The UN FAO Data for Farm Value Global Challenge 2025 invites early-stage startups worldwide to propose scalable, data-driven solutions that empower smallholder farmers. Eligible startups must be registered companies with at least two team members. Selected participants will receive workshops, one‑on‑one mentoring, and the winner earns a €5,000 cash prize. Applications close on 25 August 2025. Know more
Funding News
Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry
The Garden Club of America (GCA) offers several grants, prizes, and fellowships for students enrolled at universities in the USA, including some awards that have a tropical focus. The GCA Awards in Tropical Botany are open to PhD candidates (application deadline is 15 January); the Loy McCandless Marks Scholarship in Tropical Horticulture is restricted to U.S. citizens who are graduate students or advanced undergraduate students (deadline is 15 January). The Anne Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany is open to PhD students and recent PhD graduates (deadline is 31 January). Applicants should review all programs, criteria, and deadlines. Botany and Horticulture Scholarships
Terraformation accepts applications for the Seed to Carbon Forest Accelerator, a biodiversity-focused, carbon-funded forest accelerator program. The program aims to foster thriving forest communities that preserve biodiversity while increasing the global forest carbon supply. The Accelerator is open to forest creation and restoration teams of all types from around the world. Participants will benefit from expert training, information on creating and registering carbon projects, and a free feasibility study to assess their project and its ability to grow into a full-scale carbon project. Applications are reviewed frequently. Seed to Carbon Forest Accelerator
Biodiversity, Conservation, Wildlife
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) offers grants of €4,500 to media outlets in Nepal to support new media programming on natural resource management and green growth. The grants are intended to seed new programs, columns, or sections that focus on providing innovative and solutions-oriented information on green growth and natural resource management to the public and policymakers. Eligibility extends to media outlets in Nepal – including newspapers, online media, radio, television, multimedia platforms, and social media channels. The application deadline is 21 August 2025. Seed Grants for Media Outlets
The Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund) announces its annual request for proposals with two available financial windows: Traditional Small Grants and Reef Rescue Initiative. Traditional Small Grants support Coastal and Marine resources management and protection in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR). Reef Rescue Initiative supports and strengthens science-based restoration, repopulation, and rehabilitation of coral reefs in the MAR region. The proposals to be presented may have a duration of up to two years. Funding ranges from US$30 thousand to US$50 thousand. At least 25% of the total budget must come from other sources, as a match to the requested funds. All coral reefs within the MAR region are eligible. The deadline for the submission of proposals is 09 September 2025. Mesoamerican Reef Fund
The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) supports graduate students whose research advances the science and practice of conserving biological diversity. The Fellowship Awards will support field work, including travel, materials or equipment required to conduct research. Students must demonstrate financial need toward completion of a graduate degree to receive US$1,000 in support of their research project. The deadline to submit your materials is 15 September 2025. Know more
Energy, Climate Change
The Global Resilience Partnership launches the TECH4Resilience Challenge to accelerate seed‑level AI innovations that bolster climate-related emergency preparedness—focusing on solutions for low- and middle-income countries. Both not-for-profit and for-profit innovators are eligible, and selected projects will receive tailored leadership mentoring, communications support, investor pitch preparation, and funding of up to US$50 thousand to further develop and scale their solutions. The challenge closes on 31 August 2025. TECH4Resilience Challenge
The Canon Collins Trust seeks to support exceptional individuals who are committed to social justice in Southern Africa. In 2026, climate justice will be a priority. Climate Justice related scholarship applications may be in a science or applied science field as long as the application can demonstrate its relevance to climate justice-related matters. The value of the scholarship ranges from R20 thousand to R100 thousand. Applicants must be nationals of Namibia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe. The deadline for applications is 02 September 2025. Climate Justice Scholarship
The Joint Innovation Facility provides funding of €100 thousand to €250 thousand to consortia led by African organizations from 14 target countries—including Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and others. Eligible proposals must leverage digital technologies to scale climate‑focused innovations in areas like climate mitigation, adaptation, blue tech, smart cities, energy, or mobility. Applicants must form cross‑border consortia (Africa–EU or intra‑Africa). The deadline for submission is 15 September 2025. Joint Innovation Facility
Water Resources
The Elisabeth & Amelie Fund supports sustainable water management in developing countries, among others by financing on-the-spot internships for students from developing countries who are studying in Belgium. The internship will take place in a developing country (the student’s country of origin or another country). The grant will cover the expenses inherent to the internship, up to a maximum of €5 thousand. The internships are for students from developing countries who are pursuing a master’s level degree that is linked to water management. The deadline for applications is 20 October 2025. Elisabeth & Amelie Fund
The Catalyst Social Impact Program supports social enterprises focused on health, hygiene, water, sanitation, and climate resilience. The program provides tailored business development, mentorship, and funding to scale purpose-driven ventures that address systemic inequalities and deliver community-level impact. The program is open to entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. The deadline to apply for the 2025 cohort is 10 August 2025. Details here
The Fair Water Action Fund supports civil society organizations, journalists, and researchers in the Global South—especially in Africa—to promote water justice and hold governments and corporations accountable for water security. Grants range from £3,000 to £36,000 for projects up to 12 months that focus on advocacy, community monitoring, investigative reporting, and systemic change. Eligible applicants include grassroots networks, NGOs, academic centers, and independent media. Priority is given to countries facing water scarcity and governance challenges. The next application deadline is 31 July 2025. Fair Water Action Fund
- Tags: Africa, media/journalism, nonprofit orgs, universities, water, worldwide
Cross-Cutting
The 1 Million Youth Actions Challenge supports youth-led initiatives related to clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production, climate action & biodiversity. Youth between 15 and 24 years from all around the world are invited to submit their solutions and projects. Selected projects will receive financial support up to C$5 thousand each and technical support. The call is open until 15 August 2025. Youth Actions Challenge
The Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation seeks applications for the Changemakers Innovation Challenge. The challenge is open to non-profits and social enterprises across Africa who are using technological/digital tools to create innovative social solutions. Focus areas include health, environment, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Proposed projects must have a maximum life cycle of 12 months and benefit African communities. The challenge is open to non-profits and social enterprises across Africa. The application deadline is 22 August 2025. Changemakers
The Africa Earth Observation Challenge (AEO Challenge) is an open innovation competition aimed at fostering African early‑stage businesses across all sectors that leverage Earth Observation data to tackle pressing development challenges—such as climate change, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, natural resource monitoring, sustainable development, and healthcare. Eligible applicants must be based anywhere in Africa. Finalists and winners receive a comprehensive support package including cash prizes totaling up to US$10 thousand distributed among the top three teams. The application deadline is 29 August 2025. Africa Earth Observation Challenge