Building Resilience in coastal India: new MFF India SG projects selection

The NCB subcommittee (represented by IUCN, UNDP, MSSRF, BOBP-IGO, SMDRI, Tata Chemicals), chaired by Member Secretary NCB India, tasked with evaluating and shortlisting the recieved concept notes, met on 24 April to finalise their recommendations; the list of 10 recommended projects was subsequently approved at the 11^th NCB meeting on 24 May.

MFF India facilitated a Project Cycle Management (PCM) workshop for the 10 prospective grantees in New Delhi on 4 and 5 July. The objectives of the workshop were to familiarize them with the principles of logframe thinking and results-based budgeting, as well as MFF programs of work and crosscutting themes like climate change adaption, gender equality, knowledge management and communications. The course was conducted in English, and translated, when necessary into Hindi and Tamil, by Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala  (Programme Manager, MFF), Dr. N.M. Ishwar (Coordinator, MFF India) and Ms. Nisha D’Souza (Small Grants Officer, MFF India). Ms. Ruchi Pant (Programme Manager, UNDP, and NCB India member) addressed the participants briefly to explain the project selection process, the importance of PCM trainings and the significance of the Small Grants Programme in contributing to the overall conservation and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems in India.

The final proposals are under evaluation by the NCB for contracting under Cycle III of the MFF India Small Grant Programme; 5 projects will be taken forward.