The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) refers to itself as the voice of the United Nations system on matters of environment. It monitors the status of the global environment, and it raises awareness to promote international actions on major environmental problems.
UNEP works through a number of scientific advisory groups and collaborating technical centers. It makes small grants in the Caribbean Environment Program, and it offers the SEED Awards for enterprise and environmental sustainability.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
1 — Caribbean Environment Program. UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Program (CEP) is the implementing framework of the Cartagena Convention (1983) for the protection of the Caribbean marine environment.
Among its program areas, the CEP makes small grants to strengthen marine protected areas and to support sustainable fisheries in the wider Caribbean region.
About the Caribbean Environment Program
APPLICATION: Small Grants Funds are announced through call for proposals on the website.
2 — SEED Initiative. In partnership with other organizations, UNEP offers the SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development to support locally-led initiatives for poverty eradication and environmental sustainability.
The awards are made to social entrepreneurs, local communities, minority and women’s groups, environmental organizations, and others. Each award winner receives a package of services (technical assistance and business services), and a cash grant of US$5 thousand.
APPLICATION: The SEED Initiative operates through an annual call for applications. SEED posts eligibility criteria, application guidelines, frequently asked questions, and an application form.
3 — Young Champions of the Earth. The Young Champions of the Earth award honors and supports young artists, scientists, economists, communicators and entrepreneurs from with innovative ideas for the environment, humanity, a greener future.
The winners receive seed funding (US$15 thousand), intensive training, and tailored mentorship to bring their big environmental ideas to life.
About Young Champions of the Earth
APPLICATION: Each year, seven young champions will be selected from each global region: Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia, and two from Asia and the Pacific.
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
UNEP serves all UN Member States, including the following developing countries classified according to the regional structure of the Terra Viva Grants Directory.
Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands: Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam
East Asia: China, Mongolia, North Korea
South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Eurasia and Central Asia: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Eastern Europe and Russia: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine
Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territory, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
Sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Dem Rep of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Latin America and Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela
UNEP’s website is available in several languages.
UNEP is an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility.
This profile does not include several environmental awards that UNEP endorses and sponsors. Grant seekers should make their own research in Awards. Except for the SEED Initiative and Young Champions of the Earth, most awards are honorary, and do not provide monetary or material support.
February 2021