GEF Small Grants Programme: Country-Level Calls (Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya)

Expired UN / Multilateral · Found: 2026-03-14 15:18

GEF/UNDP small grants for community-led environmental initiatives including chemicals and waste management. Max USD 30,000 per project. Annual recurring calls.

Source: https://www.undp.org/ghana/press-releases/2026-call-proposals-gef-small-grant-programme-ghana

Funding Details

Funder

UNDP / GEF Small Grants Programme

Funding Goal

Support community-driven environmental initiatives along the Black Volta Basin in Ghana, including community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species, sustainable agriculture/fisheries/food security, low-carbon energy access, local-to-global coalitions for chemicals and waste management, and catalysing sustainable urban solutions through CSO-Government-Private Sector dialogue.

Funding Amount

Up to USD 30,000 per grant (up to 30.000 €)

Deadline

2026-03-13 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Submit proposal using the Proposal Template electronically to helpdesk.gh@undp.org. Application period: 23 February 2026 to 13 March 2026 at 5pm GMT. Processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Virtual proposal workshop held 2 March 2026.

Target Region

Ghana — specifically Black Volta Basin communities in Upper West Region, Bono region, and Savannah Region

Contact

akosua.bireduaa.aninakwa@undp.org; helpdesk.gh@undp.org

Last Checked

2026-05-07 01:27

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a local Ghanaian NGO/non-profit with valid Registrar General's and Social Welfare certificates, OR a community-based organisation recognised by District Assembly and EPA Ghana

Project Scope

• Project must operate in Black Volta Basin communities (Wa-West, Banda, Bole, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, or Central Gonja districts)
• Project must address one of the 5 GEF-SGP strategic initiative areas (waste management, conservation, sustainable agriculture, energy, or urban dialogue)

Required Documents

• Submit Proposal Template by email to helpdesk.gh@undp.org before deadline
• Review Proposal Guidelines and Country Programme Strategy documents before applying

Constraints

• Maximum grant: USD 30,000 per project
• Deadline 13 March 2026 at 5pm GMT — applications processed first-come, first-served

Summary

The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) 2026 Call for Proposals in Ghana is a country-level implementation of the global GEF-8 Small Grants Programme, managed by UNDP Ghana. The programme supports small community-led environmental and sustainable development initiatives through grants of up to USD 30,000. The thematic priorities for this call are: (1) community-based conservation of threatened ecosystems and species; (2) sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and food security; (3) low-carbon energy access and co-benefits; (4) local-to-global coalitions for chemicals and waste management; and (5) catalysing sustainable urban solutions through multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms. The chemicals and waste management strand directly relates to plastic and solid waste issues. Eligible activities include community conservation projects, waste management initiatives, sustainable livelihood projects, and institutional capacity building for civil society and community organizations. The programme explicitly aims to enhance institutional, technical, and financial capacities of grantees and develop multi-stakeholder platforms. Geographically, the call is restricted to communities along the Black Volta Basin in four specific districts/regions of Ghana: Wa-West district (Upper West Region), Banda district (Bono region), Bole and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba districts, and Central Gonja Municipal (Savannah Region). This is a highly specific geographic restriction. Eligible applicants are local NGOs/non-profits registered in Ghana with valid regulatory certificates, OR community-based organizations recognized by District Assemblies and the Environmental Protection Authority of Ghana. International NGOs or foreign-registered organisations are not eligible to apply directly — they would need a registered Ghanaian partner or subsidiary. The maximum grant per project is USD 30,000. The call deadline was 13 March 2026. This is an annual recurring call under GEF-8, so future iterations are expected. Projects are intended to be short-to-medium term community-level interventions.

Historical Context

Part of GEF-8 (8th replenishment cycle). GEF Small Grants Programme is a long-running global programme supporting community-led environmental action. This 2026 call is annual and recurring under OP8 Country Programme Strategy for Ghana.

Why it was added

Grant scanner Tier B scan 2026-03-14

Sources

• https://www.undp.org/ghana/press-releases/2026-call-proposals-gef-small-grant-programme-ghana

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