The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) seeks youth-led innovations and solutions in response to the challenges associated with distribution and sales of agri-food products. Selected teams of two to five young innovators will be invited to further develop and pitch their digital development solutions. Winning teams will receive seed funding of US$30 thousand to develop their ideas. The agri-innovation challenge is open to all youth (below 35 years old) with digital innovations or ideas for the agri-food sector. The deadline to submit an application form is 20 June 2026. Visit the Global AgriInno Challenge
Funding News
Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry
The GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize Competition supports innovative, young food and agribusiness entrepreneurs who are transforming the African food system. The contest is open to food system founders or co-founders aged 18 to 35 who hold nationality from an African Union member state. Eligible businesses can span any part of the agrifood value chain, including production, logistics, agro-processing, and digital farming solutions. The program features a total prize pool of US$160 thousand, which includes two US$50 thousand grand prizes awarded to one male-led and one female-led business, alongside four US$15 thousand impact awards for ventures excelling in areas like climate resilience, technology, and food security. The deadline for complete applications is 28 June 2026. Agripreneur Prize
The Building Bridges Initiative helps arborists and urban foresters communicate the value of trees and urban forests through engagement via collaborative research and other projects with public works officials, risk assessment professionals, civil engineers, wildlife researchers, soil scientists, and others. The maximum award value of grants is US$30 thousand. TREE Fund welcomes research proposals and applications from a wide range of academic and technical disciplines, of both a qualitative and a quantitative nature. The deadline for Letters of Inquiry is 15 September 2026. Building Bridges Initiative
- Tags: forests, individuals, research, september2026, universities, worldwide
Biodiversity, Conservation, Wildlife
The Earth Journalism Network announces an in-person workshop that will support selected participants in Brazil to report on the importance of deep-sea science and exploration as well as marine biodiversity. Selected participants will travel to Fortaleza, Brazil, to attend the workshop. For participants based outside the Fortaleza area, EJN will cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance and ground transportation costs related to workshop participation. Eligibility extends to professional journalists from or representing an established media house or news content creators/influencers with an active presence on one or more prominent social media platforms. The deadline for online applications is 18 June 2026. Link to workshop details
The Earth Journalism Network invites applications for its Biodiversity Story Grants to support the production of in-depth media stories on biodiversity and nature-based solutions. Early-career and experienced journalists from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan or Madagascar may apply. The program expects to award up to 25 grants with an average budget of €1.800 each. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2026. More
GOT BAG offers the Care Collective Fund to support global ocean health and climate action initiatives. The grant program funds a diverse range of partners, including non-governmental organizations, foundations, grassroots initiatives, activists, academic research projects, and social enterprises. Eligible projects must fit a maximum duration of 12 months and align with one of the program’s three systemic pillars: plastic life cycle, maritime ecosystems, or community of care and climate resilience. While the program supports projects worldwide, it gives preference to locally led initiatives in the Global South and high-leakage regions like Southeast Asia and coastal Africa. Selected applicants receive a grant of €10,000 to implement their project. The deadline for applications is 05 July 2026. Care Collective Fund
Energy, Climate Change
The Earth Journalism Network offers reporting fellowships for journalists and creator journalists in low- and middle-income countries. Fellowship support includes operational and logistical support, accommodation, and financial support. Eligibility extends to professional journalists from or representing an established media house. The deadline for online applications is 17 June 2026. Fellowship for Journalists
The Earth Journalism Network offers reporting fellowships for journalists and creator journalists in low- and middle-income countries interested in covering the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31). Fellows are expected to produce multiple news pieces, stories or informational content during the course of the fellowship. Fellows may produce coverage as text, audio, video or some combination of formats. The fellowship provides full financial support—including economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, and travel insurance—to enable participants to report directly from the conference venue. The deadline for online applications is 17 June 2026. Fellowship for Creator Journalists
The “Art on Climate” International Illustration Competition invites illustrators to create artworks that address the theme of climate change. The goal is to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and solutions to tackle climate change. Prizes range from €2,000 to €150. Any person aged 18 or above is eligible to participate. The artwork has to be registered and uploaded by 31 July 2026. International Illustration Competition
- Tags: Asia-Pacific, awards/prizes, climate, individuals, july2026
Water Resources
The World Economic Forum runs the Transforming Water Systems Challenge to accelerate innovative solutions for global water security. The program searches for early-stage startups and growth-stage enterprises that offer technological, financial, or policy-driven innovations to modernize water utilities and improve freshwater infrastructure. Winners will gain access to a global network, visibility and engagement opportunities to support deployment, and will each receive a CHF 175 thousand prize. The deadline to submit an application is 04 June 2026. Transforming Water Systems Challenge
The Earth Journalism Network invites applications for its Mekong story grants to support in-depth reporting on water governance, transboundary river issues, and community experiences. Early-career, experienced, or freelance journalists from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam working in any medium are eligible to apply. The program expects to award 13 grants of up to US$2 thousand each to cover reporting expenses, with a focus on stories written in English that emphasize gender equity and social inclusion. The deadline for applications is 14 June 2026. Link
IHE Delft offers free online courses on various water topics on its OCW Platform. Available courses include Biological Wastewater Treatment, Spate Irrigation Systems, and Ecological Sanitation, among others. Each online course is divided by topics and course units for self-learning. Courses are available anytime. Browse the courses
- Tags: individuals, no deadline, training/education, water, worldwide
Cross-Cutting
The Waislitz Global Citizen Award is an annual cash prize recognizing the excellence of one individual in their work to end extreme poverty. The program is open to applicants aged 18 and older from any country, provided they represent a legally registered entity, such as a non-profit organization, social enterprise, or for-profit business. Rather than funding future project proposals, the awards serve as cash prizes recognizing established proof of concept, scalability, and system-changing solutions. The program features three distinct cash prizes of US$100 thousand each: the Grand Prize, the Disruptor Award, and the Choice Award, totaling US$300 thousand in unconditional funding. The deadline for self-nominated applications is 14 June 2026. Waislitz Global Citizen Award
- Tags: agriculture, awards/prizes, conservation, fisheries, forests, individuals, june2026, pollution, water, worldwide
The MASS Design Group African Design Centre (ADC) Fellowship supports emerging African designers and architects in transforming project insights into real-world social impact. The fellowship provides mentorship, training, and resources to catalyze innovation rooted in local contexts and community needs. Open to early-career professionals leading design-driven projects across Africa, fellows engage in capacity building and collaborative learning to scale sustainable architectural solutions. Applicants must be nationals of an African country and be no older than 35 years. Interested applicants should complete an online application by 14 June 2026. Details here
SOAS University of London offers two postgraduate scholarships aimed at nurturing future African leaders. The program supports international students starting a full-time, one-year taught master’s degree program in the 2026/27 academic year. Preference is given to applicants who are ordinarily resident in an African nation and who demonstrate a clear academic or professional interest in governance or development on the continent. Each of the two available awards provides a total value of £45,479, which covers full tuition fees and provides the remaining balance as a direct maintenance stipend for living expenses. The deadline for online applications is 17 June 2026. Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship