The purpose of this call is to reduce plastic pollution and marine litter in developing countries as well as its impact on people and the environment, and the call is directed at implementing the second phase of the Norwegian development programme to combat plastic pollution and marine litter.

This call is open to non-governmental organisations as lead applicants. Consortia applications are encouraged. Norad will accept for-profit organisations/companies, foreign governmental institutions, multilateral organisations and intergovernmental organisations as participants of consortia.

Objectives

• The main objective of the Norwegian development programme is to reduce plastic pollution and marine litter in developing countries. To achieve this, the programme focuses on five outcomes:
  • Strengthened global and national frameworks to stop plastic pollution and marine litter
  • Reduced consumption and demand for plastic
  • Improved plastic waste management in partner countries
  • Increased resource mobilization and safe job creation in the private sector within the circular economy
  • Reduced health and environmental damage from plastic pollution and marine litter

Duration

• Norad will prioritise applications for support periods of three to four years.

Eligible Projects

• Grants may be awarded for all types of projects that contribute to the objectives of this call for proposal. The following provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of type of projects that Norad may consider:
  • Strengthened global and national frameworks to stop plastic pollution and marine litter:
    • Projects that support countries in the treaty process of a global treaty to combat plastic pollution. (Please note that Norad will not prioritize proposals focused on other global frameworks for this call for proposal).
    • Projects that support countries in strengthening national frameworks (including policies and action plans) to combat marine litter and plastic pollution, including extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks and waste management policies.
  • Reduced consumption and demand for plastic:
    • Projects that support the development of frameworks for reduced consumption and demand for plastics (as indicated above)
    • Projects that develop or adopt innovative technologies to reduce plastic consumption and demand
  • Improved plastic waste management in partner countries:
    • Projects that support countries (local and/ or national government) in strengthening waste management systems of plastic waste, such as development of relevant frameworks and plans, resource mobilization plans and long-term financing models for waste management
    • Projects that support countries in closing the data gaps on waste and plastic waste, in connection to policy development and improvement of waste management systems
  • Increased resource mobilization and safe job creation in the private sector within the circular economy:
    • Projects that support countries towards the circular economy transformation for plastics, including strengthening the framework conditions and relevant policies (such as EPR policies)
    • Projects that support the development of innovative financing mechanism for plastic pollution
  • Reduced health and environmental damage from plastic pollution and marine litter:
    • Projects that focus on reducing the health and environmental damage from legacy waste and hazardous waste

Target Groups

• The Norwegian development programme to combat plastic pollution and marine litter is focused on countries in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and SIDS in the Caribbean and Pacific, especially emphasising India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Africa.
• The target group is populations in ODA-recipient countries.
• For this specific call for proposal, Norad’s prioritised target group is the local population in Indonesia and Vietnam, and Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania. It is possible to submit a concept note for a regional project. Applicants must demonstrate how the target group(s) will be reached.

Eligible Countries

• The priority countries for this call are Indonesia, Vietnam, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania. It is however possible to submit a concept note for a regional project.

Eligibility Criteria

• This call is open to non-governmental organisations, as single organisations and consortia. Consortia are encouraged. Only non-governmental organisations can apply as lead applicant. However, Norad will accept for-profit organisations/companies, foreign governmental institutions, multilateral organisations and intergovernmental organisations as participants of consortia.
• For this call, preference will be given to non-profit organisations.
• The applicant must be an independent legal entity. Accurate and complete information about the organisation must be provided. If applying as part of a consortium, all members must be eligible grant recipients.

Evaluation Criteria

• Norad will use the following performance criteria to measure results under this grant scheme:
  • Plans and global commitments for combating marine litter are being implemented in partner countries.
  • Privat sector contributes to sustainable production, consumption and waste management within the blue economy and a circular economy on land.
  • Partner countries are improving the environmental condition of the ocean by improving waste management on land, reducing marine pollution, protecting vulnerable ecosystems.
  • People in partner countries are part of a just transition to a circular economy, and the most vulnerable are protected.

For more information, visit Norad.