NON-GOVERNMENTAL Organisations (NGO) and community groups are all too familiar with the challenges associated with attracting and achieving corporate sponsorship.
With a well-equipped proposal, however, projects geared towards protecting the environment, conservation, public awareness, or practically anything within the realm, can receive considerable financing through the Green Fund.
The Green Fund, also known as the National Environmental Fund, was established under the Finance Act of 2000, introducing a levy on for-profit of 0.1 per cent, which was later increased to 0.3 per cent.
Proceeds of the fund are made available to local registered organisations and community groups, whose activities are related to one or more of four focal areas, including remediation, reforestation, environmental education of environmental issues; and conservation of the environment.
The Green Fund has accumulated a balance nearing $8 billion, which some might assume means it is being underutilised.
However, as evidenced by reports from organisations and groups it takes effort, time, and a significant degree of accountability to access funding and execute the respective project.
Sunday Newsday spoke with Leslie-Ann Dillon, community liaison officer at the Green Fund Executing Unit, and asked if she, too, believes the current balance reflects an under-utilisation of the resources.
She responded, “We receive applications from varying organisations… However, many have not fulfilled all the necessary criteria.”
Those that have received project financing, she added, have gone on to execute successfully.
“Those that have…have made quite an impact on the environment at the community and national level, as well as contributing to the achievement of the objectives of our National Environmental Policy, our various local policies, such as our Climate Change Policy and our Waste Recycling Policy, as well as numerous regional and international multilateral environmental agreements.”
The NGOs and groups are always expected to achieve the goals outlined in their proposals given the tedious nature of the process and almost exhausting criteria required to be satisfied before funds are released. Even when funds are released, they are expected to hold on to any and all receipts associated with expenditure from those funds.
The actual balance of the Green Fund, reported in the Auditor General’s report at September 30, 2020, stood at approximately $7.6 billion, up from $6.946 at the same point in 2019.
The executing unit told Sunday Newsday that, to date, some 29 projects have been certified by the respective minister responsible for the environment, at an approximate value of $408 million.
Recently, the unit has faced challenges, Dillon said, relating to the covid19 pandemic.
[caption id="attachment_951106" align="alignnone" width="1024"] In this file photo, student of the Final Generation Mission Academy learn about the manicou at the Fondes Amandes Community Reforestation Project's annual Gayap in St Ann's. -[/caption]
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