Up to $1M is available to deliver relevant information on climate change, its impacts and potential adaptation responses.
Background
The Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Planning for Climate Change Fund (NRM Fund) has two streams:
- Stream 1 – $28.9 million funding to help regional NRM organisations plan for climate change impacts by updating existing regional NRM plans. Regional NRM plans provide a mechanism for regional NRM organisations, in consultation with communities, to plan for the long term sustainability of Australia’s natural resources. Stream 1 will be delivered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC); and
- Stream 2 – $15 million for coordination of research to produce regional-level climate change information to support medium term regional NRM and land use planning. Stream 2 will be delivered by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (the Department).
The Impacts and Adaptation Grants Program will provide $8 million (GST exclusive) in funding to research institutions to work with planners in regional NRM organisations to deliver relevant information on climate change, its impacts and potential adaptation responses, and provide guidance on how to use that information in NRM planning. The regional level information generated under the Impacts and Adaptation Grants Program will be a critical input to the updating of the regional NRM plans under Stream 1. Each grant recipient team will need to provide ongoing support to the relevant NRM cluster during the plan update process under Stream 1 of the NRM Fund.
Objectives
The Impacts and Adaptation Grants Program will improve the capacity of regional NRM organisations to plan for climate change.
The Department will engage credible organisations that are able to provide evidence (defined in section 2.3, Eligibility Criteria) that they will deliver projects under this program that will:
- Improve the quality and accessibility of regionally relevant information on climate change impacts and potential adaptation responses available to regional NRM organisations;
- Provide regional NRM organisations with access to expert advice on how to apply climate change information in their planning;
- Encourage local knowledge and experience to be integrated into understanding of climate change impacts, opportunities and potential adaptation responses; and
- Assist regional NRM organisations to plan for the biodiversity impacts of climate change and capitalise on the opportunities provided by the CFI and the Biodiversity Fund to improve the long term resilience of the landscape, communities and agricultural economies.
Funding
Funding for projects under the Impacts and Adaptation Grants Program will commence in 2012-13 and end in 2015-16. This is the only funding round under the Impacts and Adaptation Grants Program. Budgeting is weighted towards the first two years of the program.
Project funding of $500,000 to $1 million (GST exclusive) is available for eligible project costs. Proposals should take into account both the total project funding available and the profile of that funding over the 4 years of the program.
Applicant co-contributions are not required, but may enhance the merit of the project proposals. In- kind contributions must be directly related to the eligible costs of delivering the activities of the project and can include salaries of staff for the time they are involved and other costs incurred for the duration of the project. Contributions (both cash and in-kind) should be listed in the application.
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for funding, the applicant must be a research institution, defined as either:
- a higher education institution;
- a publicly-funded research agency established under Commonwealth or State legislation;
- a research-related organisation that has an affiliation or partnership with a higher education institution; or
- an Australian organisation primarily involved in undertaking research or research related activities.
Cluster Approach
The Australian Government, in association with state and territory governments, recognises 56 NRM regions across Australia based on catchments or bioregions.
For delivery of Stream 2 of the NRM Fund, including the Impacts and Adaptation Grants Program, the 56 regional NRM organisations have been divided into eight ‘clusters’.
It is envisaged that there will be one Impacts and Adaptation research project for each of the eight clusters, with the potential for one or more national projects.
Expert Assistance
Writing a good quality grant application is a critical element in the application process. An application needs to be well thought through, written concisely, have clear objectives and purpose, and show clear links to the objectives of the grant guidelines.
The grant application must answer all questions, provide all required information and respond to the merit criteria. It should also reflect your organisation’s business strategy.
Writing a good application takes time and effort, and requires particular writing skills.
Bulletpoint are expert grant consultants and can assist with all aspects of grant preparation.
Call us on (03) 9005 6789 or email to discuss further.
More Information
The closing date for applications is 2pm AEST, 27 September 2012.
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Research Grants Program Factsheet
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Research Grants Program Guidelines
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Research Grants Program Application Form
