Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation

Rationale
BTFEC frequently receive project proposal where the proponent has not put much effort in the proposal development. A proposal without proper feasibility studies, stakeholder consultations and other necessary aspects in project proposal development. Often, these activities come as a part of the main proposal resulting in disapproval of the project.

In order to address such issues, BTFEC has now come up with another funding window where the potential proponents can have access to funds to conduct project feasibility studies, surveys, stakeholder consultations, etc., to ensure that the environmental issues are genuine and the need for a project is important. This fund can also facilitate the proponent in writing quality proposal.

The BTFEC’s Management Board during its 47th meeting held on 5th May 2018, approved the “The Project Feasibility and Preparatory Grant” (PFPG) of Nu. 150,000 (one hundred fifty thousand) only per PFPG to facilitate in the development of a technically sound proposal. The Director is the approving authority of PFPG based on the recommendations from the review committee in BTFEC.

When to access PFPG
All project proposal development may not require PFPG. The PFPG is necessary when a proponent would require to conduct the following:

1. Technical feasibility studies
   • problem identification
   • site identification
   • stakeholder consultations
2. Financial feasibility
   • fund requirement study
   • co-financing
   • community/public contributions
   • Preparation of Environment, Social & Gender safeguards

A proposal is more salable when all the above requirements are complete.

How to access PFPG?
Proponent who wishes to access PFPG should submit the following:

1. Project Concept in the prescribed template as in Annexure I
2. PFPG activity work plan and budget in the prescribed template as in Annexure II

The PFPG activity work plan entails the activities to be conducted for the preparatory phase and expected budget.

Approving Process
The PFPG review committee at BTFEC Secretariat will conduct the following review processes:

Step 1: Review the Project Concept
The review committee will firstly review the Project Concept. If the concept fulfills all the requirements and if the project idea is good, the committee will move to Step 2.

Step 2: Review of PFPG work plan and budget
Based on the Project Concept, the review committee will assess the requirement of the PFPG. The activity plan and its budget requirements will be reviewed and provide recommendations for approval.

Step 3: Approval of PFPG
Based on the recommendations from the review committee, Director will approve or reject the PFPG request.

Flow Chart:
The BTFEC Secretariat shall follow the work flow as depicted in the chart below:

Annexure I: Project Concept Template 
Annexure II: PFPG Activity Template