Ford Extends Deadline for the 2016 Environmental Grants Programme in the Middle East and North Africa

• Applicants have until September 11, 2016 to submit their projects for funding
• A total of US$120,000 is available to fund deserving projects
• Nearly US$1.5 million has been provided since 2000 to help fund a total of 194 projects in the Middle East and North Africa

The Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants programme extends the deadline to receive application for funding for on-going environmental projects to September 11, 2016. The 16^th edition of the initiative will provide funding to on-going environmental projects in the Middle East and North Africa awarding a total of US$120,000 - the highest total grant amount to be awarded in its history.

Individuals or organisations with on-going projects focused on conservation engineering, environmental education or natural environment are invited to apply for funding via www.me.ford.com until September 11, 2016.

The Grants programme has helped 194 grassroots-level projects dedicated to environmental causes in the GCC and Levant with total Grants amounting to US$1.5 million. The on-going projects must be located in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE or Yemen.

Programme History

In its 15 years of existence, the Ford Grants have supported projects that promote capacity building, species conservation, protection of natural resources and educating the youth in environment protection. The Grants is one of the largest corporate initiatives of its kind in the region, created to empower individuals and non-profit groups that are donating their time and efforts to preserve the environmental well-being of their communities.

Since its inception, the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants programme has received support from various governmental and non-governmental environmental authorities from around the Middle East, including the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Emirates Wildlife Society, the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED) and UNESCO Doha.

Winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges consisting of academics and leaders from regional environmental organisations.  The judges are seasoned environmentalists or academicians from the region carefully selected based on geographical coverage, age and gender equality. They look for initiatives that demonstrate a well-defined sense of purpose, a commitment to maximising available resources, and a reputation for meeting objectives and delivering planned programmes and services.