ENCA criteria for funding projects

ENCA has contributed to a range of environmental projects over the last 17 years through very small grants of cash or donations of materials, listed overleaf. To make it clearer for our supporters in Britain and the NGOs in Central America with whom we collaborate, this leaflet explains our criteria for agreeing to fund or contribute to projects.

ENCA takes a holistic view in promoting sustainable human development, poverty reduction and political empowerment of grass-roots communities and civil society. However, we only support development activities which include a clear environmental component. This might involve supporting groups in their educational or campaigning work, or helping them to obtain equipment or materials to meet their needs more sustainably. While we make decisions on what kind of project we can support on a case-by-case basis, we use the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability as a guide. These are described below, but in no particular order of importance.

Our ideal project would:

Protect or enhance an important species or habitat; reduce pollution; and reduce dependence on non-renewable resources

AND

Encourage education, self-sustaining capacity, harmony and cooperation in the community

AND

Provide a self-sustaining income to keep the initiative going without depending on continual external finance

AND

Empower local communities to exercise control over their lives

Our minimum standard would:

Make a small environmental improvement without damaging any threatened species or habitats; create no pollution: and not increase dependence on non-renewable resources

AND

Be approved by the local community and not create division at the grass-roots level

AND

Not lead to an ongoing, unrealistic, financial dependency on external bodies to maintain itself

AND

Not reduce local communities' ability to exercise control over their lives

Applying to ENCA for support

We request a short written application (in Spanish or English) which explains:

• For what purpose do you need the funds or materials?
• Who will benefit and how?
• Might anybody be disadvantaged or excluded from benefitting?
• A breakdown of the budget for immediate and any on-going costs
• Who will administer the funds and related activities and who is accountable?
• Are you requesting a contribution from ENCA or relying on us for the full costs?
• What environmental and social impacts do you hope to achieve and how will you measure these?
• How will you demonstrate the environmental concepts and benefits to the local community and/or wider audience in your region or country?

After we agree to a request for support, ENCA requires the following:

• A receipt confirming that the money or materials have been received
• A short report on progress (within 9 months?)

Please let us know as soon as possible of any problems in using the funds or materials, or changes in your plans for using these.

ENCA donations- detailed breakdown 1989-2004 (totalling approx. £9,500 +US$19,300)

1989

NSC election fund-£500
Si-a Paz donation-£301

1990

Books, binoculars,donations Si-a Paz £1664
Donation Movimiento Ambientalista de Nicaragua (MAN)-$1,000
Books and stereoscopes donations- £197

1991

Donations to Si-a Paz £4,273
Donations + photos for MAN £60 + $500
Solentiname brigade- £1,000
Rene Escoto project $150
Malacatoya project- $650
Fundacion del Rio-$500
World University Service contribution to grant - £433

1992

Malacatoya project- £250
NSC brigades donation (share from Duck Race) - £60
Fundacion del Rio-$750
Expenses for don Juan- $20

1993

Solentiname for paintings- $400
COSTA -$200
Brigades group -£213

1994

CESTA El Salvador- $200
other donations $2,400

1995

CESTA El Salvador- $200
SELVANic. $500

1996

Donation MOVE- £25

1997

SELVA (Nica.) - $500 - irrigation system in Parque Ecologico Tezoatega (PET) + other Los Varzones community (Nica.) - $200
FUNCOD (Nica.) - $200 - general support
Fundacion Entre Volcanes (Ometepe) - $200
Asociacion Quincho Barrilete (Nica.) - $200 - for street kids organisation.
Casa Ave Maria (Masaya, Nica.) - $200 - wood for carpentry workshop in street kids centre.
CODA International (Nica.) - $200 - office costs
NSC (Nica.) - $200 - Managua office costs.
All above via 1997 ENCA tour.
SELVA - $500 - For Children at Risk programme

1998

SELVA - $500 - Purchase of water pump and piping in the PET
Nejapa community (El Salvador) - $200 -reforestation, recycling and garbage clean-up
Longo Mai (C.R.) - $550 - Purchase of a strimmer
MCN (Nica.) - $500 - Matagalpa- reforestation
SELVA - $800 - for brochure +Hurricane Mitch relief work.

1999

No donations

2000

Frente Contra PINDECO Costa Rica-£101
Donatiion Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS) El S.- £100
Patrica Blanco, UNAPROA expenses- £100
Donations UNES, CIS etc for pre-tour help- £200

2001

Small donations made to organisations in El Salvador after Jan. 13th earthquake - $70 to UNES; $50 to Nejapa; $70 to CIS

The following via Aug. 2001 ENCA tour:
CIS - $250
COMUS - $445
Finca Aragon - $100 - Composting work
Nejapa - $200 - Treatment system for aguas negras
Butterfly Farm - $100
Salvanatura - $100
FUNSALPRODESE - $250
ARDM, Cinquera - $445 - Bridge repair in protected woodland park.
CESTA - $200
UNES - $250 - for Parque Regional Santa Clara.

2002

ARDM -$200
CIS $40
COMUS $40
UNES $50
CESTA$40
All above for office expenses

2003

COMUS-$700- for tree nursery
Banana Link- £10
Cinquera ARDM $700- for repairs essential for tourism access to forest
SELVA $570 - for improvements to ecopark

2004

SELVA $330- improvements for lighting
Longo Mai,CR- $714-grinding mill for cattle fodder improvement
Los Pozitos,Nic.-$1,500 for solar panel installation
SELVA $150- repairs to water pump