Each year, the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) allocates a dedicated budget of €400,000 to support small-scale operational projects in favor of biodiversity in the French overseas territories. The TeMeUm program, along with its 12-member Partner Committee, coordinates the distribution of this budget through three calls for projects, which will be open this year from March 10 to May 4.
These calls aim to support associations, municipalities, and natural area management bodies (public institutions and consortia) in the overseas territories in implementing projects within three categories:
🔹 The Micro-Project Call
This call seeks to provide a springboard for launching concrete actions—such as enabling a new association to carry out its first project. Micro-projects run for one year and may receive up to €15,000 in funding.
In 2024, among the 29 selected micro-projects were initiatives focused on habitat restoration, knowledge enhancement, and awareness-raising. For example:
- The awarded project by La Voie Contée in Réunion aims to rehabilitate and promote the flora and fauna of the Cloud Forest.
- Vie d’Ô douce in Wallis and Futuna focuses on identifying local freshwater fish species.
- The Guyana Forest Discovery Center (CEDEFOG) project promotes awareness and training in the identification and use of edible seeds and fruits from the Amazon.
🔹 The Knowledge Exchange Call (Compagnonnage)
This initiative offers overseas biodiversity actors a tailored opportunity to train in a specific field. The concept: a professional exchange of one to two weeks with a host structure already experienced in the target topic. This custom-built training is especially useful for developing projects that require specialized knowledge or skills. The OFB covers travel, accommodation, and meals up to €5,000.
In 2024, three knowledge exchange projects were selected, including a collaboration between Bwara Tortues Marines (New Caledonia) and Te mana o te Moana (French Polynesia), aimed at sharing expertise and enhancing marine turtle monitoring capacities.
🔹 The Partner Projects Call
This call supports collaborative initiatives between stakeholders or territories focused on preserving overseas biodiversity. Only members of the TeMeUm Partner Committee (CoPa) are eligible. Selected projects must last one year and may be funded up to €20,000.
In 2024, three partner projects were selected. Among them, the Nature Conservation Agency of French Guiana proposed organizing technical exchange days on climate change for natural area managers and partners across the region.
TeMeUm: A Collaborative Framework Adapted to the Specific Needs of Small Overseas Organizations
Applications are streamlined and fully digitized. Project proposals are reviewed by local juries, composed of biodiversity experts from each territory. The TeMeUm team, along with OFB’s territorial delegations, provides support throughout the entire process—from submission to follow-up, final reporting, and communication of results.
Financial assistance may cover up to 80% of the total project budget, and the grant is disbursed in a single payment upon project launch.
