The call is open to individuals and institutions including researchers, NGOs, and government agencies, and offers 20,000 EUR support per project to be implemented in seven months to address specific climate threats to wetland ecosystems, species, and communities using Ecosystem-based Adaptation strategies as the main approach.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation is defined as “the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change” (CBD, 2009).

The Mekong WET project previously completed Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments (VAs) for ten project sites in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The assessments consulted a range of stakeholders to determine climate change impacts on wetland habitats, species, and communities, demonstrating climate change threats to wetlands throughout the region. Following the assessments, community members, local, and national government agencies identified a number of site-specific EbA options that would help the wetland communities address major climate threats, which are included in the detailed Call for Proposals for each country.

Though Myanmar was not originally a target country for the project, it has been included in the small grants component to further expand the project’s impact through the Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative.

Proposals aiming to work in project sites and on the adaptation options identified by communities will be prioritised, however, proposals for EbA measures in other wetlands within the country, or the application of the VA tools in wetlands will also be considered. Communications and awareness-raising plan to disseminate the results of the work completed should be included in the proposals.

The Mekong WET project is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).

Call for proposals opens on 4 November 2020

Submission of Proposals closes at 17:00 (Indo-China time) on 25 November 2020

The announcement of selected grantees will be made by 9 December 2020.

Duration of contract: 1 January 2021- 2 August 2021 (7 months)

Funding Amount: Applicants can apply for up to 20,000 EUR per proposal

Deadline for EOI submission: 25 November 2020

Call for Proposals Webpage

For country-specific information and application templates, please see the following links:

Cambodia   Lao PDR   Myanmar  Thailand  Viet Nam

About the Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative (IBRRI)

The Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative (IBRRI) was jointly developed by the Ramsar National Focal Points of the five countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam), and IUCN’s Asia Regional Office, based on specific needs identified in these countries. It was endorsed by the 52^nd meeting of the Ramsar Convention Standing Committee in June 2016. The IBRRI aims to support the coordinated implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Ramsar Convention. IUCN acts as the Secretariat for the Initiative under the leadership of the Steering Committee, which includes representatives from the five governments and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat as an observer.