17th May 2023
We are inviting applications for three new grants available from the Bonsucro Impact Fund (BIF), under the theme of human rights and decent work.
Issues regarding gender equality, basic rights and working conditions are prevalent in the sugarcane sector. The sector is male-dominated, with women workers mostly found in lower-paid roles and denied equal working conditions or access to safe environments free of gender-based violence. The physically demanding nature of sugarcane production also poses a health risk to workers. Exposure to high temperatures, pesticides and smoke from burning cane fields leaves workers vulnerable to heat exhaustion, dehydration and health issues like chronic kidney disease.
Bonsucro is committed to driving decent work and safer working conditions. The BIF allows us to invest in projects that develop innovative approaches to finding solutions to these pressing challenges.
We are looking to fund projects that promote collective action to strengthen human rights and improve working conditions in the sugarcane sector. More specifically, successful projects will use collective action to:
- Eliminate and/or remediate child labour and forced labour, and/or
- Improve health and safety and working conditions of sugarcane workers
For this theme of human rights and decent work, two innovation grants (up to £50,000) and one impact grant (up to £150,000) will be awarded.
The innovation grant will be awarded to a pilot project that takes an innovative approach to strengthening human rights and decent work, trying new ideas, technologies and tools. It should last between 12 and 18 months.
To be awarded the impact grant, a project should demonstrate the potential to drive change and the ability to be replicated by others in a variety of sugarcane origins. The project will be for the duration of up to 36 months, and as such will be expected to product tangible results and impacts for communities in the sugarcane sector.
Our Impact Funding Manager, Sophie O’Loghlen-Vidot, says:
“Improving human rights due diligence and working conditions in sugarcane is an important pillar of the Bonsucro Impact Fund. We’re looking forward to seeing the applications for this call for proposals, and to supporting projects that accelerate progress in this area.“
Projects must be located in one of the following countries:
Americas: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
Africa: Cameroon, Eswatini, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa
Asia-Pacific: Australia, China, India, Pakistan, Thailand
Projects that address smallholders and/or gender as cross-cutting themes will be prioritised for funding. Each project must have a Bonsucro member as the lead partner to be eligible for a grant.
The BIF team will hold two webinars on the latest calls for proposals, providing you with guidance on how to present an application and answering your questions. The webinars will be held on:
- Thursday 8 June, 16:00 BST / 12:00 BRT / 09:00 CST – presented in English, Spanish and Portuguese
- Wednesday 14 June, 10:00 BST / 12:30 IST / 16:00 ICT – presented in English
The call for proposals can be found in English, Spanish and Portuguese. If you have a project concept, look at the BIF calls for proposals and submit your concept notes to fund@bonsucro.com.
The closing date for applications is 3 July 2023.
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.
