November 16, 2024 - The Government of Canada recently partnered with Forest Foundation Philippines to fund projects that strengthen the Philippines’ climate resilience through mitigation and adaptation strategies. Negros Occidental, particularly the Malogo River and Sicaba River watersheds, has been identified as the program’s target site.
Canada pledges over $8 Million to support the program that aims to see results by the end of 2027. Non-government organisations, community-based organisations and local or regional entities active in the Philippines are invited to submit proposals to the Foundation by December 20, 2024.
Canada recognizes the Philippines as among the world’s most vulnerable countries to disasters and climate change . Climate change affects marginalised vulnerable communities, including women and Indigenous People. This project aims to support these communities in adapting to the impact of biodiversity loss and climate change by strengthening their resilience and supporting their access to natural resources and healthy ecosystems.
The project aims to support the financing, capacity-building and learning necessary for gender-responsive, nature-based solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss. Project activities include setting-up a nature-based solutions (NbS) grant facility that supports at least 20 NbS sub-projects in 18 communities in key biodiversity areas, marine protected areas, critically endangered species, vulnerable women and Indigenous People communities; assisting in technical and capacity building to at least 100 local beneficiaries to design and implement gender-responsive NbS projects; and organising participatory assessments on climate vulnerabilities and biodiversity loss to inform local planning and decision-making for climate adaptation.
Expected outcomes of the project include improved decision-making and gender-responsive climate adaptation planning, practices, and governance of community- and nature-based solutions of local stakeholders in the Philippines; and enhanced adoption of gender-responsive nature-based solutions with biodiversity co-benefits for climate adaptation of women and communities.
This project benefits at least 50,000 hectares of landscapes and seascapes, 500 representatives from civil society organisations (at least 50% women), and indirectly benefits about 6.1 million Filipinos from six highly vulnerable provinces and small island communities.
Forest Foundation Philippines was established in 2002, under two bilateral agreements, between the governments of the United States of America and the Philippines, through the US Tropical Forest Conservation Act. The Foundation aims to protect and sustainably manage Philippine forests and biodiversity.
Successful grant recipients will be announced in spring of 2025 with projects targeted to begin by April.
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