Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation

Request for Proposal – 2019

Goal: Biodiversity Conservation for Sustainable Livelihood

Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation (BTFEC) is an independent grant making organization established under the visionary leadership of His Majesty the fourth King of Bhutan. Since 1997, under the Royal Charter, the funding support from BTFEC to implementing agencies were guided by its successive Strategic Plans. The plans were developed with thorough stakeholder engagement for ensuring that the focus areas are addressing the need of Bhutan’s environment and the Bhutanese citizens in terms of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

The Strategic Plan III (2015 to 2020) had identified three strategic priorities; 1) Funding few core conservation threats; 2) Support population most affected by loss of natural resources; and 3) Collaborate with other institutions to maximize conservation benefits of the BTFEC funding.

In order to develop a clear and focused program to fund critical conservation challenges and engage additional partners in its conservation efforts, BTFEC’s grant making is based on “Request for Proposal” (RFP) and on an Annual Basis. RFP is a systematic approach for BTFEC to provide grants to address Core Conservation Threats, and in achieving BTFEC’s conservation goals thereby contributing to enhancement of livelihood. The priority in RFP were deliberated and validated based on expert views and available data through consultative workshop held in Punakha in December 2018.

The RFP-2019-2020, has three (3) thematic areas on which project proposals can be developed. Under each thematic area, a list of broad guiding framework is recommended that can be used as the basis for proposal development. In-case the proposal development process requires prior consultations and feasibility studies, there is an opportunity to avail “Project Feasibility and Preparatory Grant” (see details of PFPG on the website)

BTFEC will receive proposal for 2019-2020 from 1 January to 30 June 2019. For agencies under Royal Government of Bhutan, proposals should be routed through Gross National Happiness Commission. Non-governmental organizations can submit directly.

Thematic Area I: Water Resource Management and its sustainable utilization

Rationale:
Despite the abundance (109,000 cubic meters per capita per annum) of water resources, many places across the country are facing water shortage. Drying of water sources, catchment degradation, long dry seasons, irregular rains, weak institutional linkages and poor coordination among water agencies, inefficient utilization of water resources are some of the prevailing issues and concerns.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Enhanced watershed management through Integrated Water Resources Management approaches
2. Improved efficiency of water utilization and management through innovative technology

Broad guiding framework:

1. Watershed management through integrated water resource management
2. Strengthening of Water User Association
3. Improve coordination for water resource management, planning and operationalization
4. Innovative technology to harvest and conserve water resource
5. Sustainable water utilization through innovative and climate smart technologies

Thematic Area II. Impacts of Human Wildlife Conflict on rural livelihood

Rationale:
Despite implementing various strategies, human-wildlife continues to be a major problem for the farmers. RNR census 2008 estimates almost 70 percent of the agriculture dependent households to have been affected with wildlife through depredation of crops. Further, IFPRI (2010), reports that annually approximately 126 kg of crops are lost to wild animals by each household. The economic annual loss of crops in the country is equivalent to Nu.91.08 million. A total of 2035 numbers of livestock was depredated from 2002 to 2012. On average 118 animals are depredated annually which results paying up almost Nu. 1.7 million of compensation cost for the lost incurred. On the other hand, retaliation killing of predators emerges as a major issue.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Reduced HWC through integrated HWC approach

Broad guiding framework:

1. Up-scaling the best practices on HWC mitigation and management
2. Wildlife habitat management in HWC hotspots
3. Research & Development on HWC in scattered settlement
4. Capacity building of community and local government on HWC management

Thematic Area III: Poor Waste Management and its implications

Rationale:
Waste management is an emerging environmental issue in Bhutan. Rapid socio-economic development, increasing population and urbanization, the country is seeing an increase in the amount of solid waste generated. More problematically the composition of that waste is shifting from biodegradable to non-biodegradable waste.

Poor waste management practices threaten natural environment through pollution of water, air and the land. Lack of education & awareness among general public, weak institutional linkage and poor coordination among agencies, inadequate and poor infrastructure, weak compliance monitoring on waste management are some of the prevailing issues and concerns.

Expected outcomes:

1. Reduced adverse implications from poor waste management

Broad guiding framework:

1. Waste management through Integrated Waste Management System
2. Waste management infrastructures and services
3. Education & awareness on waste management
4. Community participation and capacity in waste management
5. Strengthen sectoral coordination on waste management, planning and operationalization
6. Up-scale best practices of waste management