THE Global Environment Centre (GEC) is establishing a National River Care Fund (NRCF) – Small Grant Programme to provide startup or operation grants of up to RM5,000 (per project) in efforts that involves river or water rehabilitation and conservation.
Community-based organisations such as resident association (RA), Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT), Jabatan Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK), non-profit organisations, learning institutions and special interest groups are invited to apply for funding for the following categories:
- Awareness raising, education and capacity building
- Riverine biodiversity conservation
- River pollution and clean up
- River Rehabilitation and Protection
- Sustainable livelihood
- Best Management Practices to reduce the pollution
“NRCF has been supporting groups to conduct their own river care initiatives for six cycles. It is a great opportunity for CBOs or any civil society groups to implement and demonstrate the best management practices in Malaysia,” said NRCF advisory committee chair Datuk Lim Chow Hock.
“I believe the NRCF grant will be able to support the establishment and sustainability of community-based on water and river care initiatives as we want to motivate and empower more communities in becoming a river care society,” he added.
Returning with a new cycle, NRCF Cycle 7 will support and select 10 groups to receive the grants beside providing some training to selected groups. The application for Cycle 7 is now open until June 15, 2021.
Applications must be submitted via online form or for-print form available on NRCF website. For more details about the eligibility criteria and application process, visit www.nationalrivercarefund.org.my.
“Instead of relying on the government and relevant agencies to take action, we want the people to take ownership and lead in river care activities,” noted GEC director Faizal Parish.
Since its establishment in 2015, the Small Grant Programme has engaged 37 community groups/organisations, supporting actions on over 20 rivers across Malaysia and channelling over RM400,000 to river rehabilitation and conservation activities, events and trainings. – April 30, 2021
