The Mava Foundation aims to promote the protection of nature by conserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions; promoting sustainable management and use of natural resources; and fostering a strong and effective conservation community.
The Foundation takes an eco-regional approach in its grant making. Its regional priorities are the Mediterranean Basin, the coastal zone of West Africa, and the Alpine Arc of Switzerland.
Additionally, Mava supports initiatives for a more sustainable economy, and for actions that contribute to conservation at a global level.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
The following are Mava’s programs for eco-regional conservation in the developing world (i.e., not including the program for the Alpine Arc of Switzerland).
1 – Mediterranean Basin. The Foundation aims to help conserve terrestrial and marine biodiversity in the climatic Mediterranean regions of North Africa, the Middle East, the Balkan states, and the North Mediterranean. Themes include the integration of protected areas into wider landscapes and seascapes; sustainable use of natural resources; and networking and capacity building with partner organizations.
About the program
2 — Coastal West Africa. Mava’s program in West Africa is coordinated with the West African Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas (comprising Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone). Thematic areas include support for marine protected areas; fisheries management; and promotion of sustainable practices in extractive industries and tourism.
About the program
3 — Sustainable Economy. The program addresses the need to reduce planetary over-consumption through a consideration of environmental costs and benefits. Thematic areas include environmental accounting; directing investment towards more sustainable management of natural resources; improving methods of producing goods and services; and fostering communities of cooperating actors.
About the program
4 — Global Projects. Mava considers funding for conservation initiatives that have global importance, but that do not fit the Foundation’s regional programs, or its program in Sustainable Economy. Global projects satisfy at least one of the following criteria: contribute broadly to conservation; address cross-cutting issues that influence conservation globally; address framework conditions for conservation; address global policy or international conventions; or link research with field work.
About the program
The Foundation’s grant recipients are primarily international NGOs, research institutes and universities, and local NGOs.
APPLICATION (for 1-2-3-4 preceding): The Foundation is currently not accepting any unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. New proposals will be by invitation only.
About grant making
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
In the geographical structure of the Terra Viva Grants Directory, Mava’s programs for the Mediterranean Basin and Coastal West Africa correspond to the countries below.
Eurasia and Central Asia: Turkey
Eastern Europe and Russia: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro
Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia
Sub-Saharan Africa: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone
Note: Mava’s program for the Mediterranean Basin includes additional countries in the “North” not defined as “developing” in this Directory. Similarly, the program for Alpine Arc focuses on Switzerland.
Mava’s website is available in English and French.
The Foundation’s list of projects can be helpful for grant seekers who want to understand Mava’s priorities. Additionally, Mava summarizes its funding history by key categories.
Contact Us provides complete information for the Foundation’s office in Gland, Switzerland.
January 2021