USAID inREPLACE — India Plastic Waste Reduction Activity

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Enriched government · Found: 2026-03-14 20:33

$30M USAID India activity. Coastal cities, riverine areas. Reduce ocean plastic pollution at source. Sub-grants from prime recipient. Chennai model directly relevant.

Source: https://researchfunding.duke.edu/innovations-reducing-plastics-cleaner-environment-india-inreplace-activity

Funding Details

Funder: USAID India (prime: NGO or consortium selected via competitive process)
Funding Goal: Reduce ocean plastic pollution at source; enhance waste management policies and infrastructure; promote innovation in plastic lifecycle management
Funding Amount: USD 30M over 5 years (total programme); individual sub-grants not publicly specified
Deadline: Programme underway; sub-grant windows managed by prime recipient (Unknown)
How to Apply: Contact USAID India mission (usaid.gov/india) to identify prime recipient; approach prime for sub-grant opportunities. Expression of interest to prime recipient organisation. Capability statement and prior experience documentation. Sub-grant amounts typically USD 100K-500K range.
Target Region: India — coastal cities, riverine areas, islands
Contact: USAID India: usaid.gov/india
Last Checked: 2026-03-14 20:36

Application Checklist

Eligibility

US, local Indian, or international NGO
Experience in coastal city plastic waste management
Presence or partnerships in India

Project Scope

Activities within the prime recipient's implementation framework
Coastal city waste management improvement
Policy, infrastructure, and innovation components

Constraints

Must work through the prime implementing partner
Sub-grant amounts typically USD 100K-500K range

Summary

inREPLACE is the primary USAID plastic waste programme for India and represents a significant investment in exactly the type of coastal city value chains the organisation has demonstrated in Chennai. The programme has been designed to enhance waste management policies and infrastructure, promote innovation, and reduce ocean plastic at source — aligning precisely with the organisation's model. The most direct action is to identify the prime implementing organisation (likely Winrock International, RTI, or a similar US-based development contractor, or a leading Indian environmental NGO) via the USAID India mission website and approach them about sub-grant or implementing partnership opportunities. The organisation's "From Beach to Big Bags" Chennai proof-of-concept is a strong credential for this approach.

Historical Context

USAID India has a history of funding plastic waste programmes. The predecessor Clean Cities, Blue Ocean programme operated 2020-2023. inREPLACE represents the scaled-up follow-on with a USD 30M investment. The programme scope (coastal cities, riverine areas, islands) matches India's geography of plastic leakage hotspots.

Why it was added

grant-scan-2026-03-14-government

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