Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)

Charity Number: CUSTOM_FED28FFC

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Quick Stats

  • Total Giving Since 2000: Over $324 million (to 2,700+ organisations)
  • Decision Time: 3-6 months from Letter of Inquiry submission
  • Grant Range: Varies by hotspot; average small grant ~$15,000, average large grant ~$150,000, exceptionally up to $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: International - 25 biodiversity hotspots across 112 countries
  • Key Success Factor: Nearly 50% of proposals are rejected due to poor alignment with call scope

Contact Details

Physical Address:

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund

Conservation International

2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 600

Arlington, VA 22202, USA

Email: cepf@cepf.net

Phone: +1-703-341-2400

Fax: +1-866-733-9162

Website: www.cepf.net

Pre-application Support:

  • Large grants: Contact the Grant Director for the specific biodiversity hotspot
  • Small grants: Contact the Regional Implementation Team (RIT) staff
  • General inquiries: CEPF encourages reaching out before submitting to discuss project ideas

Overview

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) was founded in 2000 as a joint initiative of Conservation International, l'Agence Française de Développement, the European Union, Fondation Hans Wilsdorf, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, and the World Bank. Through grants totalling more than $324 million to over 2,700 civil society organisations in 112 countries, CEPF has taken action to conserve more than 1,300 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and strengthened management of 55.8 million hectares of Key Biodiversity Areas. CEPF's mission is to protect the world's biodiversity hotspots—biologically rich ecosystems that are essential to humanity, yet highly threatened—by empowering civil society in developing countries and transitional economies. The fund has supported more than 2,500 grantees worldwide, ranging from local community groups to international NGOs. Recent strategy shifts emphasise ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, with the Green Climate Fund providing $38 million in 2020 for ecosystem-based climate adaptation work in the Indian Ocean Islands (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles). CEPF uses Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) as the lens for selecting geographic priorities, investing in 25 of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Grant Thresholds and Amounts:

Grant thresholds vary by biodiversity hotspot and specific call for proposals. Examples include:

  • Indo-Burma: Small grants up to $40,000; large grants $40,000-$250,000
  • Tropical Andes: Small grants $5,000-$50,000; large grants $50,001-$250,000
  • Central Asia (some regions): Small grants up to $20,000

Average Grant Sizes:

  • Small grants: approximately $15,000
  • Large grants: approximately $150,000
  • Exceptional cases: up to $500,000

Small Grants:

  • No full proposal required—Letter of Inquiry serves as complete application
  • Managed by Regional Implementation Teams (RITs)
  • Application method: Online portal or email during open calls (6-8 weeks)
  • Decision timeline: 3-6 months after call closes

Large Grants:

  • Two-stage process: Letter of Inquiry, then full proposal if invited
  • Applicants typically have 2 months to submit full proposal if invited
  • Application method: Online portal (ConservationGrants) during open calls

Application Schedule: Fixed calls for proposals, each open 6-8 weeks, multiple cycles per hotspot. All calls posted at www.cepf.net/grants/open-calls-for-proposals

Priority Areas

CEPF funding is guided by ecosystem profiles—analyses of biodiversity and socioeconomic conditions in each hotspot, produced in consultation with local and national stakeholders. Priority activities include:

  • Biodiversity conservation in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)
  • Species protection for IUCN Red List threatened species
  • Community-based conservation empowering Indigenous peoples and local communities
  • Protected area establishment and management (17.1 million hectares of new protected areas created)
  • Sustainable agriculture and natural resource management
  • Gender mainstreaming in conservation
  • Ecosystem-based climate adaptation
  • Wildlife trafficking reduction
  • Conservation assessments, training, awareness raising, management planning

Each biodiversity hotspot has specific strategic directions outlined in its ecosystem profile, which applicants must align with closely.

What They Don't Fund

CEPF explicitly prohibits funding for:

  • Use of child labour or forced labour
  • Construction or rehabilitation of large or complex dams
  • Payment of salaries or salary supplements to government security personnel
  • Purchase of firearms or other weapons
  • Physical resettlement of people (voluntary or involuntary)
  • Purchase of land
  • Projects outside active CEPF biodiversity hotspots
  • Projects submitted outside open calls for proposals
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Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Olivier Langrand (joined 2015)

  • Previously: Director of Global Affairs at Island Conservation (3 years); 11 years with Conservation International; 14 years with WWF in Madagascar and Central Africa

Key Leadership Quote from Olivier Langrand:

"We have to challenge ourselves and each other every day to rethink the way we live and what we can do to conserve nature. That's what you all are doing and we are very proud of the hard work."

On CEPF's approach: “The CEPF grants will enable groups to build and apply local knowledge and skills to address the biodiversity crisis and climate challenges. This local conservation leadership will guide the people of the Caribbean Islands in protecting their unique nature and the services it provides.”

On climate priorities: “Climate change is already making a significant impact on this region, contributing to drought, exacerbating hunger, and driving human migration that results in the destruction of biodiverse ecosystems at a time when communities need nature the most. This funding will empower communities to conserve natural areas that provide fresh water, food and shelter from climate extremes.”

