and conservation outcomes. Pre-proposals should give some indication of the necessary infrastructure and program support to provide an appropriate learning and training environment for teams. Pre-proposals should also describe, to the best of their ability, how the team will have the necessary authority, time, resources, toolbox, respect and cultural acceptance to implement conservation actions to address threats to wildlife. Letters of support from government agencies and other partners, and curriculum vitae of key personnel, do not count toward the four page limit and may be included as support for the applicant’s capacity to implement proposed activities effectively and past history of coordinating with partners. If selected, applicants will have 6 weeks to submit a full application, including all items in the

Application Checklist, for further review.

Desired results:

● A trans-disciplinary team of emerging African conservationists who can work together to problem solve on key threats to wildlife and habitats in Central Africa.

● Specific products and measurable conservation outcomes produced by the team.

● Development of conservation champions.

For more information on USFWS’s MENTOR program, please see the MENTOR factsheet. For more information on developing a project pre-proposal, or to suggest a theme not identified above, please contact Nancy Gelman (nancy_gelman@fws.gov or +1-703-358-2125).

6. Heroes of the Forest

Description: USFWS will support efforts to provide assistance to the families of rangers who have lost their lives while protecting wildlife. It is intended to honor and raise public awareness of the sacrifices made by park rangers and ecoguards, and improve the morale and motivation of protected area staff. The Heroes of the Forest initiative has been piloted in Virunga National Park.

Eligible projects include efforts that develop or strengthen a program to provide sustained financial, medical and/or educational assistance to the widows and orphans of park rangers and ecoguards killed in the line of duty. Projects should also increase public awareness of the risks taken by protected area personnel to conserve wildlife and improve the morale and performance of remaining protected area staff. The proposal should identify a detailed plan for how USFWS funding will be leveraged (e.g., an endowment or trust fund) and the systems or processes in place locally to provide financial, health and/or educational support for families of the fallen.

Submission Process: A pre-proposal concept of up to four pages should be submitted, including a Statement of Need and one-page summary budget. Pre-proposals should include an overview of the risks undertaken by rangers and ecoguards in the areas in which the project would work, and the impact of those risks on protected area personnel morale, performance, and recruitment. Pre-proposals should demonstrate that the applicant has a well-developed understanding of how to effectively provide support to families of fallen rangers. Thus, pre-proposals should include details on local banking capacity, how the project intends to identify beneficiaries, and other administrative logistics. Letters of support from government agencies and other partners, and curriculum vitae of key personnel, do not count toward the four page limit and may be included as support for the applicant’s capacity to implement proposed activities effectively and past history of coordinating with partners. If selected, applicants will have 6 weeks to submit a full application, including all items in the Application Checklist, for further review.

Funding mechanism: Cooperative agreement developed in collaboration with relevant authorities and non-governmental organizations operating in landscapes where rangers and ecoguards have died in the line of duty.

Desired results:

● Financial, medical and/or educational assistance available to widows and families of fallen ecoguards and rangers.

● Motivated rangers and ecoguards who feel that their personal contribution to wildlife conservation is recognized and that their lives and sacrifices are valued.

http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/factsheet-mentor.pdf mailto:nancy_gelman@fws.gov

● Leveraged resources from other funding sources and the establishment of trust funds (or other long term financial mechanisms) to ensure future sustainability.

For more information on USFWS’s Heroes of the Forest program, please see the Heroes of the Forest factsheet. For more information on developing a project pre-proposal, please contact Nancy

Gelman (nancy_gelman@fws.gov or +1-703-358-2125).

IB. DESCRIPTION OF PLANNED 2016 CONGO BASIN PROJECTS

In addition to the call for proposals above, the Wildlife Without Borders–Africa program will continue supporting cooperative agreements with the partners identified below. Please note that this section is informational and that USFWS is not accepting further proposals.

Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux (ANPN) – Gabon

The Parks Gabon project, a collaboration between USFWS and Gabon’s Agence Nationale des

Parcs Nationaux (ANPN), aims to enhance the near- and long-term capacity of ANPN to respond to the increased threats of elephant poaching and extractive industry expansion (oil, mining, forestry, and fishing) within and around the national park network. A component of this agreement will include the continuation and expansion of the MENTOR-FOREST Master’s degree program based at the Forestry College (ENEF). USFWS will continue to partner with

ANPN and other organizations to respond directly to existing and emerging needs at all of

Gabon’s protected areas, including support for “model parks” as learning laboratories for management effectiveness and training. Efforts will raise capacity for wildlife law enforcement and regulation ensuring sustainable and legal trade.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the third year of a five-year cooperative agreement developed in collaboration with Gabon’s ANPN.

Desired Results: Reduction of illegal killing of elephants; mitigation of the impacts of extractive industries in national parks and buffer zones; improved management of national parks and buffer zones including marine and aquatic systems; and sustainable revenue for conservation activities through tourism.

Ecole de Faune de Garoua–Cameroon

USFWS will continue to collaborate with Ecole de Faune de Garoua and Cameroon’s protected area authorities on the development of training programs to increase national and regional capacity for wildlife management and effective law enforcement.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to provide scholarships and faculty development grants.

Desired Results: Ecole de Faune de Garoua and its faculty have the capacity to design and deliver effective education and training programs on protected area management and species http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/factsheet-heroes-of-the-forest.pdf http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/factsheet-heroes-of-the-forest.pdf mailto:nancy_gelman@fws.gov conservation. USFWS-EFG scholarship graduates contribute to wildlife conservation, protected area management, and leadership in their countries over the long-term.

Virunga National Park

Description: Virunga National Park contains the highest biological diversity of any national park in Africa, with 2,000 plant species, 706 bird species, and 218 mammal species, including hippos and one-third of the world’s mountain-gorilla population. Despite recent setbacks in the security situation, Virunga National Park has made significant progress in the development of its ranger force, tourist facilities (from 2014 to 2015, several thousand people visited Virunga, generating tens of thousands of revenue for the park’s operational budget), and local livelihood projects.

USFWS will provide operational support to enable park operations and support the further development of tourism opportunities necessary to develop a park constituency at local and national levels as well as securing a revenue source for park staff.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the fourth year of a five-year cooperative agreement developed in collaboration with the Congolese Wildlife Authority (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN) and the non-governmental organizations currently active in Virunga National Park.

Desired Results: Mitigation of the impacts of extractive industries in national parks and buffer zones; improved management of national parks and buffer zones; reduction in illegal wood harvest for charcoal production; strong local constituency that supports the park; wildlife security;

and sustainable revenue for conservation activities through nature-based tourism.

Sangha Trinational and Odzala National Park

Description: The Sangha Trinational Landscape, a new World Heritage site, encompasses three contiguous national parks buffered by timber concessions. The landscape supports large populations of elephants, great apes, and many other endangered species. Odzala National Park and its surrounding timber concessions play an equally important role in conserving the biodiversity of this contiguous forest ecosystem. USFWS will continue to support activities in these areas aimed at developing conservation capacity, mitigating threats from poaching and extractive industries, enhancing law enforcement, monitoring wildlife populations and threats, and assisting in the development of sustainable revenue schemes through ecotourism.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the fourth year of a five-year cooperative agreement developed in collaboration with government agencies and non-governmental organizations currently active in the Sangha Trinational landscape, Odzala National Park, and their surrounding timber concessions.

Desired Results: Reduction of illegal killing of elephants and mitigation of the impacts of extractive industries in national parks and buffer zones, including the adoption of management plans and best practice guidelines by extractive industries that clearly define the activities they will undertake to maintain healthy wildlife populations; improved management of national parks and buffer zones; reduced bushmeat consumption in logging (or other extractive industry) camps;

reduced use of infrastructure and transport in logging and mining concessions that facilitate illegal bushmeat trade; proper wildlife surveys to map the distribution and density of key wildlife populations in national parks and concessions, particularly Lobeke NP; and a clear understanding of (a) the impact of Ebola hemorrhagic fever on ape populations, (b) transmission of Ebola virus among wildlife, and (c) appropriate intervention strategy and critical control measures; and sustainable revenue for conservation activities through ecotourism.

Tshuapa-Lomani-Lualaba (TL2)

Description: The Tshuapa-Lomani-Lualaba (TL2) conservation area in the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to a significant population of bonobos as well as forest elephant, Congo peacock, okapi, and a recently discovered Cercopithecus monkey. In the TL2, USFWS will continue to provide support to the creation of new protected areas, wildlife and threat monitoring, participatory management, and law enforcement.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the third year of a five-year cooperative agreement developed in collaboration with relevant authorities and non-government organizations operating in the landscape.

