The UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and the abrdn Charitable Foundation (aCF) are launching a second call for applications for UNESCO-designated sites in Europe and North America, as a part of the 3-year project ‘Promoting sustainable development through UNESCO’s programmes and sites’.
Eligible UNESCO sites are Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks, and Natural and Mixed World Heritage sites.
The project will work through a total of 15 sites in 3 years. Each year, UNESCO and the Advisory Board of the project will select 5 sites at the beginning of each one-year cycle. Each selected site will be expected to work on all 3 expected results and to focus on one topic throughout the project (for example, if the chosen topic is biodiversity, the site will implement research, education, and innovative solutions dedicated to biodiversity).
For this second year of the project, sites must be located in the Europe and North American regions. Sites under the direct purview of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe will be prioritized. Multi-designated areas, i.e. areas having obtained more than one UNESCO designation will be considered favorably. Two sites (such as a Global Geopark and a Biosphere Reserve) that are situated in the same geographical area may also decide to submit a joint proposal.
Each selected site will receive funding from the project to implement activities under the three expected results for a total amount of up to 25,000 USD per site. The selected sites will need to provide a detailed budget with itemized costs and an implementation plan.
Sites will be working closely with UNESCO for the implementation of the three expected results on the ground. In particular, UNESCO will work with the selected sites to ensure the work proposed is linked closely to UNESCO priorities (notably MAB, IHP, IGGP, and IOC) and is scalable at the regional and global levels. UNESCO will also work closely with the communities involved in the activities (for example with the schools).
The 5 selected sites (per year) will have the opportunity to exchange and support each other throughout the 3-year project. Sites will be invited to present the results of their activities to UNESCO and the aCF as well as at international events organized by UNESCO.
Location:
Europe, North AmericaBenefits
- Each selected site will receive funding from the project to implement activities under the three expected results for a total amount of up to 25,000 USD per site.
Eligibilities
- Completeness of Application form duly filled, dated, stamped, and signed by the relevant managing authority(ies) (see the attached template and below).
- The proven capacity of the project proposed to achieve all the 3 expected results notably in relation to
the chosen topic within a 12-month timeframe. - Properly-structured and detailed budget with itemized costs.
- Clear implementation plan.
- Scalability of the 3 expected results within UNESCO global networks.
- Demonstrated ecosystem value of the proposal (coastal/island/Mediterranean; mountain; forest;
agriculture; river basin; hydrogeologicalresources, wetland/Ramsar, Natura2000). - Demonstrated impacted climatic zone.
- Consideration of youth and gender dimensions in the proposal is an advantage.
- Involvement and engagement with UNESCO site stakeholders.
- Consideration of interdisciplinary approaches is an advantage.
- The geographical location (within Europe and North America, with priority to applicants from countries under the purview of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe).
Application Process
Applicants(site managing authorities) must submit the application form together with the following
documents:
- Letter of support/email from the MAB national committee/IGGP national committee and/or National Commission for UNESCO.
- Activity reports (or links to online activity reports) and any additional information demonstrating the required criteria.
- Curriculum vitae of the project coordinator and proven collaboration with the UNESCO site managing authority (if different from).
- GANTT Chart (Please fill the template in Annex I of the application form).
- Budget (Please fill in the template in Annex II of the application form).
- Outcome matrix (Please fill the template in Annex III of the application form).
- Legal registration document of the managing authority of the designated site.
- Bank information for Vendor Creation Form duly filled in to be returned in Word format.
- Bank Statement on bank’s headed paper, signed and stamped confirming the bank details.
Application Deadline: April 26, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
