Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF) 2024 Grant Program Guidelines
for Application

Continuing from 2023, KNCF grants in 2024 are for the activities that contribute to any ofKunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework (GBF) targets; it is KNCF’s policy tocontribute the realization of GBF. Because we believe it is essential to expand the scope ofbiodiversity conservation activities for the purpose of GBF realization, we established four
grant categories including grant for first time applicant as well as for least developedcountries. Please refer to 4. Grant Categories, below.

1. Application Period
From 9:00am October 1st to 5:00pm December 1st. (Japan Standard Time)
Submission will be conducted through the Keidanren Nature Conservation FundManagement System (Hereinafter, ‘the System’)2. Activity Requirements for Application
Region: Activities that are mainly based in the Asia-Pacific region or inside Japan.
Fields:(1) Activities that involve the preservation of biodiversity.
(2) Activities intended to solve social issues that contribute to biodiversity preservation andthat are applicable to Goals of SDGs.
(3) Activities to support human resource development in order to preserve biodiversity,including environmental education.
All of the above activities should support to realize GBF.
Note: This policy will remain effective until 2023
昆明・モントリオール生物多様性枠組 | 生物多様性 -Biodiversity- (biodic.go.jp)▷昆明・モントリオール生物多様性枠組（英文）(332KB)PDF
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Other Requirements:
Confirm that you have satisfied the following requirements.
(1) Appropriate cooperation has been obtained from the government organizations, related
international organizations, non-governmental organizations and local residents in thelocations of the target projects.
(2) The results do not benefit any particular organization or individual.
(3) The project is implemented by experts with scientific knowledge, or the advice andcooperation of experts with scientific knowledge has been obtained in implementing theproject.
In case of projects in Japan, refer to Japanese version of the Guidelines.

3. Requirements for Applying Organizations
1) Applicant must be an organization that satisfies the following conditions:(1) It is able to appropriately report its activities, budgets and financial status of granted
projects, when requested by KNCF.
(2) It has incorporated status, or is a voluntary organization with societal credibility
equivalent to an incorporated organization.
(3) It has a record of conducting nature conservation projects for 3 years or more
2) Applicant must submit the documents listed below;(1) Financial statements or certified audits for the past 3 years.
(2) For incorporated organizations, documents that show proof of such incorporation(However, this does not apply to the Basic A Grant and Basic B Grant that will be explainedin the Grant Categories.)

4. Grant Categories(1) Basic A Grant
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Grant for small-scale projects of 1 million Yen or less for the first-time applicant to theKNCF Grant Program. While basically a single-year grant, applicants may be consecutively
accepted for three years. Note that in order to reduce the burden of the applying
organizations, application and reporting documents have been simplified.
(2) Basic B Grant
Grant for small-scale projects of 1 million Yen or less for local grass roots organizations
conducting activities in countries designated by the UN as Least Developed Countries.
While basically a single-year grant, applicants may be consecutively accepted for three years.
Note that in order to reduce the burden of the applying organizations, application andreporting documents have been simplified.
(3) Standard Grant
Mid-sized grant that follows the conventional KNCF Grant Program. The upper limit is 10
million Yen. KNCF expects these projects to either be in their initial stages or to offer new
approaches to solving problems. Applications may be made each year for a consecutive 3year period.
(4) Collaboration Grant
Large-size grant with an upper annual limit of 20 million Yen with the requirement that
applying projects are collaborative projects involving multiple organizations. KNCF
especially wishes to support projects that involve cooperation with governments, local
society and businesses and that serve as models for NGOs. The grant is designed for acontinuous period of three years. The framework in which two or more organizations, eachplaying an important role, aims to complement each other's activity areas through mutual
collaboration and synergy, with the expectation of higher-level results.
However, if the Steering Committee determines that the status of the progress of the projectis insufficient, funding may be stopped even in the middle of the project.

5. Grant period
3The grant period will be a 1-year period from April 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025. However,the period for the Collaboration Grant is in principle, a three-year period ending March 31st,2027.

6. The Scope of Grants
1): Applicable Expenses(1) Purchase and rental of goods/materials, purchase and installation of lots/structures, aswell as the expenses to repair the above items(2) Personnel costs (labor costs for temporary staff directly involved in the project, rewardsfor experts)(3) Travel, transportation, and lodging expenses including utility charges for local offices,
food(4) Communication and printing expenses including translation and publishing-related
costs2) Non-Applicable Expenses(1) Personnel costs (labor costs for permanent staff)(2) Outsourcing costs (outsourcing of all project work to a third party)
Moreover, even in the case of partial outsourcing, no more than 10% of the total grantamount may be applied to the outsourcing costs.