Desired Results: The reduction of illegal killing of elephants; improved management of national parks and buffer zones; proper wildlife surveys to map the distribution and density of key wildlife populations in national parks and concessions; decreased profitability and incentive for commercial bushmeat hunters; and strong local constituency that supports protected areas and conservation activities.

Conkouati-Douli National Park

Description: The Conkouati-Douli National Park provides habitat for more than 1,000 forest elephants, over 8,000 chimpanzees and gorillas, and important populations of marine turtles.

Conkouati is considered an IUCN priority site for great ape conservation and similarly, an important Ramsar site for wetland and bird conservation. Key threats to the park include commercial bushmeat hunting, poaching of elephants for ivory, and subsistence activities of the approximately 7,000 people in and around the park.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the second year of a five-year cooperative agreement developed in collaboration with relevant authorities and non-government organizations active in CDNP.

Desired Results: The reduction of illegal killing of elephants; improved management of national parks, buffer zones, and conservation projects; increased marine turtle survivorship; decreased profitability and incentive for commercial bushmeat hunters; and reduced trade and consumption of bushmeat in Pointe Noire.

The EAGLE Network

Description: The EAGLE Network (Eco Activists for Governance and Law Enforcement) improves law enforcement and cross-border collaboration in the fight against transnational wildlife crime. This project is intended to conserve forest elephants, great apes, and other targeted species by addressing the illegal commercial trade in wildlife.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the second year of a five-year cooperative agreement developed with relevant authorities and non-governmental organizations.

Desired Results: Investigation of significant wildlife traffickers, defined as those that employ or control poachers and play a significant role in at least one of the following: trafficking across national borders, engaging in or enabling corruption, and/or using sophisticated criminal methods; facilitation of arrests of traffickers with the appropriate local law enforcement authorities; legal follow-up of wildlife crime cases, including working with prosecutors and the judicial system to apply the law effectively and to ensure sentences are served; media exposure of wildlife trafficking and penalties applied to deter others from engaging in wildlife crime; and expansion of the organizational model to other countries to adapt to changes in wildlife trafficking routes and activity.

USFWS MENTOR-POP (Progress on Pangolins) Fellowship Program

Description: USFWS will continue to support the development of a team of early career conservation professionals from Central Africa and Asia who will design and deliver results-oriented actions to address threats to the three species of pangolins found in the Congo Basin

(White-bellied pangolin [Phataginus tricuspis], Black-bellied pangolin [Phataginus tetradactyla], and Giant Ground pangolin [Smutsia gigantea]).

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the second year of a cooperative agreement developed with conservation partners.

Desired Results: A trans-disciplinary team of emerging Central African and Asian conservationists who can work together to problem solve on key threats to pangolins in the

Congo Basin; specific products and measurable conservation outcomes produced by the team on field assessments, legal systems and demand reduction to conserve pangolins; development of conservation champions.

USFWS MENTOR-Manatee Fellowship Program

Description: USFWS will continue to support the development of a team of early career conservation professionals from Central Africa who will design and deliver results-oriented actions to address threats to the African manatee.

Funding Mechanism: USFWS plans to support the second year of a cooperative agreement developed with conservation partners.

Desired Results: A trans-disciplinary team of emerging Central African conservationists who can work together to problem solve on key threats to the African manatee; specific products and measurable conservation outcomes produced by the team on field assessments, bushmeat reduction, and African manatee outreach initiatives; development of conservation champions.

II. Award Information:

This program will use grants and/or cooperative agreements as the assistance instrument.

The type of assistance instrument to be used is the decision of the USFWS. See each funding opportunity above for typical award amounts. The amount of funding requested must match scope of the activities, the anticipated results, and the length of the project period. Higher amounts may be requested with appropriate justification. The period of performance for projects starts on the date the award is signed by USFWS. Past and present recipients of awards under this program are eligible, but must submit new proposals to compete for funding each year.

Cooperative Agreements

Under cooperative agreements, substantial involvement by USFWS should be expected and may include participating and collaborating jointly with the recipient or other personnel in carrying out the scope of work including: training recipient personnel or detailing Federal personnel to work on the project effort; reviews and approves one stage of work before the next stage can begin;

reviews and approves, prior to recipient action, proposed modifications or sub-awards; helps select project staff or trainees; directs or redirects the work because of interrelationships with other projects; has power to immediately halt an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met; and limits recipient discretion with respect to scope of work, organizational structure, staffing, mode of operations and other management processes, coupled with close monitoring or operational involvement during performance under the award.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements

Federal law (2 CFR Part 25, Central Contractor Registry and Data Universal Numbering System) mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a valid Dun &

Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and have a current registration in the

System for Award Management (SAM). Exemptions: The SAM registration requirement does not apply to individuals submitting an application on their own behalf and not on behalf of a company or other for-profit entity, State, local or Tribal government, academia or other type of organization.

