FINCAPES Collaborative Study Program on Nature-based Solutions

FINCAPES Collaborative Study Program on Nature-based Solutions

May 03, 2024

Like other countries, Indonesia faces complex and urgent challenges in reducing carbon emissions, protecting the environment, and helping communities adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change. To address these challenges more effectively, the Indonesian Government has highlighted the need to strengthen related research and innovation, catalyze multi-stakeholder collaboration, prioritize policy development that facilitates the protection and restoration of Indonesia's critical ecosystems, and promote sustainable ecosystem conservation that protects local livelihoods.

The FINCAPES Project provides support to catalyze applied research to help develop or improve NbS approaches and practices to sustainably help protect and restore critical peat and mangrove ecosystems and conserve biodiversity at targeted locations. These efforts will support and help accelerate Indonesia's efforts to sustainably adapt to the negative impacts of climate change such as coastal erosion, flooding, and ecosystem degradation, while supporting climate change mitigation efforts by helping to protect and enhance carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas sequestration in peat and mangrove ecosystems. In addition, this support will also complement the efforts made by the Indonesian Government through the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, to support the achievement of Indonesia's targets in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Related to this support, the FINCAPES Project in collaboration with IPB University is opening a collaborative study program for 2024/2025 with the following details:

  • Funding support up to $15,000 CAD
  • Project Duration: up to 12 months/1 year
  • Collaborative Study Programs are available for 5-10 selected proposals in the first round

Focus Areas:

  • Disaster Resilience: Adaptation to climate change risks (such as floods, coastal erosion, and/or forest fires) through NbS.
  • Climate Change and Community Resilience: Enhancing ecosystem resilience and community resilience through mangrove/peat restoration; livelihood activities aligned with NbS; and carbon sequestration.
  • Healthy Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Improving water management and biodiversity; and improving the overall sustainability and resilience of ecosystems and communities through nature-based interventions, habitat restoration, and biodiversity conservation. 

Application Process: 

The application process consists of two stages. Stage 1, submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) was carried out on March 20, 2024. Following the submission of the LOI, a selection process was carried out by a team of panelists from FINCAPES, IPB University, University of Waterloo and also representatives of the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).

Announcement of LOI selection: 

Selected LOIs now enter Stage 2, which is the preparation and submission of the Full Proposal. For applicants who have received notification that their LOI has been accepted, here are the directions for preparing and submitting proposals:

  1. Prepare a research proposal based on the following Proposal Writing Guidelines (choose one): Bahasa Indonesia or English
  2. Prepare a budget in accordance with the provisions described in the Financial Management SOP and Budget Template
  3. Combine the proposal and budget documents into 1 PDF file
  4. Fill out the registration e-form to upload the proposal

Related References:

Important Dates:

  • Applied Research Program Announcement: February 20, 2024
  • LOI Submission Deadline: March 20, 2024
  • Announcement of Accepted LOIs: April 24-26, 2024
  • Full Proposal Submission Deadline (for selected LOIs): June 14, 2024
  • Determination of Accepted Full Proposals: July 14-20, 2024
  • Implementation of Funded Applied Research Programs: August 30, 2024 - September 30, 2025
  • Deadline for submitting final reports of Funded Applied Research: October 31, 2025

Information and Contact: 

For questions regarding proposals, please send an email with the following subject format:

[QA Proposal_NbSPTI] Full Name to fincapes@uwaterloo.ca.