Applications awaited for SeyCCAT’s blue grants fund |04 May 2021

The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) has launched the fifth call for proposals under the Blue Grants Fund.

Interested applicants are being invited to submit their project proposals before June 11, 2021 using the online portal at SeyCCAT.com.

This year, the Blue Grants Fund (BGF) 5 is accepting applications from selected types of projects (please consult the request for proposals at SeyCCAT.org for the detailed list) that support one of the four strategic objectives of Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT). Potential applicants are requested to evaluate the relevance of their projects before submitting their proposals:

• Strategic objective 1: Support new and existing marine and coastal protected areas and sustainable use zones
• Strategic objective 2: Empower the fisheries sector with robust science and know-how to improve governance, sustainability, value and market options.
• Strategic objective 4: Develop and implement risk reduction and social resilience plans to adapt to the effects of climate change.
• Strategic objective 5: Trial and nurture business models to secure the sustainable development of Seychelles’ blue economy.

In 2021, the BGF 5 is seeking to disburse R23 million to impactful and innovative local projects that help advance the blue economy, conservation, and climate adaptation agendas in Seychelles. The BGF offers small (up to R100,000), medium (up to R1 million), and large grants (up to R 2 million).

Any locally registered NGO or CSO, businesses, parastatal organisation, government agencies or departments and citizens of Seychelles may submit a proposal, as long as they have legally existed in the Seychelles for a minimum of one year. The deadline for concept notes for the fifth BGF call is June 11, 2021 at 5pm.

Angelique Pouponneau, chief executive of SeyCCAT, said: “As we are entering the post-Covid recovery, we are seeking to disburse even more funds and generate more local impact. To make it happen, we are looking to work with the potential applicants and help them prepare strong project proposals through workshops, application guidelines, and one-on-one sessions. We are also launching the Early Feedback Lab – a friendly challenge board, where peers and former BGF recipients will offer their feedback and suggest ways to improve the project concepts. We strongly encourage all interested applicants to take advantage of the support services,” she added.

New in 2021:

Blue Business Grant

In 2021, the BGF offers a new grant for budding blue entrepreneurs. The Blue Business Grant offers R150,000 that can be used as start-up capital for a brand-new blue business idea. Additionally, the successful applicant will receive business mentorship from the management of a well-established busines in Seychelles.

R2 million grants

This year, the BGF offers large grants of up to R2 million. The large grants follow a two-step application process and specifically targets civil society organisations, including NGOs and academia, government departments and agencies, and parastatals organisations.

To qualify for the large grant, interested applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

• Organisation with significant experience in supporting marine protection.
• Proven capacity (qualification, competence, knowledge, skills and experience) of project team (including partners) to manage and successfully deliver on specified project outcomes and large projects.
• Previous experience and track record in implementing successful projects of R2 million or more.
• Book-keeping and other financial management systems in place

Full details about SeyCCAT, the application process, and the specific request for proposals can be found online at www.seyccat.org. Reach us at info@seyccat.organd follow us on Facebook and Instagram at SeyCCAT for updates.

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 a part of the Seychelles’ Blue Finance approach.

Press release from SeyCCAT

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Do you have an idea of a sustainable blue project?

SeyCCAT’s blue grants fund launches the fifth application window.

SeyCCAT’s Blue Grants Fund (BGF) is a financing facility that supports Seychelles-based sustainable blue projects that contribute to the blue economy and better use of ocean resources. The BGF offers small (up to R100,000), medium (up to R1 million), and large (up to R2 million) grants.

This year, the BGF5 seeks to disburse R23 million to commercial and non-profit local projects. Every Seychellois, Seychelles-based business, parastatal organisation, and a civil society organisation are invited to apply.

How do I apply?

Application for the BGF follows a one-step process for small grants and a two-step process for medium and large grants. At the first step, the applicants need to prepare a concept note that describes the project and its intended impact and estimate the budget that would be needed to make the idea come true. The concept note can be submitted both in Creole and in English language using the online portal at seyccat.org. This year, the deadline for concept note submission is June 11, 2021.

At the second step, successful applicants will be requested to prepare a full project proposal that provides further details.

To support potential applicants, SeyCCAT offers two-day crash courses – in-depth workshops to help you build your application and gain valuable project preparation skills for the future.

All workshops run from 9am to 4pm:  

May 11-12 - Anse Royale, UniSey

May 13-14- Victoria, ICCS

May 18-19 - Praslin, Pension Fund conference room

May 20-21 - La Digue, Island Lodge

 For more information please get in touch at info@seyccat.org, visit seyccat.org and follow SeyCCAT on Facebook and Instagram.

Contributed by SeyCCAT