7. How to Apply
1) Schedule
Refer to the “Application and Report Forms”.
2) Application Period
From October 1st, 2023 (Sun), 09:00 to December 1st (Thu), 17:00 (The applications thatare completed by 17:00 Japan Standard Time will be valid)
3) Application Procedures
4(1) Access the System
Application can only be conducted by using the System during the period stated above(2) Conduct user registration
In order to log into the System, obtain the necessary User ID and password by conducting
the registration process in the URL below referring to “User Manual”. User registration isavailable from October 1st, 2022 (Saturday), 09:00, JST.
URL: https://kncf.jp/entry/(3) Begin the application process
Refer to the “Guideline Annex KNCF 2024 Application Process” and the “User Manual” fordetailed explanation of the application process
Note that the Application Entry button will automatically become inoperative after thedeadline on December 1st, 2023 at 17:00, JST.
4) Upload necessary application information and documents
Regarding the Information/documents required for application and for reports after thegrant implementation, refer to the “Guideline Annex KNCF 2024 Application Process” Allinformation and documents must be input and/or uploaded by using the System.
5) Enter your application using the Application Entry button.

8. Grant determination
1) Results of screening
The KNCF Steering Committee will conduct screening and selection in mid-March 2024
(tentative schedule).
After April 1st, 2024, 09:00, JST, the selection results can be viewed at the System "Check
your Progress Status" page2) Plan revision(1) For projects grants that have been approved, revise the project plan and budget tocorrespond to the approved grant amount. Submit the revised plan and budget by May 31st,52024, 17:00, JST, using the System.
Changes to the basic elements of the original plan will not be allowed.
(2) Information/documents to be submitted
Refer to the “Guideline Annex KNCF 2024 Application Process” and the “User Manual” fordetailed explanation of the revision process. Even if the approved grant amount is the sameas the applied amount, be sure to conduct update procedures on the System in accordancewith the User Manual. The pledge can be downloaded from the URL below.
https://www.keidanren.net/kncf/fund/project/(3) If a major change arises in the original project plan or budget after a grant is decided,
promptly contact the trustee (Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited). If the applicant fails
to make contact or does not receive the approval of the trustee, the applicant may berequested to return part or all of the grant.
3) Grant remittance(1) Remittance of 1st Half grant
If the “Revised Project Plan” and “Bank account for remittance of grant funds" are submitted
by the end of April, 50% of the amount of the grant will be transferred to the designatedbank account by the end of May. If they are submitted by the end of May, 50% of the amountof the grant will be transferred to the designated bank account by the end of June.
(2) Remittance of 2nd Half grant
The remaining half of the grant will be deposited in the designated account by the end of
November after submission of an Interim Report.

9. Reporting Obligations
1) Schedule
Regarding the schedule, please refer to the “Annual Schedule and Project Funding”.
2）Interim Report(1) Organizations that have received grants must submit an “Interim Report” by October6

31st, 2024, 17:00 (Strictly adhere to the deadline).
(2) Documents to be submitted
Refer to the “Guideline Annex KNCF 2023 Application Process” and the “User Manual” fordetailed explanation of the Interim report.
3) Final Report(1) Organizations that have received grants must submit a “Final Report” by April 30th,
2025, 17:00, JST (Strictly adhere to the deadline).
(2) Documents to be submitted
Refer to the “Guideline Annex KNCF 2024 Application Process” and the “User Manual” fordetailed explanation of the Final report.
Note: Organization Collaboration Grant has been granted is expected to make an individual
presentation at KNCF steering Committee which take place in July annually.
5) Inquiries
After User Registration, inquiries may be made to the trustee and/or the trustor using theSystem menu [Contact/Message exchange].
(1) Please make any inquiries regarding Guidelines, Application and reports to the trustee,
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Ltd.
(2) Please make any inquiries regarding nature conservation activity to the trustor,Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation
6) Onsite Inspection
Onsite Inspection may be carried out as necessary for confirming the progress and the resultsof the granted project. Organizations may also be asked to present the project results atsymposiums or other events jointly held by the Keidanren Committee on NatureConservation and KNCF.

10. Protection of personal information
1) Purpose of Use
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Personal information submitted by applicants is used solely for the purpose of grant
selection, grant administration, and inspection by authorities. The results of funded projects
will be publicized on the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund website or other media.
2) Provision to Third Parties
When personal information of applicants is provided to a third party to achieve theaforementioned purpose for use, a careful selection of vendors is made and proper oversightis exercised to ensure secure management of the personal information.

11. Return of Grant
The return of a part or all of the grant may be requested in the following cases:(1) Discovery of a false declaration on the application.
(2) Use of the grant for non-applicable activities.
(3) Failure to notify of changes in project plans.
(4) Surplus at the end of the fiscal year.
(5) Failure to carry out the planned project.
(6) Identification as an anti-social force as described in Representation and Covenants
regarding an Anti-Social Force.
Separate Document

Refer to the declaration that “We are not an Anti-Social Force”・

Agreement regarding covenant”
In addition, when suspicion of unauthorized expenditure or unreported surplus arises during
or one year after the granted period, the trustee may conduct an investigation of the grantrecipient regarding grant usage and /or confirmation of vouchers related to the project.
Therefore, grant recipients are requested to maintain the documents related to the reports.

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