A guide for community funding: World Environment Day 2008

Introduction

World Environment Day 2008 is a high-profile international celebration that is hosted by a different country each year in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This year New Zealand has been selected to host World Environment Day on 5 June 2008, giving us the opportunity to raise the profile of environmental issues throughout New Zealand, and showcase our country to the world.

The theme for World Environment Day 2008 is climate change with a focus on moving towards a low-carbon economy and lifestyle. ‘Kick the Habit’ (the ‘carbon’ habit) is the international slogan for the event.

While Wellington is the nominated host city, this is a national event in which all New Zealanders can participate through organising a wide range of community/regional events and activities. These events and activities need to take place during the week of 2–8 June 2008.

Further information regarding current planned events/activities for World Environment Day 2008 is available at www.world.environment.govt.nz. If your application is successful we will also profile your project on this website.

Eligibility and funding criteria

Eligibility criteria

Applicants who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply for funding:

your organisation/group/school/early childhood centre must be a legally registered New Zealand entity
the project must align and support the key themes of World Environment Day 2008
the project must take place during the week of 2–8 June 2008.

Funding criteria

Your application will be assessed against the following criteria:

projects that raise awareness of climate change
projects that facilitate action for the environment
projects that can demonstrate support from partner organisations/groups (including financial or in-kind [In-kind is time or resources donated to the project (eg, there is no cash changing hands)])
projects that generate a significant amount of participation within and across communities and/or which leave a legacy of sustainability

Key dates

Date	Event	Who
12pm 29 February 2008	Deadline for submitting applications	Applicant
14 March 2008 (approx)	Notification of decision	Ministry
28 March 2008 (approx)	Deed of Funding developed	Ministry
12pm 28 March 2008 *	Deadline for submitting applications	Applicant
11 April 2008 (approx)	Notification of decision	Ministry
25 April 2008 (approx)	Deed of Funding developed	Ministry
2–8 June 2008	World Environment Day projects commence	Applicant

* All school and early childhood centre applications: These will be considered as part of the second funding round (ie, 28 March 2008).

Items that we can't fund

Capital expenditure (ie, computers, vehicles, video equipment, material for construction of a building).
Retrospective/backdated costs (ie, costs incurred before the Deed of Funding is signed).
Venture capital or commercial development such as setting up or developing business activities, marketing a new idea or making a financial profit.
Normal operation costs (ie, funds to meet an organisation’s ‘normal’ responsibilities for the management of resources under their control).
Proposals that financially benefit private individuals or groups.
Projects that are profit-making.

Submitting your application form

Your completed application form should be emailed to WED@mfe.govt.nz by 12pm Friday 29 February 2008 OR 12pm Friday 28 March 2008.

Alternatively, you can post or deliver your application to:

World Environment Day funding
Ministry for the Environment
Environment House
PO Box 10 362
23 Kate Sheppard Place
Thorndon
Wellington

Emailing your application to the above email address would be preferable.

Assessment process

Applications will be assessed on merit by the Ministry for the Environment’s World Environment Day project team.

Please note that funding is limited, hence not all eligible applications will be funded.

Funding decision

You will be advised of the funding decision via email and hard-copy letter, approximately two weeks after submission of your application. At this time advisers at the Ministry for the Environment will work with you to prepare the Deed of Funding and discuss arrangements for receiving the approved funding amount.

If your application is approved, your organisation/group will be required to enter into a Deed of Funding with the Ministry for the Environment. Appendix 1 shows a copy of the Deed of Funding.

Deed requirements

As a condition of the Deed of Funding you will be required to report on the following:

what organisations/groups were directly involved in the project
the number of participants directly involved
key performance indicators (ie outcomes or outputs) eg, number of trees planted, amount of waste diverted from landfill and/or recycled, litres of water conserved.

We also encourage all projects to take up the sustainability challenge and register their next steps at www.sustainability.govt.nz

Reducing your project's carbon footprint

In carrying out your project you will need to show us that you are taking steps to be carbon-conscious. For example, if you are planning to hold an event to promote action for climate change, we would like to know if you will be encouraging the use of event-friendly transportation (eg, bicycles) to and from the event and that any waste generated from the event will be recycled/disposed of appropriately.

Contact us

Advisers at the Ministry for the Environment will be available to help you at any stage of the process leading up to World Environment Day 2008.

You can contact us on 0800 WED 2008 or email WED@mfe.govt.nz

Appendix 1 : Deed of funding

View deed of funding (PDF 111KB)