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Small grant facility for advocacy action

To further support civil society-led action, the EnviroRightsTT project is also offering a small grant facility. This facility is designed to help CSOs and community groups put their knowledge and ideas into practice by providing funding for short-term advocacy and pilot projects that aim to strengthen environmental governance in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Grants of up to US$10,000 are available for projects lasting up to six months. Priority is given to initiatives that:

  • Campaign for greater public participation and access to information in environmental matters
  • Advocate for broadening the jurisdiction of the Environmental Commission – and more broadly updating the Environmental Management Act
  • Address the environmental impacts of climate change, particularly on vulnerable communities
  • Raise awareness of “sacrifice zones” where marginalised groups face environmental harm
  • Advocate for constitutional reform to recognise the right to a healthy environment
  • Advance rights-based and inclusive approaches, particularly those led by or supporting women, youth, Indigenous peoples or other marginalised groups

 

We welcome creative and practical proposals, including campaigns, community outreach and policy advocacy, research or multimedia efforts. If your idea supports improved access to information, participation or justice in environmental matters, we want to hear from you.

 

Small Grant Application: Link to application form

 

Please submit applications to Technical Officer, Niamh Vaughan at niamh@canari.org with the email subject line “EnviroRightsTT: Small Grant Application – [insert CSO Name]”

 

More about the small grant:

 

The small grant facility under the EnviroRightsTT project can support a wide range of short-term advocacy and pilot initiatives that strengthen environmental governance in Trinidad and Tobago. We know these topics may seem complicated, so here are some possible advocacy campaigns or pilot action examples:

  1. FOIA request campaigns to uncover environmental information
    • Organise a targeted FOIA submission drive focused on key sectors such as quarrying or land development, with support from the project’s FOIA expert.
    • Analyse and publish findings to expose gaps, influence policy or support legal or community advocacy.
  2. Supporting community participation in EIA and other public consultations
    • Collaborate with relevant technical experts to simplify complex content into accessible formats for communities.
    • Convening community group discussions and prepare for effective engagement in relevant upcoming consultations or development planning processes.
  3. Advocacy for climate policy that is inclusive and uses a rights-based approach
    • Organise youth-led and grassroots consultations to gather inputs from vulnerable and frontline communities.
    • Host a public dialogue or climate hearing centring the lived experiences of impacted groups.
  4. Mapping environmental injustices
  • Conduct community-led mapping exercises using participatory GIS, citizen science and story mapping to document environmental harms and host a town hall or exhibit to share findings with the public, media and policymakers.

 

 

CANARI