The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition (CEC) invites entrepreneurs from all around the world to submit innovative answers and ideas to solve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Young entrepreneurs (age 15-35) submit their ideas and projects in the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship category. Entrepreneurs over 30 years apply to the Adult Citizen Entrepreneurship category. The winners receive a certificate and international recognition. The deadline for entries is 12 August 2025. About the competition
water
Social Shifters — Global Innovation Challenge
Social Shifters announces the Global Innovation Challenge to help young leaders and founders solve the social or environmental issues that matter to them. The challenge seeks creative ideas, projects, and business solutions to the problems that matter to local communities and welcomes ideas from anywhere in the world. Participants compete for awards of up to US$15 thousand to deliver activities that improve lives, help communities, and protect the planet. All ideas must be led by young people aged between 18-30 years old. The application deadline is 29 August 2025. Link to Social Shifters
Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World — OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) supports early-career women scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with doctoral fellowships in the natural sciences. The applicant must have received her PhD in a scientific discipline within the previous ten years and whose current scientific research is related to the area of water, sanitation, and hygiene. Five grantees receive a cash grant of US$5 thousand and an all-expenses-paid trip to attend a relevant international conference. Applicants should be qualified young women science graduates (generally below 40 years of age), who have an M.Sc. degree or outstanding B.Sc. in the natural sciences. The deadline for submission of applications is 31 August 2025. Details
International Association of Horticultural Producers — World Green City Awards
The AIPH World Green City Awards competition recognizes the role of city authorities in promoting and supporting greater inclusion of nature and plants in urban environments. The award is open to city governments and local authorities around the world. The submission must be made by the local authority governing the city – such as the Mayor’s or executive officer’s office. Cities receive an award certificate and a trophy, as well as global recognition and profiling opportunities. All entries will need to be submitted online before 15 September 2025. Green City Awards
ETH4D — Visiting Student Grant
The ETH4D Visiting Student Grant provides ETH professors funding to invite a student from a low- or middle-income country to ETH Zurich for a research stay of 3-6 months. The invited student must be registered as a Master’s (MA/MSc) student in their home institution. The grant covers the following expenses up to a maximum of CHF 16.5 thousand. The next application deadline is 15 October 2025. ETH Visiting Student Grant
NDN Collective — Community Self-Determination
The Community Self-Determination grant program invests in the self-determination of Indigenous people working in their community. Applicants are encouraged to describe their community self-determination efforts within one of the following strategic focus areas that are best suited for their intentions and goals (e.g., climate justice work, clean energy initiatives, access to clean water, etc.). Grants of US$20 thousand per year, with a commitment of two years. The geographical focus is Turtle Island (Island Nations of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Canada and Mexico). Applications close on 17 October 2025. Community Action Fund
MDPI — Water Travel Award 2026
MDPI, a publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access journals, invites applications for the 2025 Water Travel Awards. Three awards of CHF 800 each will go to junior scientists to present an oral presentation and/or poster at an international conference in 2026. Applicants must be postdoctoral researchers or Ph.D. students working in the field of water or related areas. Applications have to be submitted by 31 October 2025. Click here
MDPI — Sustainability Young Investigator Award 2025
MDPI, a publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access journals, invites applications and nominations for the Sustainability 2025 Young Investigator Award. The winner will receive CHF 2000. This prize will be given to one young investigator in recognition of their excellence in the field of sustainability and sustainable development. Candidates must be under 35 years and be nominated by senior researchers. The deadline for nominations is 15 December 2025. More information
MDPI — Sustainability Travel Awards 2026
MDPI, a publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access journals, grants travel awards to 5 junior scientists. The award provides financial support to attend an international conference in the field of sustainability and sustainable development, to be held in 2026. Candidates must be postdoctoral fellows or PhD students. The winners will each be awarded CHF 600 and a certificate. Applications have to be submitted by 31 December 2025. Sustainability Travel Awards
AJA Foundation — Water Grants
AJA Foundation supports projects that provide access to clean water. AJA Foundation has a particular commitment to providing renewable clean water in rural African villages. There is no geographical restriction on where projects might be located. Funding ranges from US$2500 to US$500 thousand. The Foundation accepts LOIs on a rolling basis. Details here