SeyCCAT announces recipients of large grants under 4th cycle of the Blue Grants Fund |11 May 2021
The board of SeyCCAT has finalised the selection of the large grants (up to R1 million) recipients under the fourth funding cycle of the Blue Grants Fund (BGF).
This year, the BGF received 60 applications for the large grants for a total amount of R52,736,874.76. Eighteen applicants have been invited to submit their full project proposals, and of those, five final applicants have been recommended for the board’s approval, with the total requested funds of R4,990,029.
The five successful applicants are:
1. ElectriSEAtySesel 2030. This project proposes to assess the potential of marine energy for electricity production that can be extracted from wave, mapping of water characteristics around 3 inner islands and long-term observation network for SMA and share data to government MDAs.
Submitted by Seychelles Energy Commission
Grant value: R1 million
2. High-resolution 2D / 3D coastal mapping and monitoring using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry techniques on the island of Mahé
Submitted by Jonathan Pinchart
Grant value:R999,955
3. Communication for Change (Comm4Change - C4C) Production of communication tools about Aldabra and good practices of marine protected areas.
Submitted by Seychelles Island Foundation
Grant value: R1 million
4. Research and Development of Hatchery Culture of the Tropical Echinoderm HOLOTHURIA SCABRA and HOLOTHURIA sp. "PENTARD" in the Republic of Seychelles for the consequent application in Commercial Production and Novel Pharmaceutical substances and medicines.
Submitted by Harmony Investments
Grant value: R999,534.80
5. Feasibility study to determine the economic viability to operate a rock-oyster farm for commercial purposes in Seychelles
Submitted by Jacques Belle
Grant value: R999,500
In addition to the large grants, the BGF has received 15 small/medium (up to R100,000) applicants of a total of R1,467,993. Of those, seven have been approved by the board with a total of R781,993. Composition of the grantees include: 1 Non-governmental organisation (Wise Ocean Seychelles) and 7 individuals (Sheena Talma, Robert Mondon, Susan Ansell, Marcus Valentin, Mariette Dine & Laura Valentino).
Through the Blue Grants Fund, SeyCCAT offers the Seychellois community a chance to finance sustainable blue project ideas. The fund offers small/medium grants up to R100,000, or large grants between R100,000 and R1,000,000. This year, the Trust received a record 75 applications with a total requested value of R53 million. For many applicants it was the first experience with crafting a grants request submission.
Angelique Pouponneau, the chief executive of SeyCCAT, said: “This year has been record-breaking for the Blue Grants Fund. Despite the global pandemic and primarily using digital mode, we have received nearly twice more applications. We are happy to see the numbers growing as these projects will contribute to the post-Covid recovery and the building back better agenda. The pandemic has clearly showed that Seychelles needs to shift to a more diversified model with a strong private sector. The economic model that is also sustainable and climate resilient, because pandemic or not, climate is still changing, and the strategic priorities remain at the top of our agenda. The BGF offers crucial financing to act on these ambitions,” she added.
Full details about SeyCCAT and the Blue Grants Fund can be found online at www.seyccat.org. Currently, SeyCCAT is accepting applications for the Blue Grants Fund 5. Apply before June 11.
About SeyCCAT
SeyCCAT is a conservation and climate adaptation trust fund, with a mandate to provide a sustainable flow of funds to support the long-term management and expansion of the Seychelles system of marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and other activities that contribute to sustainable development.
The Blue Grants Fund offers grants to impactful Seychellois-led projects that advance marine conservations, sustainable fisheries, development of new and existing MPAs, and select other blue sectors. Alongside the Blue Investment Fund managed by the Development Bank of Seychelles, the BGF is part of the Seychelles’ Blue Finance approach.
Contributed by SeyCCAT