Grants from the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative

Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative, NICFI, is financed from the Norwegian aid budget and managed by the Ministry of Climate and Environment. The main objective of the grant scheme is that reduced and reversed loss of tropical forests contributes to a stable climate, protects biodiversity, and enhances sustainable development.

• NICFI’s webpage
• Results Portal for Norwegian Development Aid

The objectives

The main objective has two sub-goals; (i) contribute to sustainable land use and (ii) contribute to reduced pressure on forests from global markets.

Projects funded under the scheme shall contribute to reaching one or more of the outcomes set out in the initiative's results framework (see Appendix 1 in the Grant scheme rules):

• Approved and implemented policies for sustainable forest and land use in tropical forest countries and jurisdictions
• Improved rights and livelihoods for indigenous peoples and local communities in tropical forest countries
• Effective international incentive structures for reduced deforestation in tropical forest countries
• Increased transparency in land management, land use, value chains and financing
• Commodity markets stimulate deforestation-free production in tropical forest countries
• Financial markets stimulate deforestation-free commodity production in tropical forest countries
• Reduced forest crime

Who are eligible for grants?

Actors who contribute to reaching the goals can receive grants, such as:

• Authorities
• Organizations
• Public and private institutions
• Financial Institutions
• International, national, and local expert communities
• Alliances and networks  

Read more about criteria for funding

• The Norwegian National Budget
• Grant Scheme Rules:
  • Country cooperation (PDF)
  • Grants by application (PDF)
• Guidelines/template for Funding Application

The Ministry of Climate and Environment is responsible for the Climate and Forest Initiative, but both Norad and several embassies have delegated responsibilities for different parts of the portfolio.

Those who fulfil the conditions for applying for grants can send an application to the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norad or an embassy managing a part of the grant. Norad manages grants to civil society organisations. They also publish all evaluations of NICFI.

• More information about NICFI (Norad)