Eligibility Criteria

 Nature’s Opportunity for Development (NODe) mechanism is designed as a dedicated financial and technical assistance mechanism that empowers Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), community-based organizations, and aligned civil society actors across Guyana. To ensure that support is directed toward entities capable of delivering high-impact and sustainable results, all applicants must meet a defined set of eligibility criteria prior to being considered for funding or technical assistance. 

These criteria are structured to promote inclusivity while maintaining accountability and strategic alignment with NODe’s environmental, social, and economic goals. The mechanism acknowledges that not all communities begin at the same level of readiness; therefore, criteria are intentionally calibrated to provide access to both well-established organizations and grassroots actors with strong local legitimacy. 

The mechanism is open to several types of organizations, reflecting the diversity of actions contributing to conservation and sustainable development across Guyana. Eligible applicants include: 

1. Community-Based Enterprises (CBEs): These are locally established businesses that are either already generating revenue or seeking to transition toward financial sustainability. Such enterprises are often rooted in community ownership and aim to generate income while upholding environmental and cultural values. 
2. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): These are informal or semi-formal groups that operate at a village or regional level, often with a volunteer culture, and focus on social or environmental outcomes rather than profits. Their work may include organizing clean-ups, promoting traditional practices, or delivering education and health services with a community-centered approach. 
3. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Larger, often more formalized entities that work across regions to deliver conservation or development projects. NGOs that are not based in specific villages are eligible as long as they demonstrate meaningful inclusion of local beneficiaries and are aligned with the NODe mission. 
4. Village Councils: As legally recognized governance bodies representing Amerindian villages, councils may apply on behalf of their communities for support in executing livelihood or conservation projects. They are assessed under the same eligibility framework as other organizations but are recognized as natural fiduciaries and community leaders. 
5. Collaborative Groups: Partnerships involving two or more eligible organizations may also be eligible, provided that the lead applicant is locally registered and able to fulfil fiduciary responsibilities. These forms of evidence help assess the organization’s readiness for funding and its capacity to deliver impact. For example, a consortium comprising a registered NGO with experience in education, a community-based organization (CBO) that manages crafts, and a village council might jointly propose a project to develop an ecotourism initiative. 

To ensure responsible and effective delivery of resources, applicants must meet several core requirements: 

1. Legal Status: While full registration under Guyana’s law is preferred, unregistered groups are not automatically excluded. In such cases, the applicant may be allowed to apply through a registered organization acting as the fiduciary sponsor (e.g., a village council). Where necessary, the mechanism may provide technical assistance (TA) to help eligible applicants formalize their status during the project development phase.
2. Access to Financial Services: Applicants are expected to have access to a functional bank account at a recognised financial institution in Guyana. Where this is not feasible, such as for informal CBOs, the applicable may work through a registered financial intermediary with appropriate safeguards and controls. The mechanism prioritizes transparency and accountability; clear financial channels are essential for disbursement and effective monitoring. 
3. Organization Track Record: A minimum of 6 to 12 months of operational history is typically required. Applicants must demonstrate a basic track record of past activities, which may include customer or beneficiary testimonials, a letter of support, and previous grants received. These forms of evidence help assess the organization’s readiness for funding and its capacity to deliver impact. 
4. Project Alignment: The proposed activities must be aligned with NODe’s strategic objectives. Projects that advance environmental stewardship, support inclusive economic development, build resilience to climate shocks, or promote the preservation of indigenous knowledge and culture will be prioritized. This alignment must be explicit in the application and verifiable through documentation or interviews. 
5. Community Involvement: All applications must show evidence of community engagement or consultations. This could take the form of village meeting minutes, a letter of support from leaders, or survey results demonstrating local demand for the initiative. Projects that are led or co-designed by community members will be more favourably assessed. 
6. Monitoring Commitment: As part of the mechanism accountability framework, all grantees are required to participate in periodic reporting and evaluation. Organizations must express a willingness to measure and share basic financial, social, and environmental metrics in formats provided by the NODe team. Technical assistance will be available to help grantees set up or strengthen monitoring systems, where needed. 

Eligible projects must contribute meaningfully to at least one of NODe’s core strategic outcomes. These include: 

1. Environmental Impact/Conservation: Projects must contribute to the conservation of Guyana’s ecosystem or the sustainable use of natural resources. This includes reducing the threat to biodiversity, adapting to climate change, or enhancing the resilience of ecosystems and communities to environmental shocks. 
2. Social Inclusion, Equity, and Livelihood: NODe prioritizes projects that promote inclusive participation and generate lasting benefits for vulnerable or underrepresented groups, including women, youth, and people in remote areas. Livelihood initiatives should be rooted in local culture and build long-term skills and income for community members. Projects must embed equity across gender, age, and vulnerable groups, and should include a knowledge transfer component that builds long-term community capacity.
3. Innovation and Scalability: NODe supports new approaches and ideas that could serve as models for other communities. Innovation doesn’t necessarily mean high-tech solutions; it can also refer to adapting traditional knowledge in new ways, applying existing tools to new problems, or forging unusual partnerships. For example, a CBO is piloting a project to help villages collectively buy equipment for shared agricultural use. Interventions must demonstrate potential to continue beyond the funding period pr be replicable within and across communities. 
4. Cultural Continuity: Many eligible communities possess deep ecological knowledge and traditions rooted in respect for nature. NODe supports project that incorporates or protect traditional practices, particularly those linked to conservation. 
5. Feasibility: Proposed activities must be viable within the timeframe, resources, and capacity available to the applicant. Where gaps exist, technical assistance can be provided. 

While NODe seeks to be inclusive, it also requires a minimum readiness threshold to ensure efficient and accountable use of resources.

Applicants should:

• Implement basic internal controls (even if informal) for handling funding. 
• Be willing to engage in guided planning, budgeting, and monitoring processes. 
• Demonstrate an ability to adapt to risk mitigation strategies and participate in regular performance reviews.

 To maintain the integrity, environmental sustainability, and social impact of the NODe financial mechanism, certain activities are not eligible for funding or technical assistance. Applications that include or are primarily based on any of the following will be disqualified from consideration:

1. Environmentally Harmful Practices: Projects that involve deforestation, wildlife exploitation, pollution, or other forms of ecological harm will not be considered. 
2. Non-Participatory Initiatives: Applications that do not include meaningful consultation with affected communities or that are designed without local input will be rejected. 
3. Political or Religious Campaigning: Activities that promote political parties, electoral campaigns, or religious conversion are ineligible, regardless of other merits. 
4. Commercial-Only Ventures: Profit-driven initiatives that do not integrate social or environmental goals, such as pure retail operations, are not a good fit for the mechanism. 
5. Conflict of Interest/Governance Issues: Applicants with unresolved governance issues, misuse of prior funds, or conflict of interest that would undermine transparency will not be considered unless they can demonstrate credible reform.