Additional information on grant funding priorities and selection criteria

Vulnerability

(The “who” and “why”)

CSCI prioritizes investment in communities and regions that are in need of support and capacity and are, or projected to be vulnerable to climate change-related hazards. Reviewers consider  FEMA Community Disaster Resilience Zone (CDRZ) designations, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), as well as other federal, state, and regional designations, alongside relevant information provided in the application.

Impact and Sustainability  

(The “what”)

CSCI recognizes that progress on climate adaptation and resilience can only be successful if climate risk factors are the central focus of the work that is proposed and undertaken. Reviewers look for climate-informed decision making and planning, which allows for more effective progress towards climate resilience in the long-term. They also consider the potential for collaboration and co-creation of climate-resilience plans and strategies, specifically with regards to the expertise, resources, authority, and representation needed to meet a community’s climate resilience objectives. 

The grants are limited to 12-month project periods, but climate change impacts will remain an ongoing challenge in all communities. So with an eye towards extending the impact of the technical and financial support provided, reviewers therefore look for opportunities that explicitly address adaptation capacity building needs and goals during and beyond the term of the grant.

CSCI prioritizes investments in programs and projects that demonstrate progress toward climate resilience, using the Steps to Resilience framework to benchmark that progress. This  alignment is crucial to the initiative’s  learning objectives and ambition to scale the impact of programmatic investments.s and goals during and beyond the term of the grant.

Values

(The “how”)

CSCI holds two core values. The first is social equity. CSCI prioritizes investments that center equity because equitable engagement and processes are critical to a climate resilience plan or project’s effectiveness.  With that in mind, reviewers look for a clear plan for the inclusive engagement of all populations, including and especially historically marginalized populations.

The initiative also values nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate resilience, as they are often more adaptive and cost-effective alternatives to standard gray infrastructure-based remedies and provide many co-benefits to people and natural ecosystems. As such, reviewers look for consideration of natural systems, and efforts to harness the climate resilience benefits that they can provide. Such solutions can include wetland restoration, bioswales, and other related activities may also draw on community history of stewardship and consider unintended consequences like climate gentrification.