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CASC Network Hiring Regional Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons

December 1, 2021

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has announced the availability of funding to support the hiring of Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons in the North Central, the Midwest, and the Northeast/Southeast (combined) Regions of the DOI Climate Adaptation Science Centers through cooperative agreements with the BIA’s Tribal Climate Resilience Program (Program). Eligible applicants include tribal non-profit, non-governmental organizations and tribally-controlled colleges or universities (TCUs) that serve federally-recognized tribes. Other entities may participate as sub-grantees.

The solicitation is available on grants.gov, and named TCRP-16241: View the grant opportunity.

The BIA is collaborating with the Department of Interior (DOI) Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) to continue supporting tribal climate resilience needs and selected tribal organizations will enter into cooperative agreements with the BIA. This provides a mechanism for the BIA to provide the selected Tribal organizations with non-recurring funding for mutually agreed upon tasks in keeping with the climate science needs of the BIA and all tribal communities in the Northwest, Southwest, and Alaska CASC regions (learn more and see map of DOI CASCs here: Climate Adaptation Science Centers). Applications are due December 17, 2021.

CASC Network Map Image Credit: USGS National CASC

The BIA’s Office of Trust Services, Tribal Climate Resilience Program, will evaluate all proposals and select three Tribal organization (one per region) to hire:

North Central: up to two tribal climate resilience liaisons to be hosted at the North Central CASC, Boulder, Colorado**.
Midwest: up to two tribal climate resilience liaison to be hosted at the Midwest CASC, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Northeast/Southeast (combined): up to two* tribal climate resilience liaison to be hosted at the Northeast CASC, Amherst, Massachusetts and/or Southeast CASC, Raleigh, North Carolina*.

*Final number of liaisons contingent on funding availability.
**Final hosting location may be determined between the regional CASC and the selected Tribal organizations.

Each tribal organization may also work with the BIA TCRP, the respective regional CASC, and other potential partners to coordinate training activities and support the development and implementation of up to two tribal climate resilience trainings for tribes in the respective region per year, contingent on available funding.

The successful Tribal organization will have:

  1. various regional and/or national knowledge and familiarity to support all tribes in the service area
  2. functional expertise in areas that are or may be affected by climate change
  3. broad tribal membership regionally or nationally and
  4. the capacity to provide administrative supervision and mentorship for the liaisons, and engage in regular coordination with the CASC.

Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) hosted an informational webinar on this opportunity for tribal non-profit, non-governmental organizations, and TCUs on Nov. 16, 2021. Resources from the webinar archived on the ITEP website are linked below.

Webinar recording: BIA Notice of Funding Opportunity: Tribal Organization Support for Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons, MW, North Central, NE/SE
Presentations: FAQs NOFO