Are you a registered South African NGO, civil society organisation, consulting company or eligible institution with experience in community conservation and monitoring and evaluation? An opportunity is available for a qualified organisation to provide technical support to the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories – Global Support Initiative (ICCA-GSI).

The initiative aims to strengthen community-led conservation, improve biodiversity protection, promote climate resilience and support sustainable livelihoods. The selected National Catalytic Organisation will help participating communities and project grantees improve their monitoring, evaluation, documentation and learning processes.

About the ICCA-GSI Opportunity

The ICCA-GSI initiative works to improve the recognition and effectiveness of territories and areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Its activities support biodiversity conservation, community participation, sustainable livelihoods and resilience to climate change.

The National Catalytic Organisation will provide technical and coordination support to participating organisations and communities. It will facilitate monitoring and evaluation activities, strengthen local capacities and help document lessons and results from community conservation projects.

Key Responsibilities of the Selected Organisation

• Assess the monitoring, evaluation and capacity-building needs of participating grantees.
• Train organisations and communities on the Self-Strengthening Process and Resilience and Security Index.
• Support the use of project management tools and monitoring indicators.
• Assist communities with documenting and registering their conservation areas in relevant global databases.
• Collect, review and analyse monitoring and evaluation information.
• Develop knowledge products, case studies and public-facing impact reports.
• Promote inclusive participation, gender equality and respect for Indigenous and local knowledge.
• Prepare progress reports and a final report in collaboration with the programme team.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Applications are invited from legally registered organisations and institutions based in South Africa that can demonstrate relevant technical capacity and experience.

Eligible applicants may include:

• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
• Civil society organisations (CSOs).
• Consulting companies with relevant expertise.
• Other eligible institutions with demonstrated experience in community conservation and monitoring and evaluation.

Applicants should demonstrate experience in Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ issues, biodiversity conservation, participatory training, project management, data quality assurance and preparation of reports. Familiarity with the Global ICCA Registry, Protected Planet and Mapeo for ICCAs is also relevant.

Important: Organisations should review the official call carefully to confirm all eligibility and team qualification requirements before submitting an application.

What Funding Is Available?

The selected organisation may receive funding of up to US$40,000 for the assignment. The proposed budget should explain how resources will support training, monitoring visits, technical assistance, knowledge management and other eligible activities.

The implementation period is expected to run for up to 20 months from January 2027. Applicants should prepare a realistic work plan and demonstrate value for money.

Application Requirements

Interested organisations should prepare a proposal that addresses the requirements in the official call. Expected submission materials include:

• Organisational profile and proof of legal registration.
• Understanding of the assignment and the South African ICCA-GSI context.
• Proposed technical approach and methodology.
• Work plan and delivery schedule.
• Profiles or CVs of proposed team members.
• A detailed budget and justification of proposed costs.

How to Submit Your Proposal

1. Read the official UNDP call and all accompanying documents.
2. Check that your organisation meets the eligibility and experience requirements.
3. Prepare the technical proposal, team details, work plan and detailed budget.
4. Submit your application to Gefsgp.sa@undp.org before the stated deadline.
5. Use the required email subject line: Application for ICCA-GSI National Catalytic Organisation.

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Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes. Funding is competitive and is not guaranteed. Applicants should verify all eligibility criteria, deadlines and application instructions directly with UNDP. The website publishing this information is not the grant-making organisation.