Imagine H2O invites early-stage water startups from anywhere in the world to apply for its 2027 accelerator programs. It offers mentorship, training, introductions to a network of technology adopters and investors, and showcase opportunities at industry events. It takes no equity, and no cash award is stated. Startups must be under 10 years old, with revenue under US$5 million and equity investment under US$10 million. Meetings run on Pacific time mornings, which means evenings for African applicants. Applications close 20 November 2026. Water Startup Accelerator
business/enterprise
MassChallenge — Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge
MassChallenge seeks startups and corporations with proven solutions or technologies in the areas of Sustainable Food & Feed Solutions, AgTech, and others. The Challenge allows participants to work together, create a joint pitch, and scale up innovative solutions. Selected corporate partners will be invited to the MassChallenge Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge Day. Selected startups will receive CHF1,000 to contribute towards travel to the event. Applicants can be from any geography. However, partners are headquartered in Europe, so physical collaboration would be mostly in Europe. The application deadline is 25 November 2026. Sustainable Food Solutions Challenge
UAE Water Aid — Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award
UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) invites nominations for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award. The award supports research and development of new and innovative technologies that produce, distribute, and purify water using renewable energy to support poverty- and disaster-stricken communities worldwide. Prizes vary according to category from US$20 thousand to US$150 thousand. Suqia invites corporations, research centers, institutions, innovators and youth from around the world, whose novel technologies provide solutions to the challenges of water scarcity, to participate in the awards. The deadline for nominations is 30 September 2026. Visit Suqia
International Fund for Agricultural Development — Rural Sector Performance Assessment for Policy and Investment
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) invites non-profit organizations, private companies, universities, think tanks, or research institutes to submit proposals for a grant of up to US$1.2 million to implement an initiative strengthening country-level rural development policy and investment environments, through enhanced policy assessment. Selected recipients must provide a counterpart contribution of at least 20% of the grant amount (25% for private sector applicants). This call has been re-opened, with a new deadline of 07 October 2026. Find details here
International Fund for Agricultural Development — Food Systems Transformation in the Central Sahel
The International Fund for Agricultural Development invites eligible organizations, government agencies, private sector entities, research institutions, or consortia to submit proposals for “Support for Food Systems Transformation in the Central Sahel,” a US$2 million grant supporting innovative, scalable interventions in the livestock, cassava, and rice value chains across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Proposals should demonstrate regional relevance, commercial viability, climate resilience, and inclusion of women and youth. The deadline is 16 October 2026. Food Systems Transformation
Marine Stewardship Council — Ocean Stewardship Fund: Transition Assistance Fund
The MSC’s Transition Assistance Fund supports fisheries verified as improving toward MSC certification through the MSC Improvement Program, funding implementation of their Improvement Action Plan. Around 40% of grants go to fisheries in developing countries, with small-scale and Global South fisheries a particular priority. In 2026, the fund awarded £383,000 across eight projects, including co-funding electronic monitoring systems for a mahi-mahi longline fishery spanning Ecuador and Peru, and stock assessment work for a Spanish shrimp trawl fishery. Applicants must contact their local MSC representative before applying, and applications are assessed on criteria including the rationale for selected improvement actions, the expertise of project leads, and the degree of matched funding already secured. Grants reach up to £50,000 over up to two years. The deadline is 01 December 2026. Transition Assistance Fund
The Liveability Challenge — Sustainability Solutions for Tropical Cities
Temasek Foundation and Eco-Business invite startups and ventures worldwide to submit scalable, commercially viable sustainability solutions addressing urban challenges in the tropics, across three tracks: Decarbonisation, Cool Earth (climate resilience and cooling), and Oceans (sustainable blue economy). The top three solutions in each track receive S$1 million in grant funding. Decarbonisation finalists may also receive up to S$2 million in additional development funding from A*STAR, and Oceans finalists may qualify for up to S$500,000 in equity investment from the Asia Ocean Fund. Finalists are showcased at a Grand Finale in Singapore during Ecosperity Week 2027. The deadline is 18 February 2027. Liveability Challenge
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund — Small Grants Program, Sri Lanka
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and IUCN invite Letters of Inquiry from Sri Lankan NGOs, community-based organizations, Indigenous and women’s groups for projects supporting community engagement in managing threatened ecosystems and species, under the GEF Small Grants Program. Grants are up to US$60,000. Eligible only in five districts: Nuwara Eliya, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Galle, and Matara. The deadline is 09 October 2026. Small Grants Program
F. M. Kirby Foundation — Social Impact Prize
F. M. Kirby Impact Prize is an annual global prize of US$150 thousand that amplifies and accelerates the work of enterprises working to scale their impact on social or environmental problems around the world. Applicants must have strong evidence of impact over at least 3 years and a plan for how to use the prize to scale that impact in the next 3-5 years. The prize is open to nonprofit, for-profit, or hybrid organizations working anywhere in the world. The deadline for applications is 02 December 2026. Know more
Global Energy Alliance — Energy Access in Latin America
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet invites Expressions of Interest for its Universal Access Coalition Financing Facility, supporting solar, mini-grid, and productive-use energy access projects across Latin America and the Caribbean. The Facility offers Technical Assistance grants of US$100 thousand to US$400 thousand and Investment Financing of US$200 thousand to US$750 thousand in grants and concessional loans. Eligible applicants include government agencies, utilities, NGOs, project developers, and private-sector organizations in Phase One’s eight countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Haiti, Peru, and Suriname. The application deadline is 09 September 2026. More