GEF SGP CSO Challenge Programme — Grants up to USD 300,000 for Civil Society

Enriched multilateral · Found: 2026-03-14 22:04

A pilot programme of the GEF Small Grants Program, implemented by IUCN and RTI International, offering grants up to USD 300,000 to CSOs with proven environmental solutions ready for scaling. Focus includes chemicals and waste management.

Source: https://iucn.org/press-release/202510/new-gef-programme-set-deliver-grants-usd-300000-civil-society-led

Funding Details

Funder

Global Environment Facility (GEF) / Small Grants Program

Funding Goal

Identify, reward, and support high-impact innovative environmental approaches and solutions spearheaded by civil society organisations (CSOs). The programme targets CSOs with proven environmental solutions that are ready for growth, replication, and scaling. Eligible thematic areas include: sustainable agriculture; community-based management of threatened ecosystems and species; sustainable cities; low-carbon energy access; and chemicals and waste management (including plastic pollution). Target results include: 12,000 hectares of land and ecosystems under restoration; 159,000 hectares of landscapes under improved practices; and 25,000 direct beneficiaries with at least 50% women.

Funding Amount

Grants up to USD 300,000 per selected CSO; total programme funding USD 9.07 million (GEF Grant) plus USD 4.26 million co-financing (up to 300.000 €)

Deadline

2026-01-01 (periodic)

How to Apply

Formal calls for proposals expected to be announced from January 2026. Programme implemented by IUCN and RTI International. Proposals will be submitted through a competitive selection process. Monitor GEF project page (GEF Project ID 11757) and IUCN communications for call announcements.

Target Region

Global — all GEF-eligible (developing and transition) countries

Contact

IUCN (implementing agency) and RTI International. See https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/11757 for project details.

Last Checked

2026-04-21 04:29

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a CSO based in a GEF-eligible (developing/transition) country — donor countries like Denmark are NOT eligible
• Organisation must have proven environmental solutions ready to scale, replicate, or grow
• Priority to IPLCs, women-led organisations, and youth organisations

Project Scope

• Eligible themes: sustainable agriculture, threatened ecosystems/species, sustainable cities, low-carbon energy, chemicals and waste management (including plastics)

Required Documents

• Programme implemented by IUCN and RTI International under GEF Project ID 11757

Constraints

• Calls for proposals expected from January 2026 — monitor IUCN and GEF websites
• Grants up to USD 300,000; total programme budget USD 9.07M GEF grant + USD 4.26M co-financing

Summary

The GEF Small Grants Program (SGP) Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Challenge Program is a new USD 10 million pilot initiative under GEF-8, implemented by IUCN together with RTI International. Announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in October 2025 in Abu Dhabi and approved for implementation in December 2025, this programme offers competitive grants of up to USD 300,000 to selected civil society organisations with proven environmental solutions that are ready for growth, replication, and scaling. The programme's thematic scope encompasses five priority areas: sustainable agriculture; community-based management of threatened ecosystems and species; sustainable cities; low-carbon energy access; and chemicals and waste management. The chemicals and waste management theme explicitly covers plastic pollution, making this programme relevant to organisations working on plastic waste reduction and circular economy in developing countries. Eligible activities include on-the-ground conservation action, ecosystem restoration, sustainable production practices, waste reduction and management, and innovative environmental solutions at the community level. Proposals must demonstrate proven impact at a local scale and articulate a credible pathway to replication or scaling. The programme explicitly aims to support the inclusion of underrepresented groups — Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), women, and youth — in global environmental solutions. Geographically, the programme is open to CSOs in all GEF-eligible countries, which includes all developing and transition economies globally. This excludes organisations based in high-income donor countries such as Denmark. The programme is funded by the GEF Trust Fund and does not accept applications from organisations registered in GEF donor countries. Calls for proposals were expected to be announced from January 2026. Organisations should monitor IUCN and GEF communications for call announcements. Target results include 12,000 hectares of land and ecosystems under restoration, 159,000 hectares of landscapes under improved practices, and 25,000 direct beneficiaries with at least 50% women.

Historical Context

The GEF SGP CSO Challenge Program is a pilot initiative of the GEF Small Grants Program (SGP), GEF's premier mechanism for engaging civil society in environmental action. Concept approved December 2024; project approved for implementation December 2025. Pre-launch event held at IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, October 2025. Calls for proposals expected from January 2026. GEF-8 funded.

Why it was added

grant-scan-list4-2026-03-14

Sources

• https://iucn.org/press-release/202510/new-gef-programme-set-deliver-grants-usd-300000-civil-society-led
• https://www.thegef.org/projects-operations/projects/11757

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