The Heart of Conservation Initiative (HCI) aims to increase financial resources, organizational strength, and recognition for Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ governance and stewardship of lands, territories and resources to deliver Global Environmental Benefits.
HCI will achieve this by supporting an ecosystem of organizations led by Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities that can manage, distribute and disburse funds to communities, members and partners.
HCI has five Components:
- Component 1: On-the-ground projects led by Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities to deliver Global Environmental Benefits.
- Component 2: Self-strengthening of Indigenous Peoples and/or local community organizations to govern lands, territories and resources.
- Component 3: Representation and recognition of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in global and large-scale decision-making.
- Component 4: Experience and lessons learned to support and enhance broader initiatives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
- Component 5: Monitoring and evaluation.
The call is open to representative institutions, organizations, networks or funding mechanisms of Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities operating in GEF-eligible countries. Potential partners will also be screened for funding eligibility based on GEF and WWF-US safeguards and compliance standards, including UN, US, and other applicable laws and criteria.
Partners are expected to have:
- Strong mechanisms for consultation and accountability with the Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities that they represent or serve.
- Demonstrable institutional capacity and experience in effectively managing projects and grants, and adequate institutional capacity and experience distributing and disbursing funds to members, communities or partners working on the ground.
- Experience in supporting or implementing on-the-ground projects determined by Indigenous Peoples and/or local communities.
- Experience facilitating inclusion of women and youth in such work.