The Sustainable Development Fund is inviting applications for projects that will boost public awareness of sustainable development and promote sustainable practices.

The deadline for submitting applications is 5pm on December 1.

The Sustainable Development Unit said the $100-million fund has been set up to provide a central source of support for initiatives aimed at promoting understanding of the importance of sustainable development, in particular the need to integrate the economic, social and environmental aspects of development.

Initially, a sum of $10 million annually will be available from the fund. There will be two calls for applications each year.

The projects should benefit the local community as a whole, be non-profit making in nature and have the potential to become self-sufficient ongoing initiatives.

Applications will be accepted from groups such as non-government organisations, institutes and schools, as well as individuals. Government departments may only apply for grants in partnership with non-government organisations, and in such cases the latter should be the lead partner in the proposed project.

The unit is looking for projects of suitable scale at or above $50,000, except in the case of applications from schools and individuals.

Applicants have to provide a full, itemised budget for their proposed projects, and should describe clearly how to boost public awareness of the importance of sustainable development.

Successful applicants will be required to provide regular progress reports on the implementation of projects, and to complete an end-of-project evaluation that measures the success of the project against its stated aims.

Application guidelines and forms are available at www.susdev.gov.hk. Enquiries can be made to the unit at 3150 8192 or by emailing sdf@sdu.gov.hk.