Grants from National Geographic to Fund Reducing Ocean Plastic Pollution Projects

National Geographic seeks to fund sustainable and potentially scalable projects to reduce ocean plastic pollution; where more than 9 million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans each year, with alarming implications for the health of people, wildlife, and ecosystems. Projects are closely aligned with one or both of the following goals:

1. Informing and advancing national or sub-national policies or management plans to reduce plastic source pollution.
2. Innovative behavior change approaches with the potential to inspire large numbers of people to dramatically reduce their consumption of single-use plastics and/or improve the recycling of plastic.

Geographic priorities include known hot spots that contribute most to the ocean plastic pollution problem; for example the coastal cities and major rivers in Asia and Africa.

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About the Grant

Typical proposals funded under this RFP request $25,000 to $50,000; however, applicants may request up to $100,000. Successful applicants may use awarded funds over one or two years.

Eligibility criteria

• All applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time they submit an application.
• This opportunity is open to conservationists, educators, researchers, storytellers, and technologists.
• Preference will be given to applicants who are citizens or residents of the country where the work will be conducted.
• All application materials must be submitted in English.
• Project start dates should be a minimum of six months after the submission deadline to ensure any awarded funds are received in time.

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National Geography is particularly interested in proposals that generate one or more of the following outputs:

• Policy memos/briefs, white papers, policy analyses, and/or government reports.
• In-person presentations, meetings, and/or workshops made to policymakers.
• Training or education of individuals, including community members, students, and educators, in targeted areas .
• Changes in knowledge and/or attitudes and/or behaviors related to plastic pollution.

This RFP does not provide funding for beach cleanups; end-of-life plastic recycling, valorization, or reuse; commercializing waste management technologies; or the development of plastic alternatives. Where proposals will be evaluated based on alignment to the focus of this RFP, expected impact, and cost-effectiveness.

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