The following criteria will be applied in the revision and selection of proposals. Some projects may not necessarily comply with all the conditions. Projects should:

• Demonstrate measurable results on the progress of at least one of the stated RfP objectives;
• Be implemented within the MAR region;
• Coordinate their implementation across multiple stakeholders;
• Have transferable or replicable outcomes for other communities/protected areas;
• Strengthen local management capacity of professionals and institutions for the protection and management of coastal and marine resources of the MAR;
• Contribute to strengthening local capacities;
• Engage the MPAs of interest, and be aligned with their management plans and with the institutional priorities of the protected area managers;
• Create a new source of financing to reduce the financial gap of the protected area in which you will work (if applicable);
• Align with national, regional or global strategies, plans or policies;
• Align with ridge-to-reef strategies;
• Have activities that are closely aligned with the applicant organization’s mission;
• Propose activities that are sustainable beyond the project period;
• Build on current work in the area or successful model projects in the region;
• Demonstrate community participation and empowerment in the proposed activities (community/NGO/GO endorsement letters as backup documents);
• For collaborations with other local entities (women’s, indigenous peoples, and community groups/organizations, NGO and GO), please provide collaboration letters for the project;
• Promote collective and/or community resilience; and
• Clearly identify and assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of the proposed activities.

Specific criteria for the Reef Rescue Initiative window:

•  Create a new source of funding for coral reef restoration in the region (if applicable); and
• Generate transferable results to sites with potential for coral reef restoration.

For this RfP, at least 25% of the total budget must come from other sources, as a match to the requested funds. The match may be both cash and in-kind. Salaries/partial salaries of people directly involved in the development of the project may be included. The maximum amount allowed for administration expenses cannot exceed 10% of the total amount requested. Administration expenses (overhead) refer exclusively to the fixed operating costs of the organization.

The costs of implementing and complying with the Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) may be included in the budget. Eligible costs are, for example, the purchase of health & safety equipment, first aid kits, and diving insurance, among others, to be detailed in the proposal budget. Information related to the ESMS can be found on our website.

If your proposal is the continuation of a project supported by the small grants program and that ended a maximum of 3 months ago or is about to end (in a maximum of 6 months), you may submit a new proposal by selecting the “CONTINUITY” option in the online proposal form/template. Proponents may use the information from the previous proposal or adjust the information as needed. Please include a brief update on the results to date in the Introduction and Justification section (bullet c, online proposal form/template). You should also attach the due diligence documents that have been modified/updated, the new Project Development Table, the Project Budget, and the Environmental and Social Screening Tool.

This proposal will undergo evaluation like the others. If the proposal is approved, a modification to the last grant agreement will be made to expedite the donation process.

MAR Fund can answer questions in relation to the project idea, coherence and structure of the proposal and elements included in the documents or annexes. For this, the proponents must contact MAR Fund central office with ample time (no later than four weeks after the launch of the RfP, by September 22^nd, 2026) to be attended. The guidance provided does not imply approval of the proposal; final approval of proposals is the exclusive responsibility of the Board of Directors.

In addition to the proposal, a video of maximum three minutes may be submitted, in which the implementers, the objective, the activities, the expected results, the proposed impacts of the project and any relevant context information not mentioned in the proposal are presented in a summarized and engaging way. This does not have to be a professional video, but rather an informal –but informative– one prepared by the proponents (e.g. with mobile phones). Alternatively, the proponent may request a brief call with Elisa Blanda (eblanda@marfund.org) and Karla Zaldaña (kzaldana@marfund.org), at least two weeks before the deadline, by October 6^th, 2026, to present in no more than three minutes the same information that is required for the video. This call will be recorded and shared with the evaluation committee.

Complete proposals and the due diligence documentation, including the signed Appendix B, must be submitted through the on-line form/template on the MAR Fund webpage. Applicants submitting a proposal on the implementation of sustainable ventures/businesses that can demonstrate a positive impact on the natural resources of the MAR must also fill out the business form. Proposals that do not present complete documentation will not be evaluated and will be discarded.

Attached you will find the proposal template and annexes in Word/Excel. For community organizations or groups that can demonstrate the unavailability of an Internet connection, proposals can be sent to the following addresses of the MAR Fund central office or founding member, depending on the country in which the proposal will be submitted:

FOR MEXICO, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS

The Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund)
c/o Elisa Blanda
22 Av. 0-59, Zona 15, Vista Hermosa II, Guatemala, Guatemala 01015
Email address: eblanda@marfund.org

FOR BELIZE

Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT)
c/o Robbin Burns
2 Mango Street, Belmopan City, Cayo, Belize
Email address: cimanager@pactbelize.org

The deadline for the submission of proposals is October 20^th, 2026. All proposals must be received no later than 11:59 p. m. in each country on that date. If technical assistance is required, it will be provided until the same day at 5:00 p. m. (CST).