A. DUNS Registration

Request a DUNS number online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. U.S.-based entities may also request a DUNS number by telephone by calling the Dun & Bradstreet Government Customer

Response Center, Monday – Friday, 7 AM to 8 PM CST at the following numbers:

U.S. and U.S Virgin Islands: 1-866-705-5711

Alaska and Puerto Rico: 1-800-234-3867 (Select Option 2, then Option 1)

For Hearing Impaired Customers Only call: 1-877-807-1679 (TTY Line) http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

Once assigned a DUNS number, entities are responsible for maintaining up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet.

B. Entity Registration in SAM

Register in System for Award Management online at http://www.sam.gov/. Once registered in

SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly urged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure that their information is up to date and in synch with changes that may have been made to DUNS and IRS information. Foreign entities who wish to be paid directly to a

United States bank account must enter and maintain valid and current banking information in

SAM.

C. Excluded Entities

Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program.

D. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required. If cost share or match is included, it may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Only verifiable contributions should be included as a match. Applicant and partner contributions cannot be included as contributions for any other federally assisted project or program. Funds provided by another U.S. Federal Government agency or another USFWS award cannot be reported as matching contributions but should be noted and explained in detail.

A match shown during one year may not be repeated as a match in a subsequent proposal.

IV. Application Requirements - To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain:

A.

1. Completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance form (SF-424). Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the “Federal” funding box on the Application for Federal Assistance form. Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

Additional instructions for completing the SF-424 can be found at http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sf-424-instructions.pdf

2. Completed, signed and dated Assurances - Non-Construction form (SF-424b).

http://www.sam.gov/

The SF-424 and SF-424b forms are located here:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. Look for the form name - Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Assurances for Non-

Construction Programs (SF-424B).

For U.S. recipients applying through Grants.gov, downloading and saving the

Application Package to your computer make the required government-wide standard forms fillable and printable.

For foreign recipients, your organization’s authorized official MUST sign required forms.

B. Project Summary: This section should answer the question, “What is the purpose of this project?” BRIEFLY summarize your project in one page or less. This section should be a stand-alone summary of your project and it may be shared with the public. It must be submitted in

English. Include the title of the project, geographic location, and a brief overview of the key threats to wildlife and habitats, and anticipated conservation outcomes. If the proposal is species-focused, please include the following table:

Common name

Latin name

IUCN

Red List

Assessment

Existing estimates of range, population size, or abundance

Threats to the species that the project is working to reduce, eliminate, or mitigate

[IUCN

Category

(year assessed)]

[estimated # of individuals, or occupied range (km2)]

[Threat text]

C. Project Narrative

1. Statement of Need: This section should answer the question, “Why is this project necessary?” In four pages of text or less, the Statement of Need should clearly identify the species or habitats targeted for conservation (including any existing estimates of population size, geographic range, or extent); a description of the direct threats that affect the targeted species at the project site; and the specific threats that the project will address. This section should include an explicit description of the prerequisites described under each funding priority above. If these conditions are not in place, the applicant should describe how project success is not dependent on these prerequisites. This section should describe a clear theory of change for how proposed activities are ultimately intended to reduce direct threats and improve the status of species and habitats.

This section should also explain how the proposal differs from past work, or builds upon it, including how the applicant plans to expand upon the successes, failures, and lessons http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 learned of past efforts. Projects with USAID funding should add a section describing the activities supported (through CARPE or another US Government operating unit) and the added value of USFWS support. Please note how the proposal differs or builds upon funding available from USAID.

In addition to the text, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a table that summarizes past USFWS support, if any, to the project or applicant. This table does not count toward the three page limit. A table should include columns for: (1) year of grant,

(2) USFWS grant number, (3) amount funded in US$, and (4) bullet points of major activities, outcomes, or products. Former recipients of USFWS support should note that every proposal is expected to be a stand-alone document. Not all proposal reviewers may be familiar with past grants and a summary of activities and accomplishments helps all reviewers to better understand the proposal in context.

