Organisation Name:
Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented through IUCN and RTI International
Application Deadline:
15 September 2026
About Organisation
The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) supports locally led environmental action by civil society and community-based organisations. Established in 1992, the programme works to address global environmental challenges while improving livelihoods and reducing poverty. The new SGP CSO Challenge Program is led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with RTI International as executing agency. It creates a competitive funding opportunity for CSOs with proven environmental solutions that are ready to be replicated or scaled. The programme particularly encourages participation by women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
About the Grant
The GEF SGP CSO Challenge Program is a US$10 million initiative designed to identify, recognise and support high-impact environmental solutions led by civil society organisations. Selected organisations can receive up to US$300,000 to replicate or scale solutions that have already demonstrated results. In addition to funding, winners receive tailored technical support, capacity building, knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities. The programme covers five strategic areas: threatened ecosystems and species, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, low-carbon energy access, chemicals and waste management, and sustainable urban solutions.
Who can Apply?
The programme is designed for civil society organisations (CSOs) based in eligible GEF recipient countries. Applicants must have legal entity status, an organisational bank account and the ability to receive eligible funding. The proposed initiative must be an existing, tested or currently implemented solution that is ready for replication, expansion or scaling; purely conceptual or untested pilot projects are not the focus. Projects must align with at least one of the programme’s five priority areas. Local, national, regional and international CSOs may be eligible, with strong encouragement for initiatives involving women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
How to Apply?
Applicants should first review the official programme eligibility requirements and select the relevant regional call. For the current call, organisations in Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific & Oceania can submit proposals online in English, French or Spanish. The application should demonstrate the existing solution’s environmental results, scalability, innovation, theory of change, partnerships, sustainability and financial viability. Applications are submitted through the online grants portal before the stated regional deadline.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is 15 September 2026
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
