- A total of US$120,000 is now 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
- Projects which received Grants in 2015 included entries from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia
The Ford Motor Company Conservation and Environmental Grants programme is now accepting applications for the 16th edition of the initiative seeking to provide funding to on-going environmental projects in the Middle East and North Africa. This year, Ford is 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 from July 10 to August 21, 2016.
In the past 15 years, the Grants programme has helped grassroots-level projects dedicated to environmental causes in the GCC and Levant, and in 2015 the program was expanded to include North Africa. The on-going projects must be located in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE or Yemen.
“Year-on-year, Ford is proud to see more committed individuals and organisations with unique projects aimed at the preservation of our environment. From personal advocacy to wider, more organised groups, we are witnessing a rise in action amongst the communities to embrace the cause of the environment. We are happy to help sustain these noble projects and encourage the public and NGOs to apply,” said Jacques Brent, president, Ford Middle East & Africa.
Success Stories
Just recently, a 2014 Ford Grants recipient from Lebanon, the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation, has successfully completed its project called Tree Trail. The project, which won US$5,280, was inaugurated on June 11, 2016 and now provides a trail that weaves its way into the natural forest to provide access for hikers and highlight, at the same time, Lebanese flora through informative plaques on major tree species along the way.
Another 2014 Grants recipient saw a successful completion of its project, the Environmental Museum, highlighting a dedicated in-school home and school waste exhibition. The Green Generation Environmental Group from Jordan received US$10,000 funding for this project.
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.
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