Funder-Engagement-Toolkit-2604.xlsx

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	FUNDER ENGAGEMENT TOOLKIT
2	Tailored engagement strategies based on funder survey analysis
3
4	Funder Type	Definition of 'Enabling Legal Environment'	Top Legal Priorities	Top Non-Legal Factors	Key Questions to Ask	Engagement Strategy
5	Philanthropy (Conservation-focused)	Laws exist OR government demonstrates willingness to enact them. Minimum framework to gazette MPAs at national level.	Environmental laws, MPA designation, fisheries management	Conservation significance, political will, trusted implementing partners	• What is your primary measure of success? • Are you willing to fund legal reform as part of the project? • What conservation significance threshold applies?	Lead with conservation outcomes and biodiversity significance. Demonstrate track record of effective implementation. Emphasise partner credibility.
6	Philanthropy (Equity-focused)	Laws that provide for inclusion, equity and representativeness in governance. Stakeholders and rightsholders are influential in decision-making.	Laws recognising indigenous rights and customary tenure, equity provisions, benefit-sharing	Community engagement, representativeness in governance, local ownership	• How do you approach indigenous and customary governance? • What equity indicators matter most? • How do you verify community benefit?	Emphasise community-led approaches and indigenous participation. Document equitable governance structures. Show how benefits flow to local communities.
7	Philanthropy (Civil society-focused)	Both better implementation of existing policy AND policy improvements are needed. Willingness to support legal development.	Flexible — will fund legal reform as project output	Healthy civil society network, NGO/CSO capacity, ability to add capacity to government	• What role do you see for civil society partners? • How do you assess NGO capacity? • Can the project strengthen local organisations?	Highlight capable local partners. Show how project builds civil society capacity. Demonstrate government-NGO collaboration.
8	Philanthropy (Relationship-focused)	Alignment with established regional programmes and existing partnerships. Long-term commitment.	Depends on existing partnership agreements	Alignment with priority themes, existing relationships, regional programme fit	• How does this fit your existing regional strategy? • What partnerships are already in place? • What is your long-term vision for this geography?	Connect proposals to existing programmes. Leverage established relationships. Demonstrate regional coherence.
9	Bilateral Government Funder	National laws and regulatory frameworks in place AND a system that allows violations to be prosecuted and tried.	AML/CTF, child protection, safeguards for vulnerable groups, displacement/resettlement laws	Political will, stability, capability to deliver, institutional framework	• What safeguard policies must be addressed? • If laws aren't in place, what alternatives manage risk? • What governance indicators apply?	Demonstrate compliance with safeguards. Show enforcement capacity. If gaps exist, propose partner policies or project-level mechanisms to manage risk.
10	Multilateral Climate Fund	Gives legal effect to conservation provisions; reduces inequalities; enacts key standards and establishes institutional mechanisms to implement them.	Climate/adaptation laws, environmental protection, gender equity provisions	Adaptation rationale, science-based planning, co-benefits, accredited entity capacity	• What climate rationale strengthens this proposal? • Can project costs include legal framework development? • What co-benefits matter most?	Build strong climate adaptation narrative. Include legal reform in project design. Emphasise gender and social co-benefits. Work through accredited entities.
11	Multilateral Development Bank	Policies, strategies, laws and regulations enabling transparent, risk-free transactions with ease of doing business. Addresses political and financial risks.	Contract enforcement, fiduciary frameworks, safeguard compliance	Bankability/ROI, implementation capacity, risk management, policy alignment	• What feasibility studies demonstrate bankability? • What ROI thresholds apply? • What fiduciary/audit requirements must be met?	Focus on project-level readiness over economy-wide reforms. Develop strong feasibility studies. Demonstrate implementation capacity and M&E systems.
12	Private Capital / Impact Investor	Multi-layered: basic legal frameworks enabling investment of private capital PLUS environmental alignment. Robust policy frameworks supporting sustainable business evolution.	Contract enforcement, investment protection, repatriation of profits	Political stability, pipeline of investable opportunities, business environment, measurable impact	• What legal protections for dispute resolution do you require? • What pipeline are you seeking? • How do you measure impact alongside returns?	Demonstrate political stability and rule of law. Present pipeline of bankable opportunities. Show robust impact measurement. Consider blended finance to de-risk.
13	Research / Expedition Organisation	Clear regulations and streamlined permitting for marine research. Collaboration frameworks between government, academia, NGOs, and industry.	Research permitting, species protection laws, data sharing frameworks	Research infrastructure, institutional partnerships, science track record	• What permitting requirements exist for marine research? • What research infrastructure is available? • How is data shared and used?	Emphasise scientific value and knowledge gaps. Show existing research partnerships. Demonstrate how research informs policy and management.
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100