Regional Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Program for Select Pacific Island Countries (PICs) | 2017 EAP SUVAREO

Opportunity Information: Apply for 2017 EAP SUVAREO

The Regional Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Program for Select Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run through the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (EAP), with program management support from the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). The program offers small grants to support practical, on-the-ground environmental projects in the Pacific Islands region. Awards are intentionally capped at $24,999 per project, and proposals at $25,000 or more are not eligible. The grants are administered via the Regional Environmental Office in Suva, Fiji, and are funded using EAP regional foreign assistance funds. This small-grants approach has been used in the region for years (dating back to FY 2007) to help local partners deliver targeted environmental improvements without requiring large, complex project structures.

Projects must fit within one or more of the program's focus areas, which are broad but clearly environment-centered. Priority themes include food security linked to agriculture and fisheries; sustainable economic development (as it relates to environmental stewardship); adaptation to changing environmental conditions, including coastal management; waste management with an emphasis on marine litter; air quality; protecting biodiversity and maintaining healthy ecosystems; creating or improving management of marine protected areas; environment- or health-related education (with an emphasis on underserved groups); capacity building that strengthens the ability to conduct scientific work on environmental issues; and deploying new technologies that can be applied to environmental challenges. In practical terms, the program is looking for applied projects that deliver measurable local or regional benefits, such as improving waste handling systems, strengthening coastal resilience practices, supporting community-based conservation, or expanding environmental education and skills where gaps exist.

Eligible project locations are limited to a defined set of Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Proposals can be country-specific or regional in nature, but they should be designed around local or regional needs and should meaningfully involve local expertise during both design and implementation. The opportunity also explicitly allows applicants to fund a discrete phase of a larger effort rather than requiring a full program end-to-end. Examples include implementing only the public education component of a broader environmental law initiative, carrying out tree planting in one geographic area within a larger national plan, or completing one study or field activity that supports a broader environmental management program.

The solicitation places strong emphasis on monitoring and evaluation. Applicants are expected to build in clear performance tracking with time-bound milestones so that results can be demonstrated within the grant period. At the same time, there are important limitations on what the funds can support. The program states that grants cannot be awarded for research projects, even though it does allow "capacity building for scientific research" and allows training. The distinction is essentially that the funding is meant for applied capacity, tools, training, and implementation activities rather than standalone academic or exploratory research as the primary purpose. Training activities are explicitly permitted, and universities as well as NGOs and civil society organizations can receive awards.

A wide range of applicants may apply. EAP welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based nonprofit organizations/NGOs, public international organizations, private or public institutions (including institutions of higher education), and for-profit organizations or businesses. While the program generally prefers to work with nonprofits, it notes that for-profit applicants may be considered when they are best suited to deliver the project, though they should expect additional review after panel selection. Foreign government agencies, offices, and departments are not eligible to receive awards under this opportunity.

Administratively, applicants are required to submit standard federal assistance paperwork, including the SF-424 forms, and all application fields must be completed in English. Organizations also need a DUNS number and an active SAM.gov registration, both of which can be obtained online at no cost. The funding authority is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. The listing information for the opportunity identifies it as a discretionary grant under CFDA 19.124, with an expected number of awards listed as four and an award ceiling of $24,999. The opportunity is associated with the U.S. Mission to Fiji and the Regional Environmental Office in Suva, reflecting the regional management hub for these Pacific Island environmental small grants.

• The U.S. Mission to Fiji in the agriculture, education, energy, environment, food and nutrition, health, natural resources, regional development, science and technology and other research and development, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Program for Select Pacific Island Countries (PICs)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.124.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-05-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-07-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $24,999.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For-profit organizations other than small businesses.

Apply for 2017 EAP SUVAREO

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