Project applicants advancing to the final stage of the BESTLIFE2030 Programme’s 2nd Call for Proposals received critical technical support this week in a capacity-building webinar organised by Consulta Europa Projects & Innovation. As the Regional Hub for Macaronesia, Consulta Europa hosted the practical session on 22 September, designed to equip finalists with the tools and knowledge needed to finalise their Full Proposals.
The workshop served as a crucial follow-up to the preparatory webinar held by IUCN, moving beyond theoretical guidance to offer a highly practical deep dive into the application process. A concrete case study was presented, followed by detailed tips on navigating the different sections of the full proposal, all aimed at strengthening submissions focused on biodiversity conservation in the EU’s outermost regions and overseas countries and territories.
Focus on Technical Rigour and Strategic Planning
The guidance focused on the five main sections of the online application portal: Narrative, Logical Framework & Monitoring Plan, Safeguards (ESMS), Budget, and Submission.
Key takeaways emphasised the need for strategic project design and consistency across all components:
- Project Narrative: Applicants were advised to incorporate recommendations from their initial concept note evaluations and clearly articulate their exit strategy for sustaining project results beyond the funding period.
- Logical Framework (Logframe): The importance of a well-defined logframe was stressed, requiring clear specific objectives, measurable results, and detailed activities. Crucially, participants were reminded that at least one biodiversity indicator is mandatory for the monitoring plan.
- Supporting Documentation: Beyond the online forms, the workshop highlighted the need to prepare essential supplementary files, including CVs for all personnel and, most importantly, letters of support from project partners.
Full Session
Download the presentation here
Crucial Deadline and Evaluation Threshold
Applicants were given a firm reminder of the upcoming deadline for the highly competitive grant call.
The final date for submitting the full proposal via the BESTLIFE2030 application portal (https://speciesgrants.iucn.org) is November 14th at 14h00 (CET). A hard deadline for submitting any final clarifications has been set for October 31st.
Project proposals will be evaluated against five main criteria, with a maximum score of 100. To be considered for funding, a proposal must meet a minimum threshold score of 65. The evaluation criteria weigh highly on relevance and effectiveness (30 points) and concept and methodology (25 points).
The session concluded with a Q&A segment, allowing participants to address specific queries ahead of the final submission phase. The recording and presentation materials have been made available to all participants.
For further information regarding the BESTLIFE2030 Programme or the application process, please contact Consulta Europa:
Contact: bestlife2030@consulta-europa.com