Russia/Eastern Europe
Earth Journalism Network — Virtual Media Workshop: Strengthen Reporting on Environmental Threats and Solutions in the Western Balkans
Earth Journalism Network (EJN) hosts a two-day virtual media workshop (January 2026) for journalists in the Western Balkans interested in reporting on environmental threats and solutions. Applicants can be from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. EJN will award 10-12 grants to journalists to support in-depth reporting on the different threats to biodiversity and innovative and scalable solutions to protect and conserve ecosystems. The application deadline is 26 November 2025. Virtual Media Workshop
European Landowners’ Organization — Land and Soil Management Award
The Land and Soil Management Award rewards land use and soil management practices mitigating soil threats i.e. soil degradation, erosion, reduction of organic matter content, diffuse contamination, and compaction as well as the reduction of soil biodiversity, salinization, sealing, flooding, and landslides. The winning project receives €5 thousand. Eligibility extends to farmers, landowners, and groups of farmers, on their own or in collaboration with research institutes, universities, and/or private companies. The call is open to applicants from all European countries. The call for applications closes on 30 January 2026. Land and Soil Management Award
European Plant Science Organisation — Young Plant Scientist Award
The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) offers two awards to young scientists to attend the Science Day of the EPSO General Meeting in June 2025. The awards will cover registration and travel. The awardee can present a lecture on his/her research and will receive €200. Applications are invited from PhD students working on either fundamental or applied aspects of research on plants. Applications must be received by 31 January 2026. EPSO Young Plant Scientist Award
UN Global Compact — Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals
The SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals is a nine-month program for business leaders and changemakers to develop and drive innovative sustainable development solutions and business models. The program targets entry- to mid-level managers across diverse businesses. The accelerator is open to business managers from selected countries (listed in the announcement). The call for nominations will remain open until 31 January 2026. SDG Innovation Accelerator
UNOPS — Pollution in the Black Sea
The Eco-Innovation Challenge seeks innovative solutions to tackle pollution sources such as agricultural runoff, municipal wastewater, industrial chemicals, and marine litter affecting the Black Sea. Innovators from eligible countries may apply through two windows: a Focus Country Window (Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye) for deployment-ready interventions (grants of US$50 thousand to US$300 thousand) and a Greater Black Sea Window for earlier-stage ideas (technical assistance up to US$20 thousand). The deadline for expressions of interest is 14 November 2025. Eco-Innovation Challenge
UNESCO — Youth Innovation Contest
The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) invites children and young people to take part in the 2025 Youth Innovation Contest. Participants can submit creative works that reflect their vision of a more sustainable planet, using any format (painting, story, poem, or a research essay). The contest is open to two age groups: Children’s Group (5-12 years old) and Youth Group (13-17 years old). Participants are encouraged to create works focusing on Climate Change, Biodiversity, Building Sustainable Communities, Protecting Water Resources, and Clean Energy. The deadline for application is 16 November 2025. More
U.S. Department of State — TechGirls 2026
TechGirls is an international summer exchange program designed to empower and inspire young women from around the world to pursue careers in science and technology. The program is open to teenage girls (ages 15-17) from eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and Latin America. TechGirls covers the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals for participation in the technology camp hosted by Virginia Tech University. The application will close on 04 December 2025. Link to TechGirls
Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme — Landscape Restoration
The Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme provides funding for the implementation of large-scale restoration initiatives that restore and harness ecosystem processes, bring back nature to degraded landscapes and seascapes, and revitalize local economies. The program seeks Expressions of Interest from innovative landscape restoration projects across Europe. The amount awarded per project is between US$1.5 Million and US$5 Million, over five years. Lead partners for grants must be not-for-profit organizations. The deadline for submitting applications is 20 January 2026. Details
Earth Journalism Network — Western Balkans Environmental Media Grant
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) awards grants to support activities that improve media coverage of environmental challenges and solutions. ENJ provides €10 thousand to a single journalist network, media organization, civil society group, or academic institution in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo) to support journalistic coverage of biodiversity, environmental threats, and nature-based solutions. Applications are due 30 October 2025. Western Balkans Environmental Media Grant