CFAs: Promoting Sustainable Development through UNESCO’s Programmes and Sites

This year, 5 new sites will be selected by the UNESCO and the Advisory Board of the project. Eligible UNESCO sites are Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks, and Natural and Mixed World Heritage sites located in the Europe and North America region. Sites under the direct purview of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe will be prioritised.

The application for funding will need to focus on 3 main expected results within the selected sites: 1) the promotion of scientific research activities in the areas of biodiversity, water, earth sciences, ocean, climate change and disasters linked with UNESCO priorities; 2) the promotion of education for sustainable development, water education and ocean literacy; 3) the innovative solutions within the sites, involving key stakeholders, such as local businesses, NGOs and youth.

Sites will be working closely with UNESCO for the implementation of the 3 expected results on the ground. In particular, UNESCO will work with the selected sites to ensure the work proposed is linked closely to UNESCO priorities (notably MAB, IHP, IGGP and IOC) and is scalable at regional and global levels. UNESCO will also collaborate with the communities involved in the activities (for example with the schools).

In addition, the selected sites of each year will have the opportunity to exchange and support each other throughout the 3-year project. Sites will be invited to present the results of their activities to UNESCO and the aCF, as well as at international events.

Eligible Topics

• Biodiversity and Sustainability (MAB-related)
• Water (IHP-related)
• Earth Sciences (IGGP-related)
• Ocean (IOC-related)
• Climate Change and disasters (Crosscutting)

Funding Information

• The selected sites will receive funding from the project to implement activities under the 3 expected results for a total amount of up to 25,000 USD per site (of which approx. 15,000 USD for research and 5,000 USD each for the other 2 components).
• The selected sites will need to provide a detailed budget with itemized costs and an implementation plan.

Expected Results

• The project will focus on 3 components/expected results:
  • Expected result 1: promoting research applied and applicable in UNESCO designated sites related to SDGs 6, 13, 14 and 15 and MAB, IHP, IGGP and IOC priority areas, notably biodiversity and sustainability, geoscience, water, the ocean, the climate and disasters. Priority will be given to research scalable at ecosystem level, regionally and globally.
  • Expected result 2: promoting and implementing Education for Sustainable Development, water education, climate change education or ocean literacy in UNESCO designated sites. Activities should be developed closely with upper primary/ lower secondary schools located in the site with the capacity to adapt and implement UNESCO guidelines/methodologies.
  • Crosscutting Expected result 3: Innovative ‘green’ and ‘blue’ smart and technological solutions for sustainable development and climate change linked to Expected Result 1 developed with key stakeholders in the site, notably the private sector and the civil society (notably youth), scalable at ecosystem, regional and global level.

What the project is providing?

• An inestimable opportunity for joint action to promote sustainable development and tackle the climate crisis on the ground, and to significantly help contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
• Support the selected sites to conduct research, promote education and innovative activities that can be scaled up to the global level.
• The opportunity for the selected sites to exchange and support each other throughout the project and connect with the MAB, IHP and IOC communities.

Eligible Sites

• Eligible UNESCO sites are Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks, and Natural and Mixed World Heritage sites.
• The project will work through a total of 15 sites in 3 years. Each year, UNESCO and the Advisory Board of the project will select 5 sites at the beginning of each one-year cycle. Each selected site will be expected to work on all 3 expected results and to focus on one topic throughout the project (for example, if the chosen topic is biodiversity, the site will implement research, education and innovative solutions dedicated to biodiversity).
• For this third-year cycle of the project, sites must be located in the Europe and North America region. Sites under the direct UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe will be prioritised. Multi-designated areas, i.e. areas having obtained more than one UNESCO designation will be considered favourably. Two sites (such as a Global Geopark and a Biosphere Reserve) that are situated in a same geographical area may also decide to submit a joint proposal.

Eligibility Criteria

• The application will be judged against the following criteria:
  • Completeness of Application form duly filled, dated, stamped and signed by the relevant managing authority(ies)
  • Proven capacity of the project proposed to achieve all the 3 expected results notably in relation to the chosen topic within a 12-month timeframe:
    • For the research expected result, demonstrated cooperation with a university or a research centre situated within or very close to the site(s) with proven expertise in relation to the chosen research topic (for example an existing EU-funded project, a nationally funded project or a PhD or master’s thesis). Relation with a UNESCO Chair or Centre is an advantage;
    • For the education expected result, previous cooperation with schools within or close to the site with experience working on sustainability, biodiversity, water, climate change or ocean literacy. Participation of UNESCO ASPnet schools is an advantage;
    • For the crosscutting innovation expected result, demonstrated cooperation with key stakeholders in the private sector or civil society (such as local administrations, NGOs, local businesses) with capacity to carry out innovative projects related to the chosen topic. Involvement of youth groups is an advantage;
  • Quality and relevance of the application and coherence between the 3 expected results:
    • For the research expected result: scientific originality, use of scientific methodology, potential for development of new scientific knowledge, link to MAB/IHP/IGGP/IOC priority areas and SDGs 6, 13, 14 and 15, involvement of universities, research partners, and PhD students;
    • For the education expected result: innovative approach to promote water/ESD/climate change education/ocean literacy, proposed use of existing UNESCO guidelines and tools such as ESD and ocean literacy toolkits, capacity of the education partners and schools to implement activities, link to research expected result and to MAB/IHP/IOC priority areas and SDGs 6, 13, 14 and 15;
    • For the innovation crosscutting expected result: innovative proposal on green/blue smart and technological solutions, link to research and education components, identification of key stakeholders in the project, notably private sector, civil society, and youth;
    • Good balance of the activities between the 3 expected results;
  • Properly structured and detailed budget with itemised costs;
  • Clear implementation plan;
  • Scalability of the 3 expected results within UNESCO global networks;
  • Demonstrated ecosystem value of the proposal (coastal/island/Mediterranean; mountain; forest; agriculture; river basin; hydrogeological resources, wetland/Ramsar, Natura2000);
  • Demonstrated impacted climatic zone;
  • Consideration of youth and gender dimensions in the proposal is an advantage;
  • Involvement and engagement with UNESCO site stakeholders;
  • Consideration of interdisciplinary approaches is an advantage;
  • Geographical location: within Europe and North America, with priority to applicants from countries under the purview of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe;
  • Forming an inter-regional consortium to apply with the sites in the region of Europe and North America (ENA) would be encouraged for the sites beyond the region of ENA.

For more information, visit UNESCO.