Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities

Organizational profile: The Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (DGM) is a global initiative that was conceived and developed as a special window under the Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF) Forest Investment Program (FIP). The DGM overall objective is to enhance the capacity and support specific initiatives of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in the FIP pilot countries to strengthen their participation in FIP and other REDD+ processes at the local, national, and global levels. The DGM will aim to achieve this objective while respecting the culture, traditional knowledge, and indigenous systems of forest management of IPLCs.

The DGM Design was developed by a working group of IPLCs, facilitated by the Climate Investment Funds. The program is implemented in 12 FIP Pilot Countries through Country Grants Projects, under an overarching umbrella of a Global Component, which serves as the learning and knowledge-exchange platform for the DGM. The World Bank as implementing entity, has the responsibility to operationalize the Global Component as well as the Country Grants Projects in FIP pilot countries.

To achieve this objective, the DGM has two components:

• a Country Component in each of the twelve FIP pilot countries (Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Peru, and the Republic of Congo).
• a Global Component for exchange of knowledge, capacity building, and strengthening networks and partnerships among IPLC organizations in the pilot countries and beyond.

The Country component will support 2 sub-components:

• Sub-component I: supports grants to organizations of IPLCS on a competitive basis for investments of IPLCs choice and within the overall  framework of the DGM;
• Sub-component II: supports Capacity Building activities for IPLC organizations.

The governance framework of the DGM includes National Steering Committees (NSC) in each country project and the Global Steering Committee (GSC), which are the main decision-making bodies. The steering committees are comprised primarily of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as decision-making members. This is a defining feature of the DGM, where IPLCs have a key decision-making role in the program with active support from governments and MDB members.

Financing Instrument: Subgrants

Project scale: Project proposals can range up to US$500,000.

Recipient countries regions/country groups: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Peru, and the Republic of Congo.

Recipient categories: NGOs/NPOs

Eligibility Criteria: All proposals for the Country Grants within the DGM should be located in one or more FIP pilot countries (Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Peru, and the Republic of Congo). Not-for-profit organizations of Indigenous Peoples or Local Communities that wish to apply for the DGM sub-grants should be non-state actors, based in a FIP pilot country listed above.

Application guidelines:

Step 1: Call for Proposals

The National Executing Agency, following the National Steering Committees' approval, issues a call for proposals at least once in a year, on its own website, the FIP website, and through other media, as appropriate for the local context. It will include among other things: (i) eligibility criteria for applicants; (ii) eligible activities; (iii) decision-making procedure and timeline; and (iv) guidance for submission of proposals.

Step 2: Brief Project Proposal

Applicants submit a Brief Project Proposal in response to the call for proposals.

1. if the funding requested is below US$50,000, the NEA will screen proposals using the basic requirements for country grants, including any country-specific criteria established for this purpose. The NEA may also conduct site visits with applicants and assist with the development of their plans, including the formation of partnerships. These proposals will then be included in a list for the NSC to review and consider for funding. A Brief Project Proposal will be sufficient for all proposals under US$50,000; or,
2. if the proposal meets the DGM basic requirements for country grants and the requested funding is more than US$50,000 but below US$500,000, a request for submission of a Full Project Proposal is sent to the applicant; or,
3. if there is insufficient information in the proposal for a decision, a request for additional information is sent to the applicant; or, iv. if the proposal does not meet the DGM criteria for funding, the NEA will include it in the list of proposals not recommended for funding, citing the reasons for the recommendation, for a final decision by the NSC.
4. if the proposal does not meet the DGM criteria for funding, the NEA will include it in the list of proposals not recommended for funding, citing the reasons for the recommendation, for a final decision by the NSC.

Step 3: Full Project Proposal

Applicants will be requested to submit a Full Project Proposal for review when the grant amount requested is greater than US$50,000 and up to US$500,000. The NEA will screen all proposals to ensure that they meet the basic requirements for country grants proposals. The NEA will prepare a final list of complete proposals that meet the criteria for funding, for the NSC’s review and decision. The NSC will meet to review the list of proposals prepared by the NEA and make a final decision regarding funding of proposals."

Upon completing the application process, and submitting a full project proposal the DGM Operational Guidelines includes subsequent steps:

Step 4: Screening of Proposals

Step 5: Review and Selection

Step 6: Notification and Execution of Grant Agreement

Step 7: Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting

Step 8: Completion Reporting