GPAP Inclusive Plastic Action Programme — Capacity Grants for NGOs

Enriched multilateral · Found: 2026-03-14 22:03

The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) Inclusive Plastic Action Programme offers targeted capacity grants to NGOs and social enterprises in Africa and Asia working on plastic waste with informal waste sector. Countries include Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Indonesia, Vietnam, India. 2025 round deadline was May 30, 2025. Monitor for 2026 round.

Source: https://www.globalplasticaction.org/inclusiveaction

Funding Details

Funder

Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) / World Economic Forum

Funding Goal

Support non-profit organisations and social enterprises working on initiatives that build skills, improve livelihoods, and support inclusive solutions tailored to the informal economy, specifically targeting informal waste workers in the fight against plastic pollution. Activities funded include: formalising informal waste workers' roles in plastic waste management, enhancing skills and recognition in plastic waste collection and recycling, empowering vulnerable communities (especially women) to preserve biodiversity and promote equitable resource use, building circular economy solutions that improve livelihoods and resilience, and transforming waste into economic opportunity (trash-to-cash models).

Funding Amount

Capacity grants for NGOs — amounts not publicly specified; 10 champion organisations funded in 2025 edition

Deadline

Annual, 2025 edition awarded (2026 round not yet announced as of April 2026) (periodic)

How to Apply

Application process for future rounds not currently open. The 2025 programme has selected 10 champion organisations. Monitor globalplasticaction.org/inclusiveaction for announcement of future application rounds.

Target Region

Global — emerging and developing economies; 2025 champions from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Kenya, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico

Contact

Via Global Plastic Action Partnership at globalplasticaction.org

Last Checked

2026-04-21 04:28

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Must operate in developing or emerging economies — not a developed-country focused programme

Project Scope

• Organisation must work with informal waste workers or on community-driven plastic pollution solutions
• Strong GESI (Gender Equity and Social Inclusion) alignment expected — women and marginalised groups prioritised
• Implementation-focused organisations preferred — not pure research or policy advocacy

Constraints

• Monitor globalplasticaction.org for announcement of 2026 application round
• 2025 edition already awarded — next round timing not yet confirmed

Summary

The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) Inclusive Plastic Action Programme is an annual initiative under the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate, administered through GPAP's Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) work stream. The programme champions inclusive action on plastic pollution by supporting non-profit organisations and social enterprises that work with informal waste workers — particularly women — in emerging economies. The programme's thematic scope centres on the informal waste economy as a critical but under-recognised part of the global circular economy. Informal waste collectors are responsible for over 60% of the world's plastic waste collection, yet they lack formal recognition, fair wages, and social protection. The programme targets organisations that build the skills, livelihoods, and formal recognition of informal waste workers, while advancing community-driven plastic pollution solutions. Eligible activities include: formalising the status of informal waste collectors; enhancing technical skills and organisational capacity of waste management cooperatives; empowering women-led enterprises in recycling and waste collection; building circular economy solutions that create sustainable livelihoods; marine and coastal clean-ups linked to income generation; and strengthening cooperatives, producer groups, and community recycling networks. The programme emphasises both environmental outcomes (plastic waste reduction) and social outcomes (livelihoods, gender equality, resilience). Geographically, the 2025 cohort included organisations from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Kenya, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Mexico — demonstrating a global scope across developing and emerging economies in South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. There is no restriction on nationality of the applying organisation as long as implementation is community-based in eligible regions. The programme provides capacity grants to selected 'champion' organisations. Grant amounts are not publicly specified. Selection is annual, with the 2025 cohort of 10 organisations already announced. GPAP has supported over 20,000 informal waste workers through prior programme editions. The next application round is expected to be announced on the programme's website. Cross-sector support is provided by GPAP's network of corporate and institutional partners.

Historical Context

GPAP has operated since 2018 as a platform under the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate. The Inclusive Plastic Action Programme has supported over 20,000 informal waste workers to date. The 2025 edition selected 10 champion organisations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The programme operates annually, selecting cohorts of organisations for capacity building and small grants.

Why it was added

grant-scan-list3-2026-03-14

Sources

• https://www.globalplasticaction.org/inclusiveaction

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