The United Nations:
The UN’s support for climate change projects in environment and development is both direct and indirect. The multilateral has allotted a significant amount of funds for climate change and environment through separate UN programs and other multilateral and national agencies, but it also provides small grants for NGOs.
UNFCC
The UN has an official treaty for climate change, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which finances climate change projects in developing countries through the Adaptation Fund. However, the fund only allocates grants to accredited implementing entities, such as large multilateral, regional and national agencies. A comprehensive list of accredited implementing entities and their funded project proposals can be found here.
UNDP
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) finances community-based projects on environmental protection, climate change and pollution through their Small Grants Program (SGP). SGP grantees receive an average of $25,000 and up to $50,000 for their environmental projects. NGOs can apply to this by submitting a concept note to the SGP National Coordinator. For more information on how to apply to SGP, click here. UNDP also provides grants of $5,000 to $15,000 to NGOs through the Equator Initiative; however an NGOs must be nominated by a third party to be considered for this prize. You can find more information on how to nominate at this link.
UNEP
The United Nations Environment Program offers small grants of $5,000 and technical assistance to small social and environmental entrepreneurs from developing countries. The donor looks for projects that support gender equality, sustainable development and climate change. NGOs can apply online during the annual call for applications. For more information on the application process and award details for the SEED Initiative, please click here.
The World Bank:
Development Marketplace (DM)
DM is a competitive grant program providing funding for innovative, early-stage developments, which aim to create jobs and/or deliver a range of social and public services to low income groups. While the donor claims to fund programs worldwide, it currently focuses on East Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. The donor describes an award-winning project to support the following through their intervention: social impact, sustainability, growth potential and innovation. Applications are solicited through competition calls, each of which have different eligibility requirements, areas of interest and funding amounts. NGOs should regularly check the competitions page for the latest news and funding opportunities. For more information on DM, please click here.
New Global Partnership for Social Accountability
The New Global Partnership for Social Accountability GPSA supports local NGOs and government agencies in capacity building, research and knowledge dissemination, social accountability, and environment. The program issues calls for proposals in 14 developing countries for grants of 3-5 years. For more information on GPSA, please click here and here.
Global Partnership on Output Based Aid
This grant program supports “output based aid” (OBA) projects. Output based aid is an innovative, results-based approach to providing basic services to communities in the developing world. It links aid payments to the delivery of “outputs” such as healthcare and sanitation services, education, solar grids, etc[2]. To learn more about the definition of OBA, please see this guide provided by GPOBA. GPOBA issues grants through two windows, listed below. Many previously funded projects are related to climate change and environment.
- Technical assistance: support for the design, implementation, and evaluation of individual output based projects in the following sectors: education, energy, irrigation, solid waste management, and water sanitation. Application information can be found here.
- Dissemination: projects focused on sharing experiences and best practices of output based aid, e.g. publications, research, workshops, conferences, etc… Supported areas of interest include: water/sanitation, energy, telecommunications, health, and education. Application information can be found here.
European Commission:
European Commission—Environment
LIFE is the European Commission’s primary funding scheme for environmental protection projects in the EU. The objective of LIFE is to promote civil society involvement in environmental policy development and implementation in the European Union. LIFE’s thematic funding areas include: climate change, nature and biodiversity, environment and health, natural resources and waste, as well as cross-cutting environmental issues. The program gives priority to projects that involve awareness raising and/or policy development and implementation for environmental protection.
LIFE supports NGOs through its “Operating grants to European environmental NGOs.”
Since its inception in 2002, LIFE has contributed over Euro 2.2 billion to over 3,000 projects across the EU. These funds have been offered through four phases, with the most recent phase ending in 2013. LIFE+, the LIFE funding phase for 2007-2013 had a total budget of Euro 2.1 billion. For the funding year of 2013, the Operating grants to European environmental NGOs had a budget of Euro 9 million for up to 30 proposals. The grants are for European NGOs of various sizes and activities for environmental protection in EU member states.
While this funding is now closed, a new budget for the next phase of the LIFE program is likely to be issued shortly, so you should regularly check the LIFE website and the website for the Operating grants to European environmental NGOs for the latest updates and calls for proposals.
European Commission—Development and Cooperation (EuropAid)
EuropAid is responsible for designing European development policy and delivering international aid. The agency states that the overarching objective of EU development is the eradication of poverty in the context of sustainable development. Among their supported themes are biodiversity, water, energy, and climate change.
EuropAid funding for projects addressing climate change and environment is channeled through several programs:
- European Development Fund (EDF): EDF supports development activities, including those that involve natural resources and agriculture. The 10th EDF has an overall budget of around Euro 23 billion and is available for members of African, Caribbean and Pacific states as well as those within member states of the EU.
- Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI): DCI’s budget from 2007-2013 is approximately Euro 17 billion. The instrument provides aid through thematic and geographic programs, both of which support some form of work in environment and sustainable development. The thematic program benefits all developing countries, whereas the geographic program is for 47 developing countries in Latin America, Asia and Central Asia, the Gulf region.
- European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument (ENPI): ENPI has a budget of Euro 11 billion for 2007-2013, 95% of which goes to national and multi-country programs, whereas 5% goes to cross border cooperation programs. ENPI lists sustainable development as one of their strategic objectives, as well as energy. The funding is available for 10 Mediterranean countries, six Eastern European countries, and Russia.
EuropAid posts calls for proposals on their website here. To apply for different EC grants NGOs need to be registered in PADOR (Potential Applicant Data Online Registration). Here we have a complete guide to registering for PADOR.
