The EC funds the program Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in European Overseas Territories (BEST) in order to fund actions on the ground, both at the local and regional level. BEST 2.0 is open to applications for projects in the overseas territories of the Caribbean, Pacific, South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and Polar/Sub-polar regions. Small grants are up to €100 thousand; medium grants are €100 thousand to €400 thousand. Potential applicants include local civil society organisations; small for-profit organisations; municipalities; OT governments and their departments and services; European Member State bodies; and regional and international organisations. The deadline to submit concept notes is 14 April 2017. Link
community projects
IUCN-Oceania — Small Grants for Energy in the Pacific Islands
The Energy Small Grants Programme provides funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency in participating countries of the Oceania region. These energy projects should be coupled with strong linkages to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. Applications are invited from communities, civil society organisations, and private enterprises. The participating countries are Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Funding is up to US$20 thousand. The deadline for applications is 01 June 2017. Link
Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves — Women’s Empowerment Fund
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves welcomes applications for the fourth annual Women’s Empowerment Fund (WEF). The WEF is a financing mechanism to scale business models for women’s entrepreneurship in projects to advance household energy. The WEF will award up to four grants in the range of US$75 thousand to US$150 thousand for one year. The Alliance will give preference to enterprises owned and managed by women in the following countries: Bangladesh,China, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. However, qualified organizations operating in other countries are also encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a registered partner of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves prior to the application deadline. Organizations that are not currently partners can learn how to register from information published on the website. The application deadline is 02 April 2017. Link
European Commission — Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in South America
The EC will make grants in support of forest conservation and sustainable development in the region of dry forests, chaco, cerrado, and pantanal regions corresponding to ZICOSUR in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Project activities should focus on ecosystem conservation; support for sustainable economic development; strengthening of environmental governance; and provision of local services such as community water supply. Grants will range from €1 million to €2.5 million, varying with cost shares. Eligibility for funding extends to civil society organizations established in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Reference EuropeAid/154653/DD/ACT/Multi. The closing date for summary proposals is 04 May 2017. Link
Christensen Fund — Grants for Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity
The Christensen Fund makes grants to indigenous-led and community-based organizations for projects that combine biodiversity with cultural diversity. Pre-proposals are accepted for consideration in the following programs: African Rift Valley; Central Asia; Northwest Mexico; Melanesia; Global; and San Francisco Bay Area. Most grants are in the range of US$50 thousand to US$100 thousand for one or two years. The application period for pre-proposals is 01 August through 31 August, except for the Melanesia Program (01 September through 30 September). Link
Swiss Re — Leadership Prize in Water Management 2018
The International ReSource Award is a prize acknowledging social entrepreneurial thinking and leadership in addressing social and/or ecological issues related to sustainable water management practices in developing and emerging countries. Each of three finalists will receive US$20 thousand and expert assistance to further develop their proposals in order to compete for a first prize of US$75 thousand. Eligibility for the ReSource Award extends to charities, non-profit organizations, and revenue-generating social enterprises working in the areas of water, sanitation, and hygiene in the developing world. The application deadline for short proposals (Step I) is 22 March 2017. Link
Rabobank Employees Fund — Community Projects in Education and Water Supply
The Rabo Foundation Employeesfund is a part of the Rabobank Group, a provider of financial services that operates on cooperative principles in over 40 countries. The Employeesfund supports small-scale sustainable projects in education and water supply. For water projects, the areas of interest include improved water supplies and facilities for drinking water; agricultural irrigation; information projects; and integrated water management. Applications are welcomed from organizations that bank with Rabobank, and from Rabobank employees, in the Rabobank focus countries. The maximum grant request is €15 thousand. There is no deadline for applications. Link
Innocent Foundation — Seed Grants for Sustainable Agriculture in the Developing World
The program area “seed funding” makes grants to partner NGOs to deliver small-scale agricultural projects that have strong local impacts in the developing world. In addition to grant for agriculture, past projects include several that address water, forests, biodiversity, and related issues in environment and natural resources. Applying organizations must be registered charities in the UK. Grants are up to £30 thousand per year for three years. Link
European Commission — Agricultural Strengthening in South Sudan
The EC announces funding to improve food security and income in South Sudan, focusing on sustainable supply of agriculture and livestock inputs and services through the private sector. This call for proposals is part of the first and second component of the ZEAT-BEAD Program (“Zonal Effort for Agricultural Transformation – Bahal Gazar Effort for Agricultural Development”). Grants up to a maximum of €3 million will be allocated in four lots according to geographical regions. The lead applicant should be a nonprofit NGO based in the EU, the European Economic Area, an ACP State, a least-developed country, or a member country of OECD/DAC. Participation with co-applicants of South Sudanese nationality is strongly encouraged. Reference EuropeAid/153933/DD/ACT/SS. The deadline for concept notes is 16 February 2017. Link
European Commission — Improved Nutrition in Lao PDR
The EC will make grants to improve food and nutrition security among rural households and create sustainable agricultural wealth at the village and household level in Laos. Actions include attention to improved plant-based and animal-based agriculture, safe local water supply, and others. The lead applicant should be a nonprofit organization in the EU or in one of the eligible countries of the DCI Regulation (i.e., EU pre-accession countries, countries of the European Economic Area, and many developing countries and territories). Grants will be allocated geographically up to a maximum of 10 million euros per consortium for certain regions. Reference EuropeAid/153320/DD/ACT/LA. The deadline for concept notes is 13 March 2017. Link