The Great Ape Conservation Fund provides financial and technical assistance to support effectively implemented site-based ape conservation projects, strengthen the evidence base for ape conservation, and further develop ape conservation capacity in great ape range states.
It is a financial assistance program, which supports projects that deliver measurable conservation results for great apes in Africa and Asia. Pursuing an evidence-based approach, we publish strategic geographical and thematic priorities and application guidelines in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). All proposals go through a rigorous and competitive evaluation process.
Once project support is confirmed, we engage in a partnership with the grantee, providing technical support as needed, communicating on a regular basis, and playing an active role in monitoring and evaluating the project's success. This helps ensure that our limited funding is effective and enables us to improve the impact of the Great Ape Conservation Fund through adaptive management.
FY25 Africa Funding Opportunity - MENTOR-ApeHealth
The Great Ape Conservation Fund – Africa MENTOR-ApeHealth Funding Opportunity seeks proposals for a program to strengthen capacity within Central African ape range states to effectively address great ape and broader wildlife health security issues. A single three-year Cooperative Agreement will be issued, with total funding ranging from $3,000,000 to $5,300,000.
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Requirements
This Funding Opportunity has three objectives:
1. Strengthen the capacity of wildlife veterinary practitioners in Central Africa to address health threats to great apes in the wild.
- The focus of this objective is to develop the capacity of individuals to address great ape health threats.
- Desired results include: (a) individuals demonstrate improved proficiency of veterinary clinical skills; (b) individuals demonstrate an increased working knowledge of public health and other disciplines and their application to great ape health; and (c) individuals demonstrate an increased working knowledge of great ape and broader wildlife conservation and management issues.
2. Strengthen the capacity of academic institutions in Central Africa to address wildlife and great ape health threats.
- The primary focus of this objective is to develop the capacity of one or more institutions to support the development of a workforce poised to address great ape and other wildlife health challenges. Applicants must partner with at least one academic institution in the region (see Geographic Scope below). A secondary focus is to develop capacity of non-academic institutions and organizations engaged as program Mentors.
- Desired results include: (a) capacity of veterinary program(s) at one or more academic institutions to teach wildlife medicine is(are) strengthened; (b) the capacities of non-academic institutions to support wildlife health initiatives are strengthened; (c) students at these institutions are exposed to pathways for applying veterinary skills to addressing great ape and broader wildlife health challenges.
3. Strengthen and sustain the great ape health community through a professional network.
- The focus of this objective is to develop a professional regional network to promote great ape health through exchange of best practices and opportunities for continued learning and growth.
- Desired results include: Individual program Fellows are linked to Mentors and other wildlife conservation and health professionals and institutions through a network that fosters information exchange and support beyond the life of the award. This may include integration into existing great ape, wildlife health, and One Health networks.
Program activities should be implemented within one or more of the following great ape range states: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Eligibility
Applicants may be multi-national secretariats, U.S. and foreign non-profits, non-governmental organizations, community and indigenous organizations, and U.S. and foreign public (non-government entity) and private institutions of higher education.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on February 4, 2025.
1. Carefully read the Notice of Funding Opportunity to determine eligibility.
2. Have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). We recommend beginning this process 30-45 days before the submission deadline.
3. To apply, your organization and organization officials must be established in GrantSolutions. To register your organization in GrantSolutions, send an email to help@grantsolutions.gov. The following information must be included in your email and must match your organization’s SAM.gov entity record:
- Email subject: "New Organization Request"
- Organization/Individual Name
- Point of Contact: first and last name, email, and phone number
- Organization Type
- SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (not required for individuals or Service-waived entities)
- Organization Employer Identification Number (Individual applicants - do NOT include your social security number)
- Address
4. Apply online via Grants.gov.