2. Project Goals and Objectives: This section should answer the question, “What do you want to achieve and how are you going to do it?” As an example, the following format is recommended:

GOAL:

Objective 1.

Activity 1.1

Activity 1.2

Objective 2.

Activity 2.1

Objective 3.

Activity 3.1

Activity 3.2

Activity 3.3

A goal is the long-term biological outcome that you want to achieve in order to successfully conserve the target species. The strongest goals will be directly related to species status or habitat quality.

Objectives are the specific outcomes that you want to achieve in order to reach your stated goal(s), and should reflect a desired change in capacity, threat, or species status.

Your proposal will be strengthened if the objectives align with the desired results identified above under each funding priority. Your objectives must be attainable within the project period and should be specific, capable of being measured, realistic, and results-orientated. Objectives should form the basis for the project’s Monitoring and

Evaluation section. A recommended reference for identifying and developing appropriate objectives and measures of success is the Open Standards for the Practice of

Conservation.

http://cmp-openstandards.org/download-os/ http://cmp-openstandards.org/download-os/

3. Project Activities, Methods and Timetable: Activities are the specific actions that you undertake to fulfill your objectives and reach your goal. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) for each activity. The methods, including equipment used/requested and personnel conducting the work, should be clearly articulated in this section. The proposed activities should correspond with the Project Budget Table and the narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. Activities in which no USFWS funds are being requested should be clearly identified as such, and described concisely.

Project Timetable

This section should answer the question, “Over what time period will project activities be implemented?” Provide a timetable indicating when activities or project milestones will be accomplished. Include any tables, spreadsheets or flowcharts within the body of the narrative (DO NOT include separate attachments). The timetable should not propose specific dates, but rather list the activities described in Section 2, for each month over a

12-month period.

4. Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement: This section should answer the question, “Who are you going to be working with?” Describe any coordination with local resource managers and other relevant organizations or individuals in planning your project, conducting project activities, or disseminating project results. Where multiple groups are working in the same site, or are listed as stakeholders in the proposal, letters of endorsement specifically referring to this proposal, and to the proposed collaboration from each partner organization, will strengthen your proposal and may be requested by reviewers. If activities to collect data are proposed and the project can demonstrate a strong partnership with the wildlife authority that will use the data to manage the species more effectively, providing this information will strengthen the proposal.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation: This section should answer the question, “How will project implementation and impacts be understood?” For USFWS grants, project monitoring and evaluation involves two components:

(1) Anticipated outputs that document project implementation. Identify all expected outputs (also known as products) of key project activities. Examples include management plans, brochures, posters, training manuals, number of people trained, workshops held, hours of training provided, and equipment purchased.

(2) Conservation outcomes that are the intended results of the project. Identify all conservation outcomes intended to be achieved by this project. Examples include less hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade, more giant pangolins, and more trained individuals applying their training. Outcomes should directly relate to, or even be synonymous with, your Proposal Objectives identified above. To track your progress toward achievement of each objective, identify what you will measure (i.e., indicators), and how will you will measure it (i.e., methods, sample sizes, survey tools).

To assist applicants, USFWS and partners have identified short-term and medium-term conservation outcomes for the following conservation strategies in Central Africa: (a) patrols, (b) protected area designation, (c) training and capacity development, (d) best practice guidelines for extractive industry, (e) partner engagement, (f) law compliance and enforcement, (g) public campaigns to change values and behavior, and (h) applied conservation research. If you are proposing one or more of the above strategies, please see the Standard Measures of Effectiveness and Threats for Wildlife Conservation in

Central Africa for a set of application questions that you are encouraged to address in the

Statement of Need. These targeted questions and indicators are designed as guidance for how effectiveness of each strategy can be assessed. Specific inquiries may be directed to

Matt Muir (matt_muir@fws.gov).

All applicants of cooperative agreements are required to incorporate USFWS’s guidance on project evaluation. All other applicants are encouraged, but not required, to do so. To be considered for financial support for two or more years, proposals should include a

Standard Threat Assessment Indicator as recommended in Standard Measures of

Effectiveness and Threats for Wildlife Conservation in Central Africa, or an alternative measure of the direct threat proposed and justified by the applicant.

USFWS values projects that report both the success and failures of efforts as a means by which an applicant can improve their performance and provide lessons learned to improve our efforts to…