The co-investment program was first developed in 2018 as a funding delivery model for landscape-managed species and threatened ecological communities. This has proven to be a successful model for large-scale projects and Saving our Species is looking for more interested groups and organisations to continue with this initiative beyond 2021. The more people, organisations, resources and expertise we can devote to our threatened species, means the more we can achieve for our plants and animals facing extinction.
All applications are welcome, including non-governmental organisations, community groups, Aboriginal groups, corporate entities and universities. Please note, a valid ABN or ACN is a requirement for application. If you have the expertise, resources, technology, or a pool of volunteers that can support on-ground actions for threatened species, please apply to become a Conservation Co-Investment partner.
What we are looking for
Your organisation, or consortium, should be experienced in delivering large-scale conservation projects, for example, habitat restoration or rehabilitation.
You will be required to mobilise a workforce to undertake on-ground activities, so it would be preferable if you have strong volunteer support. Ideally, you will have an existing network of corporate and philanthropic relationships because you will need to be able to provide, or source, a cash contribution towards funding your planned conservation project. Saving our Species will also invest in the project through a grant payment.
The request for Expressions of Interest opens on Tuesday 30 November 2021 and closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 23 January 2022. Your submission must be lodged electronically to the Saving our Species Mailbox: savingourspecies@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Download Expressions of Interest criteria
Download Expressions of Interest Q&A
Submit your Expressions of Interest via the Saving our Species mailbox: savingourspecies@environment.nsw.gov.au
Why are we doing this
The co-investment scheme is a co-funding model. Partners are required to source financial contributions to match government investment in this model.
Leveraging funding provides greater benefits to threatened species and ecological communities, by increasing the number of threatened species projects that can be delivered. This contributes to achieving the long-term Saving our Species program aim of securing threatened entities in the wild for 100 years.
Saving our Species (SoS) will be co-funding between $2 million to $2.5 million as part of this co-funding model. This investment is from the additional $75 million that has been allocated by the NSW Government to continue Saving our Species over the next 5 years (2021-26).
Expressions of Interest governance
A probity adviser will be engaged through the appropriate NSW Government prequalification scheme to oversee the Expressions of Interest process to ensure fair and transparent decisions.
Decision points
Once submissions to the EOI are received and evaluated, a Request for Proposals may be undertaken if it is necessary to prioritise between several identified potential partners. Following the evaluation, Saving our Species will negotiate the agreement with the successful organisations.
Legislative commitment
The co-investment program is consistent with the Biodiversity Conservation Program under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Previous co-investment partners
See below for previous co-investment partners who helped make the program such a success. The continuation of this vital work with existing and new partners is essential to maintain and improve our previous investment from 2018-21.