The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports climate adaptation efforts mainly in the least developed countries. The Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation aims to test and validate scalable investment approaches, business models, partnerships, and technologies. The GEF accepts project concepts with a total value of US$10 million. Concept notes should request no more than US$2 million. Emphasis will be placed on concepts that promote innovation and risk taking for climate adaptation impact. Concept notes can be submitted by any public, private or civil society organization. The deadline for concept notes is 22 August 2021. Link
Day: August 9, 2021
United Nations Capital Development Fund — Agritech Challenge
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) invites Expressions of Interest for the Agritech Challenge 2021 to co-create or adapt solutions for smallholders farmers. Solutions must focus on key challenges of small farmers in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia in Africa and India, Indonesia, Malaysia in Asia. The program invites applications from start-ups with solutions that are addressing low productivity, climate risk, or inefficient supply chain challenges and are interested to pilot their solution in one of the seven participating countries. Applicants must submit a complete application form before 30 August 2021. UNCDF Agritech Challenge
RISE Fellowship — WASH Seed Funding
The RISE fellowship supports early-stage female entrepreneurs (or female-led NGOs) working to resolve critical water, sanitation or hygiene issues in emerging economies. The fellowship provides mentorship, seed funding (US$1,000 – US$5,000) and resources to female entrepreneurs living in low to middle income countries. Applicants are invited to submit an idea for an initiative that will improve the local water, sanitation and hygiene of their own community. The fellowship is open to women worldwide. The application deadline is 31 August 2021. RISE Fellowship
Green People’s Energy for Africa — Energy Access Challenges
The Green People’s Energy for Africa (GBE) seeks concrete solutions to address two specific challenges in the energy access sphere: Increasing Off-Grid System Sustainability and Reducing CO2 Emissions via Energy Access. The Challenge prioritizes solutions from within the nine focal countries: Ethiopia, Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia. However, applications from other Sub-Saharan countries are also welcome. Applicants must be either non-profit organizations or local for-profit organizations in the country of implementation. GBE can cover up to 80% of the total project costs and must be lower than €125 thousand. The deadline for submissions of proposals is 31 August 2021. Details
Global Biodiversity Information Facility — Infrastructure for Biodiversity Collections
The GBIF Secretariat seeks contractors to support cooperative activities with focus on further developing access and data linkage to scientific collections and ecological datasets in Asia. Applicants are expected to provide technical help-desk assistance, training and mentoring to support institutional engagement in the mobilization and use of biodiversity data. Individuals located in eligible countries and areas in South-East Asia, South Asia and North-East Asia are eligible. Applications must be submitted by 07 September 2021. Link
Afri-Plastics Challenge — Marine Plastic Waste
The Afri-Plastics Challenge seeks proposals that focus on solving the marine plastics problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Challenge aims to reduce marine plastics by developing and scaling innovative solutions to plastic mismanagement. Challenge prizes are competitions that offer a reward for the first or best solution to a problem. The process identifies the most promising and supports them with seed funding and expert support to develop the idea further. Applicants must be formally constituted and operating in Sub-Saharan Africa as either a registered business or non-governmental organization. The closing date for applications is 15 September 2021. About the Afri-Plastics Challenge
European Commission — Climate Research Infrastructures
European Commission seeks applications to strengthen the Bilateral Cooperation on Research Infrastructures with Africa to improve the knowledge base on climate change in Africa. Proposed projects are expected to contribute to enhanced research capacities in Africa for climate change observation. Grant amounts are equal to or greater than €500 thousand. Any legal entity is eligible to participate. The application deadline is 23 September 2021. Find details
International Fund for Agricultural Development — Agrobiodiversity Innovation Challenge
The Agrobiodiversity Innovation Challenge seeks new products, services, and best practices that can help farmers, consumers, and food companies to increase production while conserving agrobiodiversity. Two selected winners will receive US$5 thousand, mentorship and technical assistance. Applicants must be individuals, private companies, or institutions responsible for an innovation with a demonstrated efficiency to enhance and promote sustainable food and agriculture. The submission deadline is 30 September 2021. More information
Shuttleworth Foundation — Innovative Ideas for Social Change
The Shuttleworth Foundation offers fellowships to individuals from all around the world to implement their innovative ideas for social change. (Note: This could possibly include thematic areas important in the Terra Viva Grants Directory.) The fellowship grant covers the cost of the fellow’s time for a year. The amount varies and is determined by each fellow’s salary equivalent outside of the fellowship. Application deadline is 15 October 2021. Learn more
Green People’s Energy for Africa — Small Projects Fund
The Small Projects Fund offers financial support to initiatives led by non-profit organizations in the field of decentralized renewable energy. The Fund supports small projects and concrete solutions based on an identified local need located in sub-Saharan Africa. The project’s target region must be in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda or Zambia and aim at improving decentralized energy supply. Contributions from the Small Projects Fund can cover up to 80% of the total project costs and must not exceed €200 thousand. Applications must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the steering committee’s convene dates which are 01 October and 01 December 2021. Know more