FINAL
Selection criteriafor “Push Projects”
And Template.
Global MPA Action Agenda 2017-2020
Content
1. Push Projects as part of the MPA Action Agenda
Box 1. Definition of a push project
How to submit a push project?
2. Preconditions and main criteria
Preconditions
Leading criteria
Preferred criteria related to the larger strategic marine programme
Annex I. Proposal format
1. Push Projects as part of the MPA Action Agenda
Marine Protected Areas or MPAs are an important instrument in the ocean protection toolbox, for achieving habitat and species protection and restoration, and with the potential of leading to increased food security and sustainable livelihoods, providing longer-term benefits, especially to ocean-dependent communities. MPAs can either be used as stand-alone protection measures but are most effective when used in networks and as part ofa larger scope zoning processes (e.g. MSP).
The need for MPA establishment has been recognized internationally by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)in 2010 and a target of at least 10% of effectively and equitably managed protected marine and coastal areas by 2020 has been set and agreed upon.Until now the progress towards this target has been very slow (5.1 % ocean protected to date). To accelerate MPA establishment,the MPA Action Agenda aimsatto support the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Target 11 and the Sustainable Development Goal 14’s Target 14.5.One avenue for that is to provide strategic support (financial, technical or communication) to help remove major impediments (e.g. financial needs, legislation frames, management capacity or plans, political will) to the establishment of MPAs in priority regions.
The so-called ‘push projects’funded by WWF Netherlands, are part of a broader effort that the MPA Action Agenda is undertaking for leveraging financial support for MPAs worldwide. The team will develop a portfolio of MPA projects to share with donors, and will also lead and contribute to development of proposals to expand capacity and resources for MPAs.
Box 1. Definition of a push project
A push project is not a stand-alone project, but relates to a larger strategic marineprogramme, andis targeted on overcoming a significant technical or political barrier or impediment to the declaration or management effectiveness of an MPA or network of MPAs. A push project has a relative short timeline (maximum 1 year) and limited budget (EUR 10,000-20,000).
The MPA Action Agenda will support a set of push projects in the period of 2017-2020 that could serve as a case study and that could provide stories as well as “laboratories” for trialing innovative and replicable solutions. A push projectshowspotential for replication and magnification and helps to demonstrate that:
-MPAs are beneficial for ecosystems, food security and have a socio-economic and cultural value;
-MPA establishment benefitsfrom the involvement of different stakeholders, private and public;
-Sustainable funding mechanisms can be created for proper management and monitoring;
-Foster data collection and sharing to enable global analyses of MPA trends and contributions to sustainable development.
How to submit a push project?
The MPA Action Agenda has a limited budget for push project funding, which allows funding of 4-5 projects annually, open to WWF, Conservation International and Rare offices and their partner organizations such as Blue Ventures. Additional to this, the MPA Action Agenda compiles a portfolio of push projects to be presented to donors for funding matches.
Push project proposals can be submitted during the whole duration of the programme, but preferably in the first two years (2017-2020). Organizations eligible to submit proposals are invited to share any push project candidate with the MPA Action Agenda team by sending in a push project proposal, or by contacting the team. For more information about the MPA Action Agenda, check out our website
2. Preconditions and main criteria
Preconditions
/Leading criteria
A push project: / A push project:- addresses at least one of the leading criteria (see right column).
- Is identified as an important step towards the removal of a regional bottleneck and/or towards acceleration of the creation or expansion of an MPA.
- Is part of a larger strategic marine programme related to MPA establishment or management in the region, and increases the impact of and/or adds value to that programme.
- Has results/outcomes that can be made visible, add to understanding/awareness.
- Has ahigh probability of success.
Preferred criteria related to the larger strategic marine programme
The programme:
- relates to WWF/CI/Rare priority place or priority species;
- links to food security and livelihoods;
- demonstrates strong involvement and support by local communities;
- integrates fisheries management and spatial protection;
- favours existing partnerships, with NGOs, governments, sectors, and/or scientific institutions;
- has leverage capacity: it can be an example/model to other programmes (potential for replication).
- Integrates MPAs into the broader Integrated Ocean Management context (e.g. through Marine Spatial Planning)
Annex I. Proposal format
Push project proposal application to Global MPA Action Agenda
(Max. 4 pages)
I.SUMMARY
Push project titleTitle of the larger strategic marine programme[1]
Organisation/applicant
Existing partners
Geographic focus
Thematic focus
Starting date
Duration
Total budgetof larger strategic marineprogramme
Donors involved
Requested funds to Global MPA Action Agenda
MPA/MMA name
Area coverage (m2 or km2)
II. BACKGROUNDS
-A brief introduction to the current ecological and socio-economic situation related to the geographic region and beneficiaries of the larger strategic marine programme. Indicate the starting date, duration, objectives and budget of this larger programme;
-Describe the problem or critical issue/bottleneck which the proposal seeks to resolve and its urgency and how thispush project relates to a larger programme (see definition push projects, chapter 1).
III. OBJECTIVES
-Indicate biodiversityobjectives that will be supported by the implementation of the push project as part of the larger strategic marine programme;specifically indicate how the push project helps increase the total MPA area and improve MPA management;
-Indicate advocacy objectives, partnerships and communication of the push project;
-Discuss whether activities of thispush project or the larger strategic marine programme can be copied to other locations.
IV. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Project team
-Describe team and their relevant experience and capabilities;
-Describe partners if applicable and the relevance of them being part of the project;
-Type and level of resources.
Project activities and workplan
-Describing main activities per objective, if applicable with sub activities;
-Indicate responsible team members and partners per activity;
-Indicate timelines.
-Specify the Marine Protected Area(MPA) or Marine Managed Area (MMA) the push project will focus on and the area coverage.
V. PROJECT RESULTS AND REPORTING
Expected project outcomes
-Link to the objectives described under paragraph II;
-Describing the probability of success of the push project;
-Indicating the links with other outcomes of the larger strategic marine programme and other projects/organisations that can magnify the impact of the project.
Monitoring/reporting
-Describing how the outcomes will be measured SMART;
-Describing the reporting formats and frequency (6 month compulsory reporting requirement).
VI. BUDGET
-Showing the total budget and its breakdown (i.e. salaries, third party fees, office, field activities).
September 2017.
[1]to which the push project relates