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Dear all He mihi nui ki a koutou In this edition:
LAUNCH OF THE 2006/07 FUNDING ROUND
The new Sustainable Farming Fund round is now open! Applications
close on 13 February 2006.
The Sustainable Farming Fund operates one funding round per year.
As in the past, up to $9.5 million in grants will be available for
projects commencing in July 2006. The grants are for projects that
contribute to the on-going environmental, economic, and social
well-being of New Zealand's primary producers.
For those of you who have had previous SFF applications, you'll
notice that there is no difference in the following:
- Criteria: click here
to access what is funded and what is not.
- Application forms and guidelines:
click here to access the
official SFF application form and guidelines.
- Categories of funding. There are two categories of
grant funding:
- SFF grants of up to $20,000 (incl GST) for the total project:
particularly aimed at small, local projects, for new crops or
smaller sectors.
- Projects can run for up to three years. SFF grants of
greater than $20,000: up to a maximum of $200,000 (incl GST) per
annum. Projects run from one to three years.
What is different this funding round?
- The closing date has been moved back a week to 13
February, to give applicants more time following the Christmas/
New Year holiday period.
- New applicant workshops: This year the SFF won't be
running regional workshops for Phase 1 applicants. However, SFF
project advisers are available to assist with any project team
putting together an application.
Click here for SFF contacts.
KEY DATES FOR 2006/07 FUNDING ROUND
November 2005: Funding round launched
13 February 2006: Phase 1 applications close
Early April 2006: Applicants for funds of over $20,000
advised whether proceeding to Phase 2 (or not)
May 2006: Applicants for funds of $20,000 or less advised
whether successful (or not)
Early May 2006: Phase 2 (full proposals) applications close
Mid June 2006: Phase 2 results announced.
July- August 2006: Contracts completed and projects commence
We have a new colour brochure explaining what the SFF does and
how to apply for funding.
You
can view the pdf here.
Please contact Amanda Hall at our Wellington office (0800 100
087) if you'd like copies of these brochures e.g. to hand out at
field days, or to pass on to your colleagues.
KEYS TO SUCCESS: PROJECT
GOVERNANCE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
We have completed a review and debrief of the results of the
Project Performance Validation Programme completed during the
2004/05 finanical year. The 2005/06 Performance Validation Programme
is currently underway.
The collective view of our independent reviewers and the
Sustainable Farming Fund team is that Project Governance and Project
Management are the key factors to successful project work
programmes.
- Project Governance relates to the work of project
teams, or committees, in planning and providing oversight and
direction of progress with agreed work programmes.
- Project Management relates to the day-to-day management
function to ensure the delivery of the agreed work programme on
budget and on time. While, with limited exception, SFF-supported
projects are delivering sound progress and results, most, if not
all, projects would benefit from stronger project governance and
project management.
Together with our colleagues in MAF and industry organisations,
we are working out how to provide you with better project governance
and management tools and guidelines. We'll keep you updated on this
in future newsletters.
LAKES AND WATER QUALITY WORKSHOP
The SFF supports a number of projects in the Rotorua and Taupo
regions that are working on the common themes of nutrient management
and water quality management. The SFF-funded work is part of a
bigger picture - other research projects are underway supported by
agencies such as Ministry for the Environment, the Foundation for
Research, Science and Technology, and Regional Councils.
On 27 October, representatives from these project teams came
together at a workshop in Rotorua to share their experiences and
findings to date. The workshop provided an initial opportunity to
network, establish linkages, and to develop some actions for
improved sharing and uptake of information.
These actions are currently being looked at and we expect to have
some "do-able" outcomes for the short, mid and long term.
One of the short term suggestions was for the SFF to distribute
an email list of individuals who attended the workshop. We can also
add further names to that email list if anyone is interested in
further information about lakes, water quality, and on-farm nutrient
issues.
If you are interested in more information about the workshop, or
would like to be included in the "Lakes and Water Quality" email
list, please email Helen
Percy (phone 07 856 1811).
The Wellington-based Sustainable Farming Fund team, along with
the rest of MAF, has moved down the Terrace to Pastoral House (25
The Terrace).
The new direct phone numbers are:
Kevin Steel: 04 894 0609
Amanda Hall: 04 894 0612
Fiona Duncan: 04 894 0608
Fax number: 04 894 0741
Our postal address remains the same (PO Box 2526 Wellington), as
does the 0800 number (0800 100 087).
SFF TEAM IN TAUPO BIKE RIDE
Summer is on the way and we are on our bikes making the most of
it...
The Sustainable Farming Fund has entered a team into this year's
Round Taupo Bike Relay! Our Team "Sustainably Fit & Fabulous Women"
has set up a webpage to fund-raise for Heart Children New Zealand
Inc (Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge's official Charity).
Click HERE to see what we've been up to, and for details on
how to make a donation.
ENDING
Please contact us if you want to provide something for future
editions of SFF E-News.
Let us know if you don't wish to receive any more editions of
E-news or if there is someone who should be added to our
distribution list.
Kind regards Hai kona ra
Kevin, Amanda, Barrie, Fiona, Katherine and Helen
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