Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP)
Upcoming 2023 Request for Proposals to fund expert teams to deliver rapid solutions to the most critical challenges facing humans and our planet.

*SNAPP is currently not accepting proposals. The next cycle of our annual RFP process is tentatively scheduled to begin in August/September of 2023.*

Website: https://snappartnership.net/
For inquiries email: snapp@snappartnership.net

Overview and Criteria

SNAPP, a first-of-its-kind scientific joint venture between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), is a tool for developing sustainable solutions to global conservation challenges. Since inception, SNAPP, through its working groups, has provided science and user-friendly tools backed by hard data to identify and quantify nature's role and value in preventing and solving some of the most complex challenges the world faces around food and water security, climate change, and energy.

Each year, SNAPP provides up to US $1 million total across 4-6 approved working groups, led by academic, governmental agency, multilateral, or nonprofit institutions. SNAPP funds teams of 12-15 people from diverse organizations to gather for 3-4 collaborative sessions over the course of 12-24 months. Between sessions, members collaborate remotely; work with long-term implementation partners; identify emerging opportunities for tangible, lasting change; develop and test tools and products; and publish research. Please see the "What we fund" tab for more details.

SNAPP proposals are evaluated on the following criteria

Mission Relevance: The question(s) that the proposal will address is clearly at the intersection of sustainable economic development, human well-being and nature conservation.

Urgency: It is clear why this question(s) is critically important right now, and how the work will add value both to current state of knowledge and other work currently underway in this area.

Interdisciplinary Science: The proposed methods are inclusive of both biophysical and socioeconomic sciences, and datasets or sources of information the applicant anticipates using for this project are comprehensive and appropriate.

Short-term Outcomes: The proposal presents SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) objectives that articulate the project's expected outcomes through the funding period.

Long-term Outcomes: The plan for ongoing implementation of the work after the SNAPP working group concludes is well-articulated. Implementation partners (e.g., TNC, WCS, and/or other conservation and sustainable development/humanitarian organizations) are clearly committed to working toward longer-term outcomes based on the project's outputs and outcomes.

Diversity: The group composition includes confirmed members representing diversity in sectors and disciplines. This is a collaborative effort with no one or two organizations dominating. Group demographics and experiences are varied and inclusive of the Global South and other groups less dominant in academic literature.

Efficiency: The proposal presents a well-justified argument for cost-effective use of SNAPP funding.

Unique Contribution: Describes how this work may build on a previous SNAPP working group(s) or occupies a niche that has not yet been explored by a SNAPP working group.

SNAPP welcomes all proposals! Here is a list of what we can and cannot fund to help you determine if your project is a good fit for SNAPP funding.

We fund:

Working groups (as described on the Welcome tab; note these are very different from the IUCN species survival "working groups")
Salary, benefits and other direct costs of postdoctoral researchers and research assistants
Independent contractors or the actual time of employees conducting analysis, graphic design, web development, and similar activities for the working group
Virtual and in-person meetings, including third-party neutral facilitators, meeting planners, hotel, catering, meeting venue and technology, as well as individual attendee travel expenses

Among what we cannot fund:

Salary for Principal Investigators (this includes postdocs if they are listed as a PI)
Primary data collection or fieldwork unless clearly justified to fill a critical gap in an existing dataset (should be no more than 5-10% of the total budget)
Equipment, vehicles, building infrastructure
Lobbying
Research without a direct link to implementation and vice versa
Overhead or indirect costs

SNAPP recognizes that items we cannot fund may be legitimate and necessary part of your research and implementation expenses. We provide this reference to help you self-select if SNAPP is the right fit for you.

How to Apply

*SNAPP is currently not accepting proposals. The next cycle of our annual RFP process is tentatively scheduled to begin in August/September of 2023.*

You can confirm receipt of your proposal and track its progress using this portal. Please email snapp@snappartnership.net with any other questions. You may also submit a brief (less than one page) concept note to this email describing your proposal idea for early feedback on whether it might be "SNAPPable". Instructions are available here. Please allow two-weeks for a substantial response. Late or incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

Leaders of approved projects should plan to begin their proposed work starting 1 July 2023. Please review information about ongoing and completed SNAPP teams prior to starting your application: https://snappartnership.net/our-work/teams/.

Questions? Contact SNAPP at: snapp@snappartnership.net

Use of Information in SNAPP Proposals

This provides details explaining who can access the information submitted through this portal and how this information will be used.

SNAPP is a partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). All information submitted through the SNAPP proposal portal may be viewed by staff at the partner organizations supporting the SNAPP RFP, board of directors and affiliates for the express purpose of consideration for SNAPP funding. The information submitted is kept confidential and will not be shared outside this group. As an exception, SNAPP may occasionally share a proposal confidentially with an interested co-funder. Applicants may opt out of having their application shared with other funders by so indicating at the end of the “Consent” tab in the application. Contact information is not shared outside the SNAPP review and administration process.

SNAPP Records, including proposals and other records mentioned above, are stored on TNC systems. More information about TNC’s privacy practices can be found here.

Forgot Password?

Send us a message

Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) Secretariat

Email: snapp@snappartnership.net