Call summary :

Grant Theme
Friends of Nepal (FoN) is opening its grant application period and will be supporting initiatives that address one or more of the following themes:
A. Climate Change,
B. Natural Resource Conservation, and
C. Sustainability.

Over the years, many of our selected projects have overlapped with environmental causes. For example, one of our partner organizations, Himalayan Healthcare, provided agricultural training in northern Dhading to women who suffered from the economic fallout caused by the Covid pandemic. Not only did this benefit
the environment, it also supported the entrepreneurial pursuits of women as they worked to recover from the losses of the past years. More recently, partner CBODC has taken a multi-faceted approach to supporting remote communities on the border between Kailali and Doti through agricultural diversification and income generation, water conservation,and indoor air quality Improvements.
Climate change and environmental degradation loom large in the agricultural and economic fate of Nepal. Many Volunteers have witnessed villages scramble to repair the damage caused by heavy rainfall or a landslide, and subsistence farming is becoming more difficult in an unpredictable climate. Erratic weather events have increasingly affected farmers as well as others in the community. For example, late Fall rains in 2022 devastated the rice harvest in various parts of the country while the Melamchi flood disaster in June 2021 resulted in severe infrastructure damage and at least 17 casualties along the Melamchi River basin in Sindhupalchowk district.
USAID too is increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change and in the recent past a spokesperson commented, “...erosion from mountains, heavy monsoon rains, uncontrolled burning, and forest fires make the country especially vulnerable to climate change. Climate change poses a direct threat to Nepal’s remarkable biodiversity and cultural traditions.” This year fires again raged across Nepal contributing to some of the worst air pollution in recent memory and not just in urban areas. According to Iqair (a Swiss air quality technology firm), Nepal ranked 8th worst globally in air pollution in 2023. This past Spring, on numerous days, Kathmandu was ranked as the most polluted city in the world. Prior to our current focus on Climate Change, Natural Resource Conservation, and Sustainability, FoN grants focused on efforts in support of girls’ learning. Increasing girls’ participation in education and improving the quality of their participation is an on-going challenge for Nepal’s educational system. FoN therefore particularly encourages applications that include support for girls’ learning as a component of the proposal. We will also give special consideration to projects that simultaneously address climate change, natural resource conservation, and sustainability as well as economic
development. For example, how might a school science club (girls and boys) engage with their community in developing a climate-smart technique that can become a potential income source for some members of the community?

More examples of projects we are interested in sponsoring are:
? Natural Resource Management,
? Natural Disaster Mitigation,
? Efforts to Protect Land and Wildlife,
? Educational Programs that engage students in local climate change mitigation and conservation activities,
? Waste Management: Projects to reduce open defecation, and improve community hygiene; this could also focus on community management of solid waste and
recycling efforts,
? Seed Saving, Soil Improvements, Home Gardens, and other Sustainable Farming Methods,
? Pollution Mitigation (air, water, soil etc.).

Eligibility
? Non-profit organizations, schools, and community groups are welcome to apply.
? FoN generally does not provide scholarships to individuals.
? FoN prefers to work with organizations with a proven track record.
? We particularly encourage proposals that implement activities in remote areas and/or among disadvantaged populations.
? Organizations must be based in either the United States or Nepal, and be providing direct services in Nepal/have authorization from the government of Nepal.
? Beneficiaries of the project must be actively involved, as demonstrated by donations of volunteer labor, materials, or money.
? Projects must be sponsored by an active FoN member who has significant ties to Nepal. The sponsor has until the application due date to join FoN. The organization applying must submit a letter of recommendation from the sponsor along with the proposal. Please see the Sponsor Role and Responsibilities section below. Any potential sponsor must read the Role and Responsibilities section before