Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act (TFCCA) – USAID

Forests, conservation, civil society, community, governance

Best known for enabling "debt-for-nature" swaps, the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act (TFCCA) of 1998 offers eligible developing countries options to relieve certain official debt owed the United States Government while at the same time generating funds in local currency to support tropical forest conservation activities. In addition to conserving forests and relieving debt, TFCCA is intended to strengthen civil society by creating local foundations to support small grants to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local communities. The program also offers a unique opportunity for public-private partnerships and the majority of TFCCA agreements to date have included funds raised by United States-based NGOs.

Enterprise, policy

Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, North America, Asia Pacific

Grant

To be eligible for TFCCA, a developing country must have tropical forests or coral reefs, owe the United States Government qualifying debt, and meet certain political and economic criteria.

Bilateral debt is treated in TFCCA so they are country level agreements. Once agreements are made, then civil society can request grants from the programme at the country level.

Washington

United States of America

Civil society, Community, Conservation, Forests, Governance

Asia, Africa, America