A nursery for mangrove seedlings in the Philippines. Among the projects that BKCF supports are those with high potential for environmental and climate mitigation and adaptation. Photo credit: Asian Development Bank.
The 4th BIMP-EAGA ROK Senior Officials Meeting in July approved 11 projects for funding under the third grant cycle of the BIMP-EAGA–Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (BKCF).
The senior officials agreed to launch a fourth call for proposals for BKCF funding in January/February 2024 for a period of 2 months. The priority areas of cooperation will continue to be connectivity, tourism, environment, and agriculture and fisheries. The meeting in Seoul was co-chaired by Dong Bae Kim, Director General of ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and Dato’ Nor Azmie Diron, Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy of Malaysia.
At the launch of the Korea–ASEAN Solidarity Initiative in 2022, the Republic of Korea announced that it expects to raise its contribution to BKCF to $6 million in 2027 as part of plans to increase ASEAN-related cooperation funds to $48 million per year by 2027. In 2022, the Korean government increased its contribution to the BKCF to $3 million from $1 million in 2021.
The senior officials meeting was attended by Assistant Secretary Glenn Penaranda of the Department of Trade, Philippines; Director Nor Zerlina Momin of the Trade Division, Ministry of Finance and Economy; and Assistant Deputy for Regional and Subregional Economic Cooperation Netty Muharni of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia. The BIMP-EAGA National Secretariats, BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of Korea, and Seoul-based Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which serves as the depository and manager of BKCF, also joined the meeting.
The BIMP-EAGA delegation was in the Republic of Korea for the senior officials meeting and related meetings from 19 to 22 July 2023.
Endorsed and approved
Based on the criteria set under the BKCF and recommendations of expert reviewers, the following 11 projects were approved for grant funding:
- Promoting Youth Engagement and Employment in Bio-Circular-Green Agriculture and Food Systems for Food Security: An Action Research on the Rice Value Chain in Brunei Darussalam. Proposed by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies, the project aims to inform the development of a responsive policy and implementation framework and to contribute to food security in the country.
- Improvement of Eucheumatoid Seed Production in Indonesia through Gradual Selection and Good Aquaculture Practice. The project of PT SELT Alga Indonesia aims to improve the sustainability of seaweed farming, particularly tropical red algae.
- Community-Led Improved Marine Management Benefits Dugongs, People, and Nature (West Kalimantan, Indonesia). Project proponent Yayasan International Animal Rescue Indonesia wants to conserve marine ecosystems and dugong populations while promoting good fishing practices on the coast of Sawi, Cempedak, Bawal, and Gelam Islands.
- Strengthening the Resilience of Social Forestry Groups to Climate Change through the Development of Adaptive Coffee. Proposed by Aku Rimba Indonesia Foundation, the project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of social forestry groups through the development of adaptive coffee and local government policies.
- Segama Integrated Catchment Management Strategy: Multistakeholder Innovation in Riparian Governance for Water, Wildlife, and Community Livelihoods in a +3.2 °C Climate Change Scenario. Forever Sabah, the project proponent, aims to develop knowledge, capacity, institutional frameworks, and restorative practices that will drive the management of one of Sabah’s most important river catchments toward enhanced ecological integrity and promote a greener economy and livelihood resilience.
- Intelligent Water Loss Management System in Sarawak, Malaysia. Proposed by Wl.Plat Co. Ltd, the project will install an intelligent water loss management system and provide engineering services and capacity building to improve access to clean and safe water.
- Sustainable Intensification through Vegetables Intercropping in Perennial Crops Farming Systems in Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao Island, Philippines. The proponent, East West Seed Company, Inc., aims to contribute toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2—end hunger, improve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture—in selected rural communities.
- Smart FARM (Farmers Adopting Responsible Management) through Internet of Things and Biosensing Technology for Sustainable Liberica and Arabica Nursery Coffee Production in Mindanao. Proposed by VARACCO, Inc., the project will upskill smallholder farmers by setting up a climate-smart nursery for high-quality coffee seedlings, using Internet of Things and nano-biosensors.
- Enabling Immediate Wireless Connectivity to Underserved/Unserved Communities in Mindanao, Philippines: Providing Connectivity to the IP Communities (PCIPC). STEMEd, Philippines, Inc. will provide digital connectivity to underserved/unserved communities of indigenous peoples in Mindanao using low earth orbit satellites, which can better connect remote and inaccessible regions.
- AI/Machine Learning-Powered Digital Monitoring of Mangrove Ecosystems in Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Thinking Machines Data Science, Inc. wants to demonstrate the potential of digital technologies in improving the restoration and conservation of mangrove forests. It aims to scale and replicate digital mangrove monitoring methods across projects and organizations.
- BIMP-EAGA Mission on Innovation and SME Start-ups in South Korea (Multi-country). Proposed by the BIMP-EAGA Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Working Group, the project will promote a more innovative and resilient ecosystem of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the subregion. It aims to encourage MSMEs to participate in the global market and promote close collaboration among government, industry, and the academe.
At the meeting, GGGI gave updates on the two projects included in the first batch of BKCF grants and the eight projects from the second batch. It has agreed to continue providing guidance and training for BIMP-EAGA stakeholders in the preparation of project proposals.
Criteria and selection process
For the third grant cycle, GGGI received 66 projects proposals.
Only programs or projects of BIMP-EAGA or its member countries are eligible for funding. Project proposals may be submitted by government agencies, public sector institutes, academic and research institutes, NGOs, private sector entities, or any other autonomous institutes from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea. Individuals and debarred or sanctioned entities are not eligible to apply for the fund. All projects must include gender and social inclusion targets and outcomes/outputs where applicable.
BKCF provides performance-based funding for 1 or 2 years. Projects with a 1-year term may receive between $50,000 and $300,000, while those lasting 2 years may get between $100,000 and $300,000. For projects with multiple countries, a maximum of $200,000 per country may be approved.
GGGI first reviews and screens all proposals and then submits a short list for review and selection/approval by BIMP-EAGA countries and the Republic of Korea.
Related meetings
The BIMP-EAGA delegation was in the Republic of Korea for the senior officials meeting and related meetings from 19 to 22 July 2023.
The delegation met with officials of the ASEAN Korea Centre and discussed collaboration on trade and investment activities, tourism and cultural program, and people-to-people connectivity.
They also visited the GGGI office and conducted a technical visit to Busan.