ABSTRACT
A feasibility phase should also pay attention to, and try to maximize, the wider objectives that trust funds can serve – beyond the specific goals of the fund itself. A well-designed trust fund can generate a range of benefits that contribute in non-specific ways to the development of sustainable societies. For example, by making financing available in absorbable amounts, funds build the capacity of local implementing organizations. The transparent participatory processes that characterize trust funds can strengthen civil society (Curtis et al, 1998). Additional benefits of current conservation trust funds include the creation of new parks, as well as strengthened capacity among nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) or governments for generating and managing financial resources, a feeling of ‘ownership’ among stakeholders resulting from direct participation, increased conservation awareness, and increased community involvement (GEF, 1998).
