Biodiversity and Resilience Activity | 72049224RFA00003

Opportunity Information: Apply for 72049224RFA00003

The Biodiversity and Resilience Activity is a USAID/Philippines funding opportunity focused on conserving biodiversity while also strengthening climate adaptation and mitigation efforts across the Philippines. The program is designed to operate at both national and subnational scales, with the idea that long-term conservation and climate results are more likely to last if they are built into government systems, supported by practical financing and incentives, and demonstrated through real-world action in priority areas. In practice, this means the activity is not only about on-the-ground conservation work, but also about improving the policies, institutions, and coordination needed to scale and sustain nature-based solutions over time.

A core feature of the activity is its three-level approach. First, at the national level, the activity will support development and improvement of policies, plans, institutional capacity, and mechanisms that can be replicated elsewhere in the country. This level is meant to strengthen enabling conditions: clearer rules, better incentives, stronger government capacity, and systems for learning and knowledge management that help successful approaches spread beyond a single project site. Second, at the subnational level (provincial), the activity will support strategic programming and implementation of conservation actions, helping translate national priorities into provincial plans and programs that can actually be implemented and monitored. Third, in selected subnational geographies, the activity will demonstrate innovative conservation and climate actions in specific landscapes and seascapes, serving as proof-of-concept sites where new approaches can be tested, refined, and then scaled to other areas.

The opportunity emphasizes collaboration with key Philippine government institutions involved in environment, climate, finance, agriculture, governance, trade, and justice. Expected government counterparts include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Climate Change Commission (CCC), Department of Finance (DoF), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Justice (DoJ), among others. The intended scope of engagement spans policy and planning work, creation or strengthening of incentive mechanisms, livelihood support linked to conservation outcomes, knowledge management systems, and capacity building. The activity also explicitly includes implementing and monitoring nature-based solutions at both national and subnational levels, signaling that measurement, reporting, and learning will be important alongside implementation.

From a funding and administrative perspective, this is a discretionary opportunity administered by USAID-Manila under a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement and collaboration with USAID during implementation (as opposed to a more hands-off grant). The opportunity number is 72049224RFA00003 under CFDA 98.001 (Foreign Assistance). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, indicating that a wide range of applicant types may apply, subject to the requirements in the full solicitation. USAID expects to make one award, with an award ceiling of $46,000,000, suggesting a single, large implementer (often a consortium led by one prime) responsible for coordinating national policy support, provincial programming, and site-based demonstration work under one integrated activity.

Key dates included in the notice indicate the opportunity was created on June 4, 2024, with an original closing date of August 16, 2024. Overall, the Biodiversity and Resilience Activity is structured to link national reforms and capacity-building with provincial implementation and targeted demonstration sites, aiming to produce conservation outcomes that also contribute to climate resilience and emissions-related benefits through nature-based solutions, while building systems and incentives that can keep those gains going after the award ends.

• The Philippines USAID-Manila in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biodiversity and Resilience Activity" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $46,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

Apply for 72049224RFA00003

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: