Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Initiative

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 21:45

For Communities / Cooperatives For NGOs Multilateral Grant India Southeast Asia Biodiversity Capacity Building Coastal Protection Fisheries Marine Conservation Marine Protected Areas
Partnership program promoting coastal conservation with Small Grants Facility for local communities

Source: https://www.mangrovesforthefuture.org/

Funding Details

Funder
Mangroves for the Future (MFF) / IUCN / UNDP
Funding Goal
Grants for on-the-ground projects that invest in coastal ecosystem conservation and management, with a focus on mangroves, coral reefs, and coastal biodiversity. Supports community-based action, capacity building, sustainable livelihoods, integrated coastal management, and climate resilience for coastal communities across Asia.
Funding Amount
Small Grants: up to USD 25,000 (under USD 10,000 and USD 10,000-25,000 tiers); Medium Grants: USD 50,000-100,000; Large Grants: up to USD 300,000; Regional Initiatives: multi-country projects (up to 300.000 €)
Deadline
Rolling basis (Rolling)
How to Apply
Call for Proposals issued by National Coordinating Body (NCB) in each member country. Small Grant applications reviewed and selected by NCB. Medium Grant proposals go through multi-stage review: NCB endorsement then MFF Secretariat evaluation. Regional grants coordinated through core institutional partners (IUCN, UNDP, FAO). See mangrovesforthefuture.org/what-we-do/work-with-us/call-for-proposals/
Target Region
Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam)
Contact
Via national coordinators in each member country. Secretariat contact available through mangrovesforthefuture.org
Last Checked
2026-03-15 13:12

Application Checklist

Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints

Summary

Mangroves for the Future (MFF) is a partner-led initiative co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP that invests in the conservation and sustainable management of coastal ecosystems across 11 member countries in Asia. The programme was established in 2006 in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and operates as Asia's largest coastal resource management programme. Thematic priorities include mangrove conservation and restoration, coral reef protection, integrated coastal management (ICM), marine protected areas, coastal biodiversity, sustainable fisheries, climate change adaptation, community resilience, sustainable livelihoods, gender equity in coastal resource management, and governance of coastal ecosystems. Eligible activities include community-based conservation projects, ecosystem restoration, capacity development, monitoring and evaluation, governance and integrated coastal planning, knowledge management, research on emerging coastal issues, and sustainable livelihood schemes for coastal communities. Projects are grouped under Small Grant, Medium Grant, Large Grant, and Regional Grant facilities. Geographic focus is exclusively on the 11 MFF member countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Regional projects span at least two member countries. Eligible applicants include NGOs, community-based organizations, government agencies, and research institutions operating within MFF member countries. Small Grant applications are managed by the National Coordinating Body (NCB) in each country, typically an office of IUCN or UNDP. Co-financing from the private sector is actively encouraged. Target beneficiaries include coastal communities, women in fisheries, local government officials, marine protected area managers, and civil society organizations. Funding tiers range from under USD 10,000 for community-scale projects to USD 300,000 for large initiatives, with regional projects potentially larger. The programme has funded more than 80 Small Grant projects since 2008.

Historical Context

MFF was established in 2006 following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Since 2008, over 80 Small Grant Facility projects have been implemented across the region. Medium Grants introduced in 2010. Regional grant facilities introduced from 2012. Managed by IUCN and UNDP as core institutional partners.

Why it was added

Round 10 Global South search - GEO9

Sources

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