Accelerator Grants: Community Climate Action for the Reef

Each organisation may only apply to lead one application (including the different streams of funding). You may wish to explore collaboration opportunities or where project ideas could be integrated into a single consolidated application.

In addition to the overall goals outlined in the broader Grant Guidelines, applicants can consider the detail in the Selection Criteria section. The Project rationale, methods and outcomes section references that the project design considers ease of accessibility of actions by the broader community and genuine community mobilisation and leadership. It also outlines that the project has well-defined proposed outcomes for how activities will contribute to tangible climate action for the Reef and social benefits by engaging and mobilising the broader community, including Traditional Owners and youth.  These could include a range of community benefits such as capacity building, wellbeing, social connections.

One stream of this grant round includes delivery of on-ground actions that mitigate climate change and build resilience by protecting, enhancing and restoring coastal habitats (seagrasses, mangroves and other tidal wetlands). Projects applications on adjacent habitats such as creeks or waterways may wish to consider describing how projects on clearly demonstrate the impact on seagrasses, mangroves and other tidal wetlands.

Please emails grants@barrierreef.org to organise a meeting.

There is one application form for the grant round. Content provided should be commensurate with the funding request. For example, ensure that for larger projects there is sufficient information provided to support the funding request.

Including multiple behaviours is within scope. The Grant Guidelines list some possible behaviours, but the grant round is not limited to these.

More information about Community Action Plans can be found here: https://barrierreef.org/what-we-do/reef-trust-partnership/community-reef-protection/community-action-plan#community-action-plan-areas

The Grant Selection Criteria include having a clear rationale, so you may wish to consider clearly outlining why locations are proposed. If flights are critical for project activities and outcomes, then flight offsets for project travel are an eligible expense.

Overhead costs, including for universities, are considered administration (admin) costs. There is a 10% cap on admin budgets for Reef Trust Partnership projects.

All budget items should be clearly outlined and rationalised. There is not a set limit on project management wages for activities that directly deliver on the project. Please note that wages for direct project delivery are distinct from admin, which is capped at 10%. Admin costs include, but are not limited to insurances and audit costs.

Letters of support are not required for the application, but the application will ask for clear roles and responsibilities and contact information. Potential partners may be contacted as part of the assessment process, so we suggest ideas and plans have been thoroughly discussed.

You may wish to outline a clear rationale for your delivery approach so that the Grants panel can understand the reasons behind the approach.

No, this will be discussed with successful applicants. Your deliverables table can outline project specific activities.

Enabling grants are about building readiness. Activities to scope feasibility, undertake technical design, collaborative planning, strategy development or targeted capacity building are within eligibility scope. These activities should offer clear outcomes and build pathways for future work.

No. Project applications may focus on behaviour change, on-ground activities or both. Major projects must include an emissions reduction element.

Reporting includes a financial acquittal using an excel spreadsheet based on the proposed project budget and co-contributions, as well as a Word document with reporting on outcomes, deliverables and some key metrics. Can see some types of measures on the Component dashboard https://barrierreef.org/what-we-do/reef-trust-partnership/community-reef-protection#progress-dashboard

There is no stated limit on project partners. Additional rows can be added to the table in the application listing project partners, as required. Listed partners should be making a clear contribution to the project, with clear project roles.

This is eligible under operating costs as required for safely delivering project activities.

Co-contributions are considered under the Value for Money selection criteria. GBRF encourages projects that demonstrate value for money through the integration of other co-funding or co-investment opportunities, including quantifiable in-kind and cash contributions. Proposed amounts should be realistic and targets will be included for successful contracts.

The goal of this grant round is to accelerate community climate action for the Reef, championed by Traditional Owners, community organisations, local councils, local businesses, and youth. There are few limitations on types of eligible applicants - see Who Can Apply section in the Grant Guidelines.

The panel will assess projects on individual merit, as outlined in the Grant Guidelines and using the selection criteria. You could consider explicitly identifying how separate project applications fit together, if you know of multiple projects in a location. GBRF is supportive of partners having an open dialogue about planning and coordination. Where useful, applicants may also consider bringing project activities together under one application for a place-based approach.

There is no pre-determined allocation for investment across each of the three grant streams. The panel will assess projects on individual merit, as outlined in the Grant Guidelines and using the selection criteria. The panel will review rankings within each of the grant streams and then put forward a recommendation for a suite of projects across the streams for funding.

The Grant Guidelines indicate that projects must deliver activities to improve engagement of the broader community in the protection of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The activities can be lead and enabled by a range of types of organisations and sectors, including Traditional Owners, community organisations, local Councils, local businesses and youth.

While applicants are limited to submitting one application as lead, there are no restrictions on being a collaborator on other applications.

The project design workshops for successful applicants aim to help refine approaches and ideas, and where relevant, identify potential connection points across projects. Ultimately this cohort of projects aims to work with partners to build capacity and readiness in the system, so we may also identify ways to support shared measurement, communications or technical support.

The goal for this grant round is to accelerate community climate action for the Reef. Monitoring can be included as an eligible activity for enabling and measuring on-ground and emissions reduction actions.

GBRF is committed to supporting community-led conservation action. The focus of future opportunities will be shaped by key needs and where GBRF can work with partners to best contribute to outcomes for the Reef and communities.

Enabling grants are about building readiness. Eligible activities include (but are not limited to) scoping and technical design, feasibility assessments, collaborative planning, strategy development, or targeted capacity building that offers clear outcomes and builds pathways for future work.

Yes, GBRF will continue to support meetings to discuss your questions about the grant round. Please email grants@barrierreef.org if you are interested in this opportunity.