Open Rivers Programme for restoration of River Flow and Biodiversity

Deadline: 4 April 2024

The Open Rivers Programme offers grants to support projects that lead to the removal of small dams and the restoration of river flow and biodiversity.

The programme is particularly interested in supporting dam removal projects that will enable at least 10 km of river to flow freely again.

Grant Categories

Category A grants: Programme-supported dam removals
- These grants will support a range of interventions that lead to the removal of small dams in catchments that offer the highest potential for river restoration and ecosystem recovery.
- Category A is divided into four subcategories. Please ensure that you apply for the grant most applicable to your project.
  - Category A1 Barrier identification and prioritisation
    - Supporting the identification and strategic selection of small dams that could later be removed via a grant (A4) from the programme. If it does not exist already, an important output of the grant should be an inventory of barriers (including location, height, width, photos, field verification). These grants may also support outreach to the local community to explore removal potential.
  - Category A2 Pre-demolition work
    - Supporting the development of essential work required to prepare for removing a small dam supported by the programme, for example, feasibility studies, preparation of technical design documents, and securing permissions and permits.
  - Category A3 Dam removal (demolition)
    - Demolition of a barrier. No pre-demolition work is required/pre-demolition work is already funded by a third party.
  - Category A4 Dam removal (demolition)
    - Demolition of a barrier. Pre-demoliton work previously funded by the programme.
Category B grants: Enabling others to remove dams
- This grant will support pre-demolition work when funding for the dam removal (demolition) can be sourced from an alternative funder.
- Category B Pre-demolition work Supporting the development of essential work required to prepare for the removal of a dam, for example, feasibility studies, preparation of technical design documents, and securing permissions and permits. Completing the work will result in the dam being removed by a third party.
- The only difference from Category A2 grants is that the programme does not support demolition as another source already funds it (or will fund it). The early research indicated that it was sometimes possible to secure funds for demolition but not for pre-demolition work. This was holding back the ability of some river managers to remove a dam.

Duration

Category A grants: Programme-supported dam removals
- The programme runs a 9-month grant cycle for category A1, A2 and A3 grants.
Category B grants: Enabling others to remove dams
- The programme runs a 9-month grant cycle for category B grants

Eligibility Criteria

Category A grants: Programme-supported dam removals
- They recognise that projects often involve various partners and contributors, including NGOs, government, academia, the private sector, community groups and individuals. They welcome and encourage applications from diverse consortiums and collaborations. However, they have specific criteria for who can be a coordinating partner.
- A coordinating partner is the applicant to the programme, and they will take the lead in managing the project. They will receive and manage the grant finances, sign a grant contract with the programme, and take responsibility for the effective delivery of the project. They will usually be based in the country of implementation. Non-resident coordinating organisations must justify their role as essential, e.g. there is no suitable national coordinating organisation in the implementing country.
- The following organisations may apply to the programme for Category A:
  - A charitable organisation. (All)
  - An organisation with not-for-profit status. (All)
  - Public sector entity (A3 Only)
  - Charitable organisations and organisations with a not-for-profit status can apply to all grant types.
Category B grants: Enabling others to remove dams
- They recognise that pre-demolition works projects can involve a diverse range of project partners and contributors spanning NGOs, government, academia, and private sectors, as well as community groups and individuals. They welcome and encourage applications from diverse consortiums and collaborations. However, they have specific criteria for who can be a coordinating partner.
- A coordinating partner is the applicant to the programme, and they will take the lead in managing the project.
- They will receive and manage the grant finances, sign a grant contract with the programme, and take responsibility for the effective delivery of the project. They will usually be based in the country of implementation. Non-resident coordinating organisations must justify their role as essential, e.g. there is no suitable national coordinating organisation in the implementing country.
- The following organisations may apply to the programme for Category B:
  - A charitable organisation.
  - An organisation with not-for-profit status
  - Public sector entity.