The Securing Water for Food Grand Challenge for Development (SWFF) is a collaborative initiative among the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Swedish International Development Agency, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Government of South Africa. The current call for proposals focuses on improving water efficiency and reusing agricultural wastewater; effective water capture and storage systems for extending temporal availability of water supply; and management of salinity in water supplies. Awardees will receive between US$100 thousand and US$2 million in funding and acceleration support to bring their innovations to scale. The deadline for applications is 10 October 2016. Link
business/enterprise
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Program for Mexico 2016
In “Wildlife Without Borders, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) partners with Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) to invite projects that build Mexico’s capacity for biodiversity conservation. Grants should focus on projects that improve the capacities of Mexican government agencies and local communities to protect wildlife from illegal trafficking and over-exploitation. Applications are invited from government agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, private-sector entities, and individuals. The maximum grant is US$500 thousand for two years. The deadline for applications is 17 October 2016. Link
U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) — Off-Grid Clean Energy in India, 2nd Funding Round
The PACEsetter Fund aims to accelerate the commercialization of off-grid clean energy by providing early-stage grants that allow businesses to develop and test innovative products, business models, and systems. Projects must focus on small-scale systems that improve the viability of off-grid renewable energy for under-served individuals and communities in India that do not have grid-connected power, or that have limited or intermittent access. Grants will range from US$50 thousand to US$300 thousand. The deadline for expressions of interest is 12 August 2016. Link
U.S. Department of State — Morocco Green Growth Climate Challenge
The U.S. Department of State will make one grant for approximately US$400 thousand to assist Morocco with a competition to help build capacity to mitigate the impacts of climate change through the use of clean energy and energy-efficient technologies. The challenge will feature small grants for workshops on energy technologies, public policy, and business development. Applications to manage the challenge are invited from non-profit NGOs; private, public, and state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations and businesses in the U.S. and elsewhere (e.g., Morocco). Funding Opportunity ENAQ-ENRAQM-16-003. The closing date for applications is 15 August 2016. Link
Energy and Environment Partnership, Mekong Region — 6th Call for Proposals
The Energy and Environment Partnership with the Mekong Region (EEP Mekong) announces its sixth call for proposals on clean energy. With financial support from the Government of Finland, EEP Mekong will support clean energy projects in the private sector that are close to commercial maturity, but that need a limited amount of bridge finance. To be eligible for grants, project developers should be based in one of the following countries: Cambodia, Finland, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, or Vietnam. The minimum size of a proposed project is €200 thousand. The deadline for concept notes is 12 August 2016. Link
United States–India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) — 7th Call for Proposals
The USISTEF announces its 7th competitive call for proposals to commercialize technologies for societal impact. Priority areas include health, education, agriculture, water, and others. Proposals must include at least one partner from each country, India and USA. Funding is up to Rs. 2.5 crores (approximately US$400 thousand) for projects that demonstrate a high potential to be commercial within 2-3 years. The bi-national teams can include incorporated companies; non-incorporated entities; and individuals or consortia from academic, government, and non-government R&D institutions. The deadline for proposals is 15 June 2016. Link
FIRE Africa — ICT for African Development
The Fund for Internet Research and Development (FIRE Africa) promotes innovative online solutions to Africa’s needs in education, information, infrastructure, and communication. FIRE Africa can support any project that makes use of ICT to solve problems in the field. For example, previous winners include several organizations working in agriculture. Eligibility to apply extends to private and public organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. Grants are up to US$25 thousand for periods of 12-16 months. The application deadline is 31 May 2016. Link
Belgian Development Agency (BTC) — Fair and Sustainable Trade in Precious Metals
BTC’s program in Trade for Development offers grants to improve the market access of organizations that are committed to fair and sustainable trade, including trade in precious metals. Among other objectives, project activities include the reduction of negative environmental impacts of mining and metals extraction. Grants ranging from €50 thousand to €100 thousand are available to private nonprofit and private for-profit organizations (if composed of 50% or more cooperative producers) in the following countries: Algeria, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Dem Rep Congo, Ecuador, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Palestinian Territories, Peru, Rwanda,Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Vietnam. The application deadline is 10 July 2016. Link
European Commission (EC) — Improved Banana Production in Cameroon
The EC will make grants to increase banana productivity in Cameroon in order to aid the country’s export competitiveness. The actions include improvement of environmental and social conditions in banana plantations, as well as measures to raise productivity and decrease costs. The program is open to established banana exporters that sold at least 2,000 tons of dessert bananas to the EU in 2015. Grants will range from €500 thousand to €1 million, varying with cost shares. Reference EuropeAid/151036/DD/ACT/CM. The deadline for submissions is 25 April 2016. Link