Blue Action Fund (BAF) - Ökosystemare Anpassung Blue Action Fund (BAF) - Ecosystem adaptation Durch das Vorhaben werden Klimarisiken für vulnerable Bevölkerungsgruppen der Küstenregionen gemindert, insbesondere durch den Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung von relevanten Küstenökosystemen und die daraus resultierende Verbesserung von deren Umweltdienstleistungen (Ecosystem-based Adaptation, EbA). Durch den Finanzierungsbeitrag der FZ soll der Blue Action Fund (BAF) eine eigene Finanzierungslinie für EbA-Ansätze etablieren. (FZ-Modulziel). Diese soll dazu betragen, die Erhaltung von Netzwerken global wichtiger Küsten- und Meeresschutzgebiete zu fördern (FZ-Programmziel). Die Maßnahme leistet damit auch einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Umsetzung der SDGs sowie der Meeresschutz- und Fischerei-Strategie der Bundesregierung (10-Punkte-Aktionsplan des BMZ). Oceans and their coastal regions are most severely exposed to the impacts of climate change. Around 50% of the world's population lives in coastal areas and is dependent on healthy oceans and intact marine and coastal ecosystems, particularly in developing countries. Mangrove forests and coral reefs protect coastal areas against the effects of climate change, such as enhanced storm surges, cyclones and coastal erosion. They also serve as spawning grounds for fish, which are an essential source of protein and income for the local population. In addition, mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs absorb and store huge amounts of CO2 and their protection and restoration contributes to climate mitigation.This GCF Funded Activity (hereafter referred to as the Programme or GCF Programme) will be established as a special funding window under the Blue Action Fund (BAF). It concentrates on the promotion of Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches (EbA) in one of the most vulnerable regions affected by sea level rise, enhanced storm intensity, recurrent storm surges and coastal erosion: the Mozambique Channel / West Indian Ocean (WIO). Country selection (Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa) is guided by criteria such as vulnerability to climate effects, urgent need for implementation of climate adaptation measures, and the relevance to coastal populations of ecosystem services from coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems. Special attention is given to the alignment between the Programme approach and national priorities as well as existing strategies and policy frameworks. The Programme's objective is to enhance, through a coastal zone management based on the conservation and sustainable use of coastal ecosystems, ecosystem services that contribute to reducing climate change-related risks for vulnerable coastal communities. The outcome will increase the resilience of vulnerable coastal populations to climate change. The Blue Action Fund (BAF) is an independent non-profit foundation and currently the only global institution exclusively funding local level initiatives in the marine/coastal conservation and sustainable fisheries sectors. It funds NGOs to strengthen the resilience of coastal populations against climate change. The Programme approach is to use the structure, specific know-how and execution capacities of the BAF in order to fund NGOs with suitable and promising sub-projects, based on EbA to climate change in the Programme region, and with considerable engagement of stakeholders (local population and national authorities) during sub-project preparation and implementation. The BAF will launch one or two specific calls for proposals to be financed with GCF funding as within the scope of the Programme. These calls will be aligned with GCF result areas and have a specific focus on EbA and related requirements. Sub-projects will be selected by application of specific adaptation and EbA-related criteria (e.g. quality of climate rationale, coherence with national and/or regional adaptation plans, see section B.3. for complete list). In addition, general BAF selection criteria will be applied as specified in the Grant Procedures Manual (Annex 22). Every single sub-project will have to demonstrate the location-specific adaptation impact of the intervention. Targeted key achievements of implemented sub-projects are: Vulnerable coastal populations will be able to reduce or avoid negative impacts of climate change through a stabilized provision of ecosystem services, Important marine and coastal ecosystems will be protected and sustainably managed to ensure adaptation-relevant ecosystem services for vulnerable coastal communities, Enhanced knowledge, expertise and capacity of relevant national agencies in using Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approaches for a climate-resilient coastal zone management. Durch das Vorhaben werden Klimarisiken für vulnerable Bevölkerungsgruppen der Küstenregionen gemindert, insbesondere durch den Schutz und die nachhaltige Nutzung von relevanten Küstenökosystemen und die daraus resultierende Verbesserung von deren Umweltdienstleistungen (Ecosystem-based Adaptation/ EbA). Durch den Finanzierungsbeitrag der FZ soll der Blue Action Fund (BAF) eine eigene Finanzierungslinie für EbA-Ansätze etablieren. (FZ-Modulziel). Oceans and their coastal regions are most severely exposed to the impacts of climate change. Around 50% of the world's population lives in coastal areas and is dependent on healthy oceans and intact marine and coastal ecosystems, particularly in developing countries. Mangrove forests and coral reefs protect coastal areas against the effects of climate change, such as enhanced storm surges, cyclones and coastal erosion. They also serve as spawning grounds for fish, which are an essential source of protein and income for the local population. In addition, mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs absorb and store huge amounts of CO2 and their protection and restoration contributes to climate mitigation.This GCF Funded Activity (hereafter referred to as the Programme or GCF Programme) will be established as a special funding window under the Blue Action Fund (BAF). It concentrates on the promotion of Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches (EbA) in one of the most vulnerable regions affected by sea level rise, enhanced storm intensity, recurrent storm surges and coastal erosion: the Mozambique Channel / West Indian Ocean (WIO). Country selection (Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa) is guided by criteria such as vulnerability to climate effects, urgent need for implementation of climate adaptation measures, and the relevance to coastal populations of ecosystem services from coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems. Special attention is given to the alignment between the Programme approach and national priorities as well as existing strategies and policy frameworks. The Programme's objective is to enhance, through a coastal zone management based on the conservation and sustainable use of coastal ecosystems, ecosystem services that contribute to reducing climate change-related risks for vulnerable coastal communities. The outcome will increase the resilience of vulnerable coastal populations to climate change. The Blue Action Fund (BAF) is an independent non-profit foundation and currently the only global institution exclusively funding local level initiatives in the marine/coastal conservation and sustainable fisheries sectors. It funds NGOs to strengthen the resilience of coastal populations against climate change. The Programme approach is to use the structure, specific know-how and execution capacities of the BAF in order to fund NGOs with suitable and promising sub-projects, based on EbA to climate change in the Programme region, and with considerable engagement of stakeholders (local population and national authorities) during sub-project preparation and implementation. The BAF will launch one or two specific calls for proposals to be financed with GCF funding as within the scope of the Programme. These calls will be aligned with GCF result areas and have a specific focus on EbA and related requirements. Sub-projects will be selected by application of specific adaptation and EbA-related criteria (e.g. quality of climate rationale, coherence with national and/or regional adaptation plans, see section B.3. for complete list). In addition, general BAF selection criteria will be applied as specified in the Grant Procedures Manual (Annex 22). Every single sub-project will have to demonstrate the location-specific adaptation impact of the intervention. Targeted key achievements of implemented sub-projects are: Vulnerable coastal populations will be able to reduce or avoid negative impacts of climate change through a stabilized provision of ecosystem services, Important marine and coastal ecosystems will be protected and sustainably managed to ensure adaptation-relevant ecosystem services for vulnerable coastal communities, Enhanced knowledge, expertise and capacity of relevant national agencies in using Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approaches for a climate-resilient coastal zone management.