Rhinoceros Conservation Fund

Provide financial assistance for projects for the effective, long-term conservation of African rhino populations and their habitats. The objectives are to increase population growth, management and governance improvements at key rhino sites, and to d

This is Assistance Listing was created in FY25. Awards made prior to FY25 were reported under Assistance Listing 15.619. The objective of the fund is to assist in the conservation of rhinoceros by supporting the conservation programs of nations whose activities directly or indirectly affect rhinoceros populations, and the CITES Secretariat, to provide financial resources for those programs, and to prohibit the sale, importation, and exportation of products intended for human consumption or application containing, or labeled or advertised as containing, any substance derived from any species of rhinoceros.

Funds provided under this program support projects that will enhance programs for conservation of rhinoceros or tigers by assisting efforts to- (1) implement conservation programs; (2) enhance compliance with provisions of CITES and laws of the United States or a foreign country that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rhinoceros or the use of rhinoceros habitat; or (3) develop sound scientific information on that species' habitat condition and carrying capacity, total numbers and population trends, or annual reproduction and mortality.

Federal, Private nonprofit institution/organization, Other private institution/organization, State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization, Other public institution/organization. Any government agency responsible for conservation and protection of rhinoceros and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience in rhinoceros conservation.

Funds provided under this program support projects that will enhance programs for conservation of rhinoceros or tigers by assisting efforts to- (1) implement conservation programs; (2) enhance compliance with provisions of CITES and laws of the United States or a foreign country that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of rhinoceros or the use of rhinoceros habitat; or (3) develop sound scientific information on that species' habitat condition and carrying capacity, total numbers and population trends, or annual reproduction and mortality.

Funds may not be used for the following activities: Physical resettlement of people (voluntary or involuntary); the purchase of firearms or ammunition; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; buying or purchasing intelligence; evidence or information or paying informants; law enforcement operations that, to arrest suspects, prompt them to carry out illegal activities; and any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws, or regulations of wither the U.S. or the country of the proposed activity. The following cost elements are not allowable under this program: publications of materials for distribution within the U.S. that are not related to the program; pre-award costs (unless prior written approval is received); programs designed to advocate policy views or positions of foreign governments or views of a particular political faction; entertainment and/or alcoholic beverages; purchase of land; direct support or the appearance of direct support for individual or single-party electoral campaigns; and duplication of services immediately available through municipal, provincial, or national government.

Awarded funds must be spent during the performance period that is approved for each Assistance Award, and in accordance with program financial and performance reporting procedures. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award.

Proposals will be reviewed based on criteria identified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Projects are reviewed and competitively selected for funding using criteria articulated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Review criteria can be found in the application information. Once a proposal has been selected for funding, an approving official executes an Assistance Award between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Recipient.

Recipients may request funding for a subsequent year/cycle of a currently funded project. However, these requests are subject to the same submission, review, and approval requirements as all new applications. This program will fund any approved renewal application as new award, not as an amendment to an existing award. Recipients may request approval for budget and project plan revisions of funded projects, including period of performance and reporting due date extensions, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.