Identifying and Supporting Local Small-Scale Projects for Land Management, Adaptation and Community-Led Conservation

  • Country: Mexico
  • Organisation: Fondo de Conservación El Triunfo A.C.
  • Support area: Conserving biological diversity
  • Objective: Enhancing local climate resilience through ecosystem restoration and sustainable land use
  • IKI funding: 950,777 euros
  • Project start: 01/10/2025
  • Project end: 30/09/2028
  • Website: FONCET.org

The Sierra Madre of Chiapas, Mexico’s main freshwater source and home to vital cloud forests, is facing severe degradation caused by deforestation, poor land management, and fires. FONCET, with more than 22 years of experience, proposes a small grants mechanism through a call for proposals to restore forests and soils and promote climate-smart agricultural practices across this landscape. This IKI Small Grants project aims to fund at least 12 community projects led by women, youth, and Indigenous groups, benefiting 1,000 families and restoring 5,000 hectares. Through these efforts, the initiative will strengthen resilience, reduce climate risks, and foster gender equality and intercultural inclusion in local adaptation actions.

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

IKI Small Grants supports the funding institution FONCET in their organizational capacity development through:

  • Building expertise for the design and implementation of a Call for Proposals
  • Trainings for the creation of gender action guidelines
  • The establishment of a conflict resolution strategy

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

The Fondo de Conservación El Triunfo A.C. (FONCET) is a Mexican non-profit organization established in 2002. It promotes biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in Chiapas through ecosystem restoration, sustainable production systems, and community-based adaptation, strengthening local capacities and fostering public–private collaboration for long-term environmental sustainability.