French-French Global Environment Facility
Grants in themes of biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, persistent organic pollutants, and ozone depletion – focusing mainly in Africa and the Mediterranean region
Principal Office: France
The FFEM (Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial) adds financial resources to the French government’s contribution to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The aim is to promote environmental protection in developing and transitional countries. The FFEM is administered through the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Developpement).
Program areas in FFEM are in parallel with those of GEF worldwide.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
1 — Mainstream Projects. Most of FFEM’s mainstream grants are to international and regional foundations and NGOs, French entities for international R&D, national and regional development banks, and national and regional government organizations.
Eligibility is unspecified except in terms of “any effective organization.” Most grants range from €500 thousand to over €2 million (subject to co-financing requirements).
APPLICATION: Grant seekers apply through any one of the six French institutional members of FFEM to discuss project ideas. The process begins with a pre-identification note (concept note), and continues through subsequent stages of project proposal and review. FFEM’s Secretariat reviews the project’s eligibility, and successful draft projects are further studied by a Scientific and Technical Committee. The most promising project ideas proceed to a detailed appraisal.
2 — Small-Scale Initiatives Program (PPI). This is to support projects of biodiversity protection and the fight against climate change in West Africa, Central Africa, Mozambique, and Madagascar. Eligible applicants are national and local NGOs in the eligible African countries; and international NGOs working on behalf of local non-registered NGOs.
Grants are a maximum of €50 thousand, and they average about €35 thousand.
APPLICATION: The PPI operates through calls for proposals.
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
Worldwide
Note: In principle, activities in all developing countries are eligible for FFEM’s mainstream grants. In practice, FFEM focuses its mainstream projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterranean region, and a few countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
FFEM’s website is available in French and English.
The FFEM’s Small-Scale Initiatives Program is managed jointly with the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
FFEM provides a database of its projects.
March 2021