Call for project: On the Road to the COP31: Pacific Knowledge and Knowledge of the Pacific

afranorg
15 hours ago
4 min read

About the COP31

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s COP (or Conferences of the Parties) on climate bring together, delegates from around the world at the end of each year and for nearly two weeks to discuss critical environmental topics for all international stakeholders. For state representatives, this is an opportunity to jointly strengthen their commitments to fight climate change through major agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol (1997 at COP3) or the Paris Agreement (2015 at COP21). Multiple parallel events bring together experts, representatives of civil society and actors from the scientific and economic world.

Australia has proposed a bid to host the 31st COP to the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change in partnership with the Pacific in 2026, with the objective to amplify the voices, perspectives and solutions of Australia’s First Nations people and Pacific communities, as well as researchers, innovators, policymakers, industry leaders and civil society, for the benefit of the region and the world.

This call for proposal is organized as part of the Australia-France Roadmap – A New Agenda for Bilateral Cooperation, and its Pacific Shared Knowledge Initiative.

About the call

Overview

The COP plays a key role in the fight against climate change. The 2015 Paris climate agreement has become a global framework for action to combat global warming. The protection of our climate, environment, and biodiversity is essential to a sustainable world. It requires intensive and cooperative research at the local, regional and global levels. The outcomes of such research are directly relevant to the activities of civil society organisations, businesses, and government agencies.

The Pacific region is on the frontlines of climate change, facing sea level rise, extreme weather, and ecosystem degradation. But it is a voice that can drive emission reduction through its rich and diverse biodiversity dynamics, such as seagrass meadow or mangroves, its indigenous communities with their traditional knowledge, its scientific cooperation within the region and at a global scale, and technological innovations for its energy transition.

In preparation of the COP31, the Embassy of France to Australia is offering a grant to members of civil society organisations and/or to scientists to support preparatory consultation work for the COP31, with the aim of fostering exchanges and discussions, and delivering recommendations from the Pacific region. Projects can take the form of workshops and conferences, community awareness and public forums, reports and policy papers. Projects must involve and engage with organisations from at least one of the Pacific French territories (New Caledonia, Wallis-and-Futuna and French Polynesia).

A total budget of $44,000 AUD is available through this call. A maximum of 3 projects should be funded under this amount.

Eligibility

Applications are open to members of civil society organisations and researchers of any nationality and seniority level working for an Australia-based organisation.

Terms of funding

A total of AUD 44,000 (forty-four thousand Australian dollars) is made available for this call. Submitted projects must be completed before 1^st July 2026.

A selection committee appointed by the Embassy of France to Australia will review the applications and select successful applications.
The Embassy of France to Australia will notify each project coordinator of the outcome of their applications and the amount allowed to successful projects.
Upon acceptance of the funding (if selected), the project coordinator agrees to:
- Include a mention of the support brought by the Embassy of France to Australia on all communication materials used for the realisation of the project
- Comply to the Embassy of France to Australia communication terms below, and provide communication materials at least 3 (three) weeks before its use. These materials will be disseminated through the Embassy’s official communication channels.
- Provide the Embassy of France to Australia with a technical and financial report, including invoices and proofs of payment, on the outcome of the project no later than the 1^st August 2026. This report will be used in preparation of the COP31 as recommendation for the Pacific region.
- Ensure that the funding is used only for carrying out the projects described in the application. No part of the funding will be used or allocated for overheads or indirect costs.

Communication terms

The Embassy of France to Australia reserves the right to communicate about any public events or projects they provide funding for.

A condition of receiving a grant from the French government is the promotion of the funding provided. Grant recipients will assist the Embassy’s communication team in providing a promotional video or images about the funded project. This media will be shared with the Embassy to promote at their discretion on the official website and social media channels, following the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ media guidelines.

Grant recipients are encouraged to promote their project through the use of images, short videos or written text on social media. In the event that the recipient shares any information about the project funded either fully or in part by the Embassy, such funding must be mentioned either in text form or through the use of the logo. The logo can be utilised on all print materials and images. The logo will be provided to the beneficiary upon request.

Embassy official communication channels :

Website : La France en Australie

Facebook : France in Australia - Ambassade de France en Australie

LinkedIn: The Embassy of France to Australia

Instagram: @franceinaustralia

X: France in Australia