Baa Atoll Conservation Fund Board today approved 7 proposals as recipients of grants from BACF upon its Invitation for Call for proposal for this cycle from the 9 shortlisted proposals.The grantees of projects include those on Conservation, Education Awareness and Research and Livelihood.  

 

The BACF Board approved the following projects from the shortlisted proposals in the Board meeting held today  at Eydhafushi.and it is envisaged that grants would be awarded to the approved parties by the end of September.

 

1. Introduction and Training Program on Hydroponics by Dharavandhoo Development Cooperative Society (Livelihood, Education/Awareness).

2. Training Course on Outboard Engine Repair and Maintenance by FEYLI  of Eydhafushi (Livelihood).

3. Save Turtle Forum by Kendhoo School (Education /Awareness, Conservation).

4. Kihaadhoo Goes Organic by FAAM Foundation of Kihaadhoo  (Education/Awareness, Livelihood).

5. Erection of Monument  by Kudarikilu Council (Livelihood).

6. Eco friendly fertilizer production by Maalhos Women’s Development Committee (Livelihood).

7 Training Course on Lacquer Works by Thulhaadhoo Council (Livelihood).

A total of 25 proposals have been received by the said deadline to Baa Atoll Conservation Fund (BACF) upon it’s Invitation for Call for pre-proposals on 25 November 2011.

 

All proposals received will be shortlisted by the end of the week and those parties shortlisted will be informed to submit the detailed proposal.

 

The deadline for submission for Call for pre-proposal previously had been 12 December 2013 but the date was moved back to 31 December 2013 to allocate more time for proposal preparation after a team of BACF visited Baa Atoll earlier.

 

It is envisaged that grants would be made available through BACF next month once the detail proposals are evaluated.

 

The team from the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund has concluded its visit to Baa Atoll, visiting all the 13 inhabited islands having met Atoll Council, Island Councils, NGOs, Women’s Development Committees, schools and the community. The first island the team visited was Fehendhoo on 5 December and the last inhabited island to be visited by the BACF team was Hithaadhoo on 10 December.

 

During the meetings held on each island BACF provided information on the proposed grants by BACF and answered questions raised by the participants on the grant application, the approval selection process, and in general discussed the pre-proposal template as well.

 

The deadline for Call for pre-proposal is 12 December 2013 and it was discussed during these meetings held that the deadline should be moved back to allocate more time for proposal preparation and in this regard BACF informed all that the deadline for Call for pre-proposals would be extended till the end of December 2013 and a formal announcement would be made.

 

BACF wishes to thank to all parties for the assistance provided during the trip.

 

BACF wishes to inform that the deadline for Call for pre-proposal from Baa Atoll Conservation Fund has been extended from 12 December 2013 to 31 December 2013. This extension has been granted on the basis to allow time for more applications after the meetings held at all 13 islands.

 

A team from BACF had earlier visited all 13 inhabited islands of Baa Atoll from 5 December to 11 December meeting the atoll and island councils, NGOs, schools and all interested to raise awareness on Call for pre-proposals.

 

A team from the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund led by the Fund Manager is scheduled to visit Baa Atoll from 5 December to 10 December 2013. The main purpose of this visit is to give updates on the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund and to provide information to the Atoll Council, Island Councils, NGOs, Women’s Development Committees, schools and the community.

 

Staff from BR Office will also be joining this trip from Eydhafushi where they will give information about Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve and the workplan of the BR Office for 2014 and the team is scheduled to visit all 13 inhabited island of the atoll during this period.

 

Earlier in the second meeting of the BACF Board, the issue of providing grants to the atoll was discussed and based on the discussions, the Board unanimously agreed to allocate a sum of US$100,00.00 as grants for 2012/2014.

 

The 3 main focal areas for which grants would be available from BACF in this cycle are in the areas of: 

1. Program for the protection, conservation and management of biological and natural resources, biodiversity and nature protection in Baa Atoll,

2. Livelihood improvement program for Baa Atoll residents, focusing on projects that are in line with sustainability and atoll ecosystem conservation policies,

3. Research, awareness raising and education program, focused on protection, conservation and management of biological and natural resources, biodiversity and nature protection in Baa Atoll.

 

Baa Atoll Conservation Fund was established on 18 April 2012 as a Trust Fund under the Public Finance Act (Act No: 3/2006) of the Republic of Maldives and the fund is governed by the Fund Board of Directors and the Fund Managing Director in accordance with the Fund Memorandum and Articles of Association and other applicable laws and regulations.