2nd May 2024
Sugarcane field linked to a Bonsucro Impact Fund project in Pakistan. Credit: WWF Pakistan
The Bonsucro Impact Fund has entered its third year, and new grant opportunities are now available for projects centred on human rights.
We’ve published our first call for proposals for 2024, on Collective action to combat forced labour and child labour in the sugarcane sector. If you have an innovative project concept that will create meaningful impact and address this critical challenge facing the sugarcane sector, then make sure to apply for our grants.
Details of the grants
This year, we are awarding impact grants of up to £150,000. This will be awarded to an impact project that will produce tangible results and impacts for communities, as well as enhance knowledge and learning in the sector.
The projects should be located in one of the following countries:
- Americas: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay.
- Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe.
- Asia-Pacific: Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam.
Projects that consider gender as a cross-cutting theme will be prioritised for funding. The lead partner for each project must be a Bonsucro member.
The closing date for concept notes is 26 June 2024. This year, applicants will be invited to submit their concept notes through our online application form, giving detail to their project, the organisations involved and the predicted impact. The online form can be found here.
The Bonsucro Impact Fund team are hosting a webinar on 15 May, 2pm BST, to present the latest call for proposal, provide guidance on how to submit a successful application and answer your questions. The webinar will be held in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
“I am eager to see the project concepts our members propose this year, and look forward to adding some terrific projects to our portfolio of grants that are creating positive change in the sugarcane sector”
Sophie O’Loghlen-Vidot, Impact Funding Manager
What is the Bonsucro Impact Fund?
The Bonsucro Impact Fund was launched in early 2022 to co-invest in projects that catalyse and accelerate sustainable sugarcane production. These projects involve multiple actors across the sugarcane supply chain, all working together to address critical challenges and develop solutions that can be replicated by others.
As a key part of Bonsucro’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, the Bonsucro Impact Fund helps Bonsucro to meet the three core aims of the plan:
- To improve the environmental impact of sugarcane
- To strengthen human rights and decent work in sugarcane farming and milling.
- To increase value across the supply chain
Why is the Bonsucro Impact Fund needed?
Over 100 million people across 120 countries around the world make their living from sugarcane cultivation and processing. While some workers and growers find sugarcane production a pathway to prosperity, this is not the case for many.
Many countries where sugarcane is grown face significant social and labour challenges, creating issues around adequate pay, basic rights and working conditions on many farms and mills. The employment of seasonal and migrant workers can create opportunities for unethical recruitment practices, which can lead to debt bondage and human trafficking. Child labour is also a challenge facing the sector – it is often driven by poverty, with families reliant on the children’s income, and by the absence of public or affordable services in remote agricultural areas.
The Bonsucro Impact Fund allows Bonsucro to invest in projects that develop an innovative approach to find a solution to these challenges.
The Bonsucro Impact Fund so far
In the two years since its launch, we have received 71 applications for projects across 19 countries across themes of climate action, smallholder farmers and human rights. The quality of applications has been excellent, and the applications were extremely varied and reflected the diversity of challenges the Bonsucro Impact Fund aspires to address.
Fourteen projects were awarded grants across thirteen countries, and we’re looking forward to sharing stories from the projects at Bonsucro Global Week. Our project selection committee was vital in making the tricky decision-making process smooth and rewarding – we’re grateful to each member of the committee for their time and dedication.
Where does the money come from?
The BIF is possible thanks to Bonsucro members buying and selling credits on the Bonsucro Credit Trading Platform. Around 50% of the fee for each sale goes directly into the BIF, and each sale helps us to drive impact across the sugarcane sector. A second call for proposals, focused on soil health, will be launched later this year.
If you have an innovative project concept that addresses forced labour and child labour through collective action, take a look at the call for proposals, and submit your concept note through our online form before 26 June 2024.
