FAQs

Argentina, Australia, China, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States.

Yes.

We regret that we cannot fund activities outside of the focal countries. It is possible that we might add additional countries in the future based on new analyses of priority interventions.

Yes, please use this table, which matches materials to particular countries, as an indicator of key priorities for the Fund:

If you want to work on priority materials outside of the focal countries as listed in the above table, please be in touch first by sending an email to fund4nature@conservation.org to verify validity.

Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming that focuses on positive outcomes that ensure the long-term viability of land to sustain production by working ‘with nature’ rather than against it. Regenerative agriculture aims to go beyond simply doing ‘less bad’ and “do more good” by delivering many co-benefits for farmers, nature and climate. It is underpinned by the following core principles: 

• Increase the capacity of soils to sequester carbon, hold water and improve other elements of soil functionality 

• Protect, restore and enhance biodiversity (including native plant and animal species and their habitats), both on the farm and in the surrounding landscape. This includes avoiding any conversion or degradation of natural ecosystems

• Support the livelihoods of farmers

• Eliminate the use of synthetic agrochemical inputs by favoring ecological solutions that promote (not degrade) natural processes 

• Enhance animal welfare of farmed livestock.

Yes. The Fund seeks projects that address multiple areas of regenerative agriculture, although the focus of the proposed program can emphasize specific principles more than others. There are many types of farm-based practices that can address the principles and outcomes of a regenerative system and applications for the Fund should articulate the types of practices being promoted and expected measurable outcomes. 

Leather, wool, cotton and cashmere. We regret that we cannot fund interventions for other types of materials.

Potential applicants do not need to have existing certifications in place. Indeed, this is an emerging area with few certifications specifically for regenerative agriculture. Applicants should indicate any third-party sustainability certifications for farm-level production, as this will help us understand existing practices - and how they might relate to regenerative outcomes. 

Under the 'umbrella' of 'regenerative', there are a suite of best practices, including organic approaches. Yet taken as a whole, regenerative agriculture aims to move beyond organic, and deliver on many outcomes such as restoring soil health, improving carbon sequestration, protecting biodiversity, etc. At the most fundamental level, our approach to promoting regenerative agriculture is focused on outputs and outcomes, not only practices.

No. The purpose of the Fund is to drive a transition to regenerative practices across the wider industry, and to build awareness and support for regenerative agriculture in general, which goes beyond the fashion sector. We do hope to connect selected projects to the Kering supply chain, as we are committed to sourcing materials that enhance nature.

We will explore different incentives for farms who have transitioned to regenerative agriculture.

A call for proposals will be opened on an annual basis, allowing applicants to submit requests for funding during the timeframe of January 1st to April 30th.   
Application period open: January 2021 – April 2021
Application deadline: Friday, April 30th at 11:59PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST). 
Decision: Funding decisions will be made by early July, with funds available in August.  Upon selection, applicants will be notified by the Fund. Conservation International will then reach out to applicants to inform them of next steps in the funding process.  

Applicants can request funding from €100,000 to €500,000 (for the life of the grant).

Applicants can request funding for 1 – 3 years (not to exceed €500,000 over the three-year     period, if requesting the ceiling amount/duration).

We understand that different projects will vary in terms of resource needs, timeline for delivery of outcomes, and time to maturation. Therefore, the Fund is set up to provide applicants the flexibility to suggest projects that align best with the timeline and funding needs of the proposed activities. Applicants need to be clear what measurable outcomes will be delivered by the project during the tenure of the grant – even if the project extends beyond the grant period. 

The short answer is yes. However, all ‘phase 2’ opportunities will not be prioritized and will be assessed based on the competitiveness of the proposal and the availability of funding at the time of the request.

All projects must meet the following eligibility criteria. Applicants must fall under one of the following categories:

• MSME companies*:  Suppliers, farmers or estates that are categorized as micro, small or medium enterprises.  

• Farming groups: Cooperatives or associations, with legal status in the project country.   

• Project developers:  Not for profit organizations with a mission aligned to the purpose of the Fund.  Other raw material aggregators that engage with farmers / farming groups.

*For the purpose of the Fund, CI will use IFC’s definition of a micro, small or medium enterprise.  The ranges are shown in the table below.
 

Following the short-listing process, applicants will be screened to meet CI due diligence review, which are shared in greater detail via the grant application portal. 

Your submission package must contain:

• Completed application form in Word that includes an overview of the applicant, proposed project, KPIs, and workplan. 

• Completed budget projections in Excel.

We also welcome the submission of select additional materials, such as photos and videos.
 

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Alignment with Fund Objective: The proposed projects is aligned with the outcomes the Fund is seeking, in the countries that have been prioritized. 

• Opportunity to Scale: The concept shows the ability to scale. In this case, scale is taken to mean either spatially to new geographies, and/or scaling into multiple/additional principles of regenerative agriculture using the funding provided. Given that the Fund seeks to transition 1,000,000 hectares towards regenerative agriculture, we are interested in projects that can scale across wide areas.

• Feasibility of Idea: The proposed project with measurable outcomes is achievable within the project timeframe and budget, and there is a high likelihood of success. 

• Capacity of Partner: The applicant has the proven l capacity to implement, manage, communicate, and report on activities proposed in the project.

• Relevance:   and the ability to deliver high quality raw materials into fashion and luxury supply chains. 

Grantees will be expected to provide financial reports on a quarterly basis and technical progress reports on a semi-annual basis, utilizing a standardized reporting template.  As part of the technical progress reports, the grantee will provide updates on progress against key performance indicators (KPIs). KPIs will be a mix of indicators prioritized by the Fund manager, as well as those proposed by the grantee. 

We are interested in understanding biodiversity on the farm in terms of: (1) enhancing soil biodiversity; (2) protecting/restoring plant and animal species on the farm; (3) protecting/restoring habitats on the farm; and 4) as a result of all this, building back ecosystem functionality (services or nature's contribution to people). Conservation International will lead when it comes to providing technical support to assess biodiversity outcomes. Conservation International will provide addition information and support to award recipients after assessing biodiversity outcomes.

• Secretariat: Conservation International - responsible for day-to-day operations and coordination, financial oversight, grant-making and grant management. 

• Technical Committee: Experts from Kering and Conservation International - charged with the process to select and approve grants, evaluate progress of grants and the Fund overall.

• Leadership Council: Composed of senior leaders from business and conservation and who provides general strategic advice and direction.

If you have additional funding sources, please let us know. While this is not a requirement, co-financing may indicate enhanced capacity to implement and deliver outcomes.

Yes, please get in touch at: fund4nature@conservation.org. We would welcome opportunities to expand the fund - and its impact - by bringing more funding partners to the table.

For more than a decade, Kering has championed sustainable material sourcing and has communicated regularly on this work. Kering and Conservation International will work together to ensure that the lessons learned under the Fund are shared openly and regularly with the wider industry and community.

Please send an email to fund4nature@conservation.org

Please send an email to fund4nature@conservation.org