Criteria and assessment of proposals

Innovation

How innovative is the proposal?

An innovative proposal could be something that has not been tried before; or a significant scaling up of an existing approach; or takes an existing approach to a new country or region; or could be combining existing approaches in a new way.

How transformative is the proposal?

A transformative proposal could be one that improves the livelihoods of rural forest dwellers, either directly or indirectly, in ways compatible with sustainable forest management; demonstrates the advantages of partnerships between some or all of government agencies, other donor agencies, private sector operators, NGOs and civil society; or builds capacity in local, national or regional institutions and through professional training provided to individuals.

Conformity with CBFF’s overall objectives

Will the project slow the rate of deforestation?

Will the project reduce poverty amongst forest communities?

Does the project show a clear understanding of context?

A proposal could show understanding of context by demonstrating how stakeholders have been consulted on the development of the concept.

Conformity with convergence plan

Does the proposal conform with one or more of the agreed priority Strategic Areas of the COMIFAC Convergence Plan:

• 2 - Knowledge of the resource
• 6 - Poverty reduction
• 9 - New funding mechanisms

The CBFF will focus on these three areas of the Convergence Plan and proposals will need to show how they support one of more of them.

Given the complementary nature of the Areas, it is possible that a proposal will also conform with other proposals in the Convergence Plan. Proposers are invited to indicate where this is the case.

Concept notes will need to identity the following:

• Project purpose and objectives and how they relate to national plans
• Estimated cost
• Details of principal partners
• Proposed approach to implementation and appraisal
• Key risks and how they will be managed

Full project proposals will need to demonstrate: strong management capacity; impact on project beneficiaries and partners (with clear evidence of partnerships already being developed or in place); a detailed work programme; risks and mitigation; proposals for monitoring and evaluation; and a detailed budget.

Technical advice will be available from the CBFF Secretariat for those developing detailed project proposals.

All project proposals will be assessed by the CBFF Secretariat and by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The projects that score highest will be submitted to the CBFF Governing Council for final approval, along with a list of applications and proposals assessed as not meeting the necessary criteria.

Unsuccessful applicants and proposals may be invited to do further work on their proposals and resubmit them in subsequent funding rounds.