Organisational Structure:

  • CEPF Secretariat: Staff based at Conservation International headquarters in Arlington, Virginia
  • Regional Implementation Teams (RITs): Selected through competitive grant process for each biodiversity hotspot; provide strategic leadership, manage small grants, conduct outreach, build partnerships, and support capacity development of civil society organisations

How to Apply to Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (cepf)

How to Apply

  1. Full Proposal (Large Grants Only): If invited, submit complete proposal via ConservationGrants portal (typically 2-month deadline)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Organisation must have legal personality independent of government
  • Must be legally registered and eligible to receive charitable contributions under national laws
  • Must have own bank account
  • Project must be located in active CEPF biodiversity hotspot
  • Civil society organisations of all sizes eligible: farmers' cooperatives, community groups, Indigenous peoples organisations, universities, NGOs, small businesses

Decision Timeline

  • Call period: 6-8 weeks
  • Decision notification: 3-6 months after call closes
  • Small grants: Applicants notified of funding decision
  • Large grants: Applicants notified if invited to submit full proposal

Understanding Rejection Rates

CEPF Managing Director Jack Tordoff provides this critical insight:

"Nearly 50 percent of the proposals reviewed were rejected simply because they didn't fit the scope of the call."

This indicates that alignment with the ecosystem profile and call requirements is the single most important factor for success. Proposals that align well with the call have significantly better chances.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented on CEPF's website. Applicants are encouraged to contact CEPF staff or Regional Implementation Teams directly to inquire about resubmission opportunities for unsuccessful proposals.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from CEPF's “12 Tips for Getting Your Grant Idea Funded”

  1. Read the Ecosystem Profile: "Nearly 50 percent of the proposals I've reviewed were rejected simply because they didn't fit the scope of the call." Focus on investment strategy and programme focus.
  1. Be Specific: “Successful applicants set out the tangible results that they expect to see.” Clearly define work location, how funds will be used, expected achievements, and timeline.
  1. Consult Other Stakeholders: Get buy-in from local authorities, communities, and governments. Involve all relevant parties in project planning.
  1. Start Small: “Start with something achievable.” Begin with a modest project and smaller budget to build relationship with CEPF staff.
  1. Pick a Project You're Passionate About: “When people are passionate, you feel it.” Enthusiasm matters more than perfect technical details.
  1. Be Realistic: “We want small, good ideas.” Don't overpromise; understand your own capabilities.
  1. Solicit Feedback: “A good proposal is not the proposal of one person!” Have colleagues review; consult local experts and community members.
  1. Consider Your Audience: Explain your project clearly. Don't assume reviewers know local context. Translate your terms to match the grant's perspective.
  1. Get to the Point: “Give me a good idea, make it clear and tell me where it is.” Be succinct and focus on clear, concise communication.
  1. Think Beyond the Grant: Demonstrate long-term sustainability. Show how project impacts will continue after funding ends.
  1. Explain Your Qualifications: Clearly articulate why your organisation is best suited. Provide evidence of expertise or community connection.
  1. Talk with CEPF: "We're here to help." Reach out for guidance and advice using available contact methods.

Examples of Funded Projects

  • Mangrove and Crab Management (Wallacea): Salanggar Association worked with fishermen from three villages to manage mangrove ecosystems and ensure sustainability of crab harvests
  • Sustainable Agriculture (Western Ghats, India): Nature Conservation Foundation and Rainforest Alliance catalysed adoption of sustainable practices in tea and coffee estates
  • Fish Conservation (Mekong): WWF Greater Mekong Programme established nine fish conservation zones along the Mekong River
  • Gender Mainstreaming (Cerrado, Brazil): Action Aid and Ecologia e Ação organised women in associations, cooperatives, and networks to address gender issues
  • Wildlife Trafficking Reduction: 61 projects totalling $6.3 million focused on reducing wildlife trafficking

Common Reasons for Rejection

  • Poor alignment with ecosystem profile (50% of rejections)
  • Projects outside CEPF's geographic focus areas
  • Lack of specificity about location, activities, and outcomes
  • Unrealistic project scope or timeline
  • Insufficient stakeholder consultation
  • Missing demonstration of organisational capacity
  • Vague sustainability plans

Tips for Standing Out

  • Demonstrate strong local community engagement and support
  • Show clear alignment with specific strategic directions in the ecosystem profile
  • Provide evidence of your organisation's track record and community connections
  • Include concrete, measurable outcomes
  • Articulate long-term sustainability beyond the grant period
  • Use language and terminology from the ecosystem profile
  • Consult with RIT staff or Grant Directors before submitting

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Ecosystem Profile is Essential: Read it thoroughly. 50% of rejections stem from misalignment—this is the most critical success factor
  • Relationship Building Matters: Contact CEPF staff before applying. They welcome consultation and want to help strengthen proposals
  • Small Grants Build Credibility: Consider starting with a small grant to establish relationship and demonstrate capacity before pursuing larger funding
  • Geographic Specificity Required: Projects must be in active CEPF biodiversity hotspots. Check current calls for eligible countries
  • Community-Driven Approach: CEPF prioritises local civil society leadership, Indigenous peoples, and community-based organisations
  • Sustainability is Key: Demonstrate how conservation impacts will continue beyond the grant period
  • Climate Adaptation Priority: Recent strategic emphasis on ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change—integrate climate resilience into proposals where relevant
  • Be Concise and Clear: Grant reviewers want “small, good ideas” presented clearly, not overly complex proposals
  • Grant Thresholds Vary: Always check the specific call for proposals for your hotspot—grant amounts and thresholds differ by region

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