Thursday, November 12, 2009

Climate Change Grant Extended to November 15

(Para informacion en espanol)

First Peoples Worldwide
recently sent out a call to Indigenous-led NGOs or NGOs working with Indigenous Peoples to complete an application answering questions that show how climate change is impacting the Indigenous community, their local environment, and how the Indigenous Peoples are using traditional knowledge to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

First Peoples will be making one $2,000 grant to an Indigenous community or Indigenous organization to continue their work using traditional knowledge to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

In order to be considered for this grant, you must complete an online survey. Your answers from the survey will be considered by First Peoples Worldwide as your application for this $2,000 grant. All applications must be submitted via the online survey form by November 15, 2009. You must answer all of the questions in the application in order to be considered for a grant. Please note that the questions begin on page 4 and continue through page 7. If you have worked on the survey but did not answer all questions, please re-submit the entire application to or contact Jessica Friswell.

Climate change has many impacts. You might want to share what your community does when there is a drought or when there is too much rain. What does your community do when the seasons come at the wrong time? When the winds change? When crops do not grow? How does your community use traditional knowledge, the wisdom of elders, and other information to solve the problems of climate change? These are some questions to consider in your answers; however, please think beyond these few items when discussing the reality of climate change in your community.

Grant funding must be used to continue work in the areas of climate change within the community as described in the application. Grants will only be made once the winning organizations complete the necessary paperwork required by First Peoples Worldwide.

Your organization must be registered under the laws of your country and have a bank account in order to receive a grant. If your organization is not registered or does not have a bank account, you may partner with a registered local organization to act on your behalf. If your organization does not meet the criteria above, a grant cannot be made. No grants can be awarded for travel to or activities within the United States. Individuals are invited and encouraged to complete the questions to share their thoughts and input; however First Peoples Worldwide cannot make a grant to an individual.

First Peoples Worldwide may use quotes from your application on our website, in funder materials, or in group presentations.

First Peoples Worldwide is holding a Donors' Roundtable that the World Bank has offered to host in Washington, DC on November 18, 2009. The Roundtable will bring together international funders from both the private and public sector. At this Roundtable First Peoples will be launching an Indigenous Peoples Climate Action Fund (IPCAF), which will directly fund Indigenous Peoples and their work using traditional knowledge to adapt to and mitigate climate change.


We hope to share some of the information that has been submitted during our call for applications with the participants at this Roundtable to highlight the benefits of Indigenous Peoples' traditional knowledge as a viable tool for successfully adapting and mitigating climate change. We want to be able to share this powerful Indigenous voice with the Roundtable attendees. I am writing to ask for the community's permission to share pieces of your application at this Roundtable meeting. If you do not wish to have any pieces of your application used during the Roundtable meeting, it will in no way change your community or organization's eligibility for the $2,000 grant.


The purpose of the Roundtable is to generate funding for IPCAF and to educate participants about the successful use of Indigenous Peoples' traditional knowledge in adapting to and mitigating climate change. The purpose of IPCAF is to fund the work of communities toward climate solutions in ways that are culturally and locally appropriate. First Peoples Worldwide will manage the Fund which is important because we are an Indigenous-led organization and our President has over 30 years experience making grants directly to Indigenous communities. First Peoples is working hard and very strategically to divert the global funding streams so they will flow directly to Indigenous organizations. First Peoples is dedicated to equitable funding for our communities and as such we see the need to re-direct these financial resources so our communities can decide what programs they want and who they want to fund them.

First Peoples Worldwide reserves the right not to make a grant if we do not receive any applications. Applications received after November 15, 2009 will not be considered for grants. Not all applicants will be awarded grants.

SURVEY LINK:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=yoWTKMrud7MOMpLzlhRRlw_3d_3d

Please forward this email to others who may be interested in applying.

Please contact Jessica Friswell (jfriswell@firstpeoplesworldwide.org) with any questions.