December 2008

E-news Number 24 for project teams and all those interested in Sustainable Farming in New Zealand

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the SFF team
We look forward to working with you in 2009

From left to right: Nic Newman, Denis Packer, Amanda Hall, Diana Mathers, Janine Alfeld, Helen Percy, Louise Askin

In this edition of E-news:

• 2009 funding round update
• SFF funding criteria
• Community Irrigation Fund
• SFF at Northland Agricultural Field days

2009 funding round update

Remember that the next funding round closes on Thursday 5 February 2009. Electronic copies of the application forms must be emailed to the SFF by that date. SFF project advisers have already spoken to a number of groups interested in putting in an application. Click here for the contact names and addresses of the project advisers or call 0800 100 087.

Note that the MAF SFF offices will be closed from midday 24 December and reopen on Monday 5 January. Enquiries during the week of 5-9 January can be directed to either Denis Packer (phone 04 894 5650) or Nic Newman (03 943 1784).

Interested in finding out more?

Application forms and guidelines are available from the SFF website by clicking here.

SFF funding criteria

Applications submitted into the 2009 funding round will be assessed according to the following criteria (as listed in the 2009 application guidelines):

1. Contribution to sustainability or climate change objectives

Projects must demonstrate how they contribute to economic, environmental and/or social sustainability or (climate change fund) advance the objectives of mitigation, adaptation or business opportunities.

2. Significance of the problem or opportunity

This is the significance to the community of interest submitting the application. Importance and relative priority to the sector and/or region, plus links to strategic plans or policy objectives (if applicable) will be taken into account.

3. Community of interest commitment

A "community of interest" is a group of people directly affected by a common problem or opportunity who will benefit from a successful project. SFF requires the community of interest to demonstrate their commitment to the project, for example, by their representation on the project team and their level of cash and in-kind support. The community of interest should be led by farmers, foresters or growers.

4. Ability to deliver

Project management, financial management and technical skills plus a sound methodology are needed. The panel must have confidence that the project team can deliver on the proposed project.

5. Adoption and extension

The proposed project should make a difference to the identified problem or opportunity. The proposal needs to demonstrate that the results can be disseminated through appropriate networks, and that the team has the capability to develop and implement a robust extension strategy that will lead to adoption. It must be clear how the success of the project will be evaluated, what the long term benefits will be and how they will be measured.

6. Risk and innovation

Projects are rated for being innovative, either through new work or a new approach to existing work. Projects must not reinvent the wheel. They must show understanding of other relevant work, and how their project fits with this.

7. Value for money

Projects need to demonstrate a good return on investment. The overall value of the outcomes of the successful project - whether economic, environmental, and/or social - will be taken into consideration.

Note: The assessment panel also considers overall regional representation, sector representation and the relationship to MAF's objectives. The criteria all have equal weighting.

Community Irrigation Fund

SFF funds feasibility and pre-feasibility studies for community water storage or irrigation schemes. The main difference from these, and other SFF projects, is that the community cash contribution must be at least 50 percent of the total project value.

The Community Irrigation Fund is a separate MAF fund that is available to promoters of community water storage and/or irrigation schemes for generating investor and community support. Funding may be provided for up to four years. Applicants should have completed a feasibility study for the irrigation scheme (potentially funded by SFF) before applying.

The Community Irrigation Fund is now open for applications for the 2009/10 funding round. Applications close on 20 February 2009 and all potential parties are encouraged to apply.

The CIF grants can be used to cover up to half the cash costs of activities that generate support. Activities could include:

• supporting a project manager or public affairs co-ordinator;
• promotional and communications activities;
• facilitating discussions with the community on relevant issues;
• developing a prospectus for potential investors in the community;
• investigating a range of potential scheme funding arrangements;
• facilitating farmer investment;
• investigating the multiple use of water by communities.

Interested in finding out more?

CIF application forms and more information can be found on the MAF website link:
www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/cif/ or by contacting Loretta Dobbs, CIF Project Adviser on phone: 04 894 0632 or email: CIFund@maf.govt.nz

SFF at Northland Agricultural Field Days

The SFF will be joining some of the Northland SFF project teams, MAF Sustainable Programmes, and other industry groups in the Northland Agricultural Forum tent at the Northland Agricultural Field Days, Dargaville 26 - 28 February 2009. Come along and catch up if you are in town for that event.

New style SFF: send in your reports or else!

Ending

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Kia rongo korero ano matou i a koutou

Kind regards
Amanda, Denis, Diana, Helen, Janine, Louise, and Nic.