Proposals may be submitted in English or Spanish.

• Applicants and grantees must comply with the MAR Funds ESMS during proposal application and project implementation.

• If the proposal includes construction of small infrastructure, the applicant must submit documented proof of land ownership or legal right to use the land at the proposal stage. Acceptable documentation may include, as applicable: registered property titles, purchase agreements, loan-for-use (comodato) contracts, assembly resolutions for communal or ejido lands (communal lands), approved management plan or program (for co-managers or managers), or any other legally valid documents in accordance with national regulations.

• If the proposal is approved, the grantee must comply with all applicable national laws and administrative regulations for the receipt and management of donation funds, including legal registration, tax obligations, financial reporting, and banking compliance. The organization shall maintain proper accounting records, ensure traceability of funds, and make such records available for audit upon request.

• If the proposal is approved, beneficiaries are responsible for providing a bank account in the name of the NGO to receive the funds, along with all necessary and accurate details required for international transfers. Beneficiaries must also notify their bank of the incoming funds and provide any information needed to ensure successful receipt from abroad.

The selection process will be carried out in accordance with MAR Fund’s internal evaluation guidelines, and the result will be final. Applicants whose proposals are incomplete or do not meet the RfP guidelines will be notified early in the process. Those selected to advance to the next stage will be contacted with instructions to make necessary revisions if required. Proposals submitted under the RRI window will also be reviewed by the RRI Technical Supervisory Committee (TSC), which will provide technical recommendations. Project proposals will then be reviewed by the SGP Grants and Evaluation Committee, which will recommend the proposals to be supported in this RfP to be sent to the MAR Fund Board of Directors, who will make the final decision.

Applicants will be notified of the selection process results in March 2027, through the online platform and by email.

For questions on this request for proposals and the grant process, please contact the following person:

Elisa Blanda
Small Grants Program Officer
Central Office
eblanda@marfund.org

• Proponents, including those participating in the proposal preparation workshops prior to the launch of this Request for Proposals, are responsible for all costs associated with preparing and submitting their proposals to MAR Fund. MAR Fund is under no obligation to reimburse these costs – either in whole or in part – or to provide any advance payments or compensation if their proposal(s) is not selected. The guidance provided during the workshops does not imply approval of the proposal; final approval of proposals is the exclusive responsibility of the Board of Directors.
• Proponents acknowledge and accept that the preparation of the proposal(s) does not constitute a financial obligation on behalf of MAR Fund, and therefore the economic and financial responsibility for the preparation of the proposal(s) is exclusive of the proponent(s), regardless of the selection process outcome.
• Organizations selected for funding will be expected to implement the project in accordance with the approved proposal, budget, and work plan, maintain sound financial management, comply with MAR Fund procurement requirements, and submit all required technical, financial, and environmental and social reports on time, according to the grant agreement. Grantees will also be required to acknowledge MAR Fund support in project communications and share project results, products, datasets, maps, photographs, videos, and other deliverables generated through the grant.
• During project implementation and/or after project completion, grantees may also be requested to participate in monitoring, evaluations, field visits, audits, and other verification processes related to the grant, performed by MAR Fund staff, donors or advisory committees.

Download the proposal format and annexes

1. Proposal Format – 2026
2. Annex 1 – Project Development Table – 2026
3. Annex 2 – Example of indicators – 2026
4. Annex 3 – Project Budget – 2026
5. Appendix B – 2026
6. Appendix C – 2026
7. Business form – 2026

Proposals must be submitted (except in particular cases) through the MAR Fund on-line Small Grants Program system.

As a first step, revise if your organization is already registered in our system by consulting the list below:

If your organization is already registered, you can go directly to the project management system (https://ppd-sgp.marfund.org/) and add a new project.

In the event that your organization is already registered and you do not know or remember the access credential, please contact Elisa Blanda (eblanda@marfund.org) for technical support.

If your organization is not in the list above, please register at the following link https://ppd-sgp.marfund.org/forms/en, completing the organization form.

We recommend registering as soon as possible. Upon registration, you will receive a notification email with your on-line access credentials.