Central Africa Regional

The Central Africa Regional Program supports projects in Central Africa that strengthen capacity, target key threats to wildlife and their habitats, and build a better evidence base for conservation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) prioritizes strengthening capacity for wildlife protection, including the professionalization of park staff, protected species management, and wildlife law enforcement. USFWS provides tools and technologies for measuring, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of site-based protection and wildlife conservation. The success of USFWS efforts depends on building the capacity of Central African governments and field partners to professionally manage and protect their national resources. USFWS works closely with governments, other U.S. agencies, international donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), wildlife colleges, communities, and a range of other partners to ensure a strategic, results-based approach to wildlife stewardship in Central Africa. Through a competitive process, USFWS provides support where it is needed most and can be applied effectively. Long-term goals of support include: (1) improving site-based wildlife conservation in priority population strongholds in Central Africa; (2)  increasing individual and institutional capacity for more effective wildlife protection at the local, national, and regional level including the professionalization of protected area staff; and  (3) directly addressing regional and emerging pressures on wildlife including the unsustainable regional trade in wildlife products, transhumance, and zoonotic disease.

Federal, State and local government agencies; non-profit, non-governmental organizations; and public and private institutions of higher education, or any of the stated associate entities on behalf of an eligible individual.

The program announcement and application instructions for this program can be found at the Grants.gov website: http://www.grants.gov. Complete application information can also be found at http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/notice-of-funding-availability-africa.pdf, or, if unable to access the website, by requesting a paper copy from the Division of International Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041, Telephone: (703) 358-1754. A proposal will not be considered complete if all required elements are not submitted as instructed. U.S. applicants must submit (among other elements) a complete, signed Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance.

Projects are reviewed and competitively selected for funding based on established criteria. Review criteria can be found in the application information at http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/notice-of-funding-availability-africa.pdf. Once a proposal has been selected for funding, an FWS approving official executes an Assistance Award between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Recipient. Fully executed Awards are sent to the Recipient either electronically or through the mail. The Division of International Conservation then administers all other aspects of the Assistance Award.

Decisions on funding of project proposals are normally made no later than 180 days after the receipt of the project proposals.