The Winrock International India-Ford Small Grants Facility was initiated in 1999-2000 and is funded by the Ford Foundation. The objective of this program has been administration of small grants (approx US $5,000) in the area of natural resources management. The focus areas in the past have been Participatory/Community Forestry, included funding support in the water sector as well. Winrock International India screens, disburses and monitors grants awarded to sub-grantees; more than 200 grants have been made since the inception of this program.

New Direction 2005 onwards
It has been increasingly felt that the focus of the Small Grants should become even more specific and concentrate in one thematic area/region as well as administer somewhat larger grants (US $25-35,000) to a fewer number of selected sub-grantees in order to register more impact, increase likelihood of sustainability by helping project enterprises become viable.

In this background, it has been decided through consultations between Ford and Winrock International India India that the new focus area of the Small Grants Facility over the next two years would be in mountains and coastal eco-systems.

Winrock International India’s Approach to Small Grants Management
Winrock International India’s approach to grant making will be guided by an understanding of how the grants fit among the many other forces influencing the natural resources management sector in the mountains and coasts. It will aim to support or participate in the advancements taking place in the area of biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods development with a strong focus on enterprise development. Our approach to grant making is based on the following broad principles:

• Identifying and supporting new trends
• Deploying grants strategically to promote convergence and multiply impact
• Strong incentives for local participation and addressing equity
• Scaling up successful work