New in:
1. Call for Applications, 2021 One Planet Fellowship (see link for eligible countries)
2. Call for Projects Ideas: Transboundary Climate Action in Europe, German Federal Environment Ministry (see link for eligible countries)
3. Call for Applications, Digital Innovations for Human Rights Program (Uganda)
4. 2021 Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity (USA and South Africa)
5. ‘Open Minds - Young Voices’ Youth Activists Program, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Nigeria)
6. Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
7. 2021-22 Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Small Grants Program, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (USA - California)
8. Professional Development Grants, WWF (see link for eligible countries)
9. Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Program, African Union Commission
All currently open calls:
Grant-making opportunities
1. Call for Applications, “la Caixa” Foundation (Spain & Portugal)
Fourth edition of the Call for biomedical and health research projects with the aim of identifying and giving support to the most promising initiatives of scientific excellence with potential value and high social impact, whether in basic, clinical or translational research.
Funding information: individual projects – up to EUR 500,000; research consortium projects – up to EUR 1,000,000
Deadline: Dec 3, 2020.
Focused on the SDG2 targets with the overall objective of enabling and fostering African innovators and researchers to work in local and global collaborative partnerships on the ambitious but achievable goals of accelerating knowledge generation, developing and deploying interventions and innovations that will advance the progress towards ending hunger, achieving food security and addressing malnutrition in all forms.
Funding information: awards will fund projects up to USD 100,000 for a max. of 2 years
Deadline: Dec 4, 2020.
3. Kiwa Initiative: Supporting Nature-Based Solutions for Biodiversity & Climate Change Adaptation in Pacific (see link for eligible countries)
In order to strengthen the adaptation of Pacific territories to the effects of climate change and better protect their biodiversity, the Kiwa Initiative supports projects focused on nature-based solutions through grants and technical assistance.
Funding information: between EUR 1.5 and 5 million
Deadline: Dec 7, 2020.
4. Call for Proposals, Water JPI (see link for eligible countries)
“Conservation and restoration of degraded ecosystems and their biodiversity, including a focus on aquatic systems.” To support research projects in which the approaches and skills of natural sciences, social sciences and humanities are integrated as needed to address the specific objectives of each research proposal.
Funding information: total available over EUR 20 million
Deadline: Dec 7, 2020.
To provide an average of 15 (fifteen) local, national and regional organizations from Latin America and the Caribbean, with financial resources – up to USD 5.000 each- to target challenges CSO ´s in the region are facing during COVID-19 in relation to one or more of the following areas: access to information, transparency and accountability in public funds used during the pandemic, and monitor of access to public services.
Funding information: up to USD5,000 per project
Deadline: Dec 11, 2020.
6. New Call for Applications, Digital Innovations for Human Rights Program (Uganda)
Our Innovation Program aims to create digital solutions for Human Rights Defenders to execute their work in better, more efficient and more secure ways. 6 Areas of Action: Digital Inclusion; Capacity Building; Security, Safety and Privacy; Knowledge Sharing and Collaborative Learning; Healthcare; Media On/Offline.
Funding information: up to 60,000,000 UGX
Deadline: Dec 15, 2020.
7. Call for Proposals, South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (see link for eligible countries)
Invites concept notes in any area of environmental and resource economics relating to the development of South Asia and the HKH region. Particularly interested in concept notes that demonstrate a clear demand from policymakers for their underlying research, although any innovative research idea within SANDEE’s scope that has scientific merit will be considered.
Funding information: grants likely to range from USD 20,000–30,000 over a 2-year period
Deadline: Dec 15, 2020.
8. Call for Innovations 2020, Water and Energy for Food (see link for eligible MENA countries)
Designed to address barriers to enable the production of more food with efficient and sustainable usage of water and energy along the value chain from farming to end-user, to impact food security, gender and poverty reduction in an environmentally sustainable way.
Funding information: estimated ceiling for this first Call for Innovations is USD 4.5 Million from Water and Energy for Food. Subject to the availability of funds, the individual Award(s) of a cash grants will range from USD 25,000 to 300,000.
Deadline: Dec 15, 2020.
9. Call for Proposals, HOPES-LEB (Lebanon)
Invites organizations registered in Lebanon to submit tailor-made project proposals that address the specific needs of vulnerable Lebanese youth and refugees from Syria and alleviate bottlenecks related to access to and completion of higher and further education and labor market integration.
Funding information: all projects can request funds for their actions ranging from EUR 10,000 to 60,000. Total available EUR 1,080,000
Deadline: Dec 15, 2020.
10. Call for Proposals for AI for Accessibility Grants "Smart Cities and Transportation", Microsoft
Supports projects that use AI to empower people living with disabilities. Looking for individuals or teams who are not only passionate about making the world more inclusive, but also firmly rooted in the communities they intend to benefit.
Funding information: In addition to Azure compute credits worth USD 10,000, USD 15,000, or USD 20,000 (depending on your project scope and needs), these grants cover costs related to collecting or labeling data, developing models, or other engineering-related work.
Deadline: Dec 15, 2020.
11. Knowledge Synthesis Grants, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Canada)
To mobilize social sciences and humanities research to examine and synthesize existing knowledge on mobility and public transit issues. Grant holders will identify research gaps and opportunities and their work will inform and guide policy-makers and service providers responsible for public transit at the community level.
Funding information: grants are valued at USD 30,000 for one year.
Deadline: Dec 17, 2020.
12. SWITCH-Asia - Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production, European Union (see link for eligible countries)
The global objective of this call for proposals is to support the development of a green, low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy, and to contribute to economic prosperity and poverty reduction in Asia.
Funding information: overall indicative amount available EUR 32,600,000; min. EUR 1 million; max. amount EUR 2.5 million
Deadline: Dec 18, 2020.
13. Call on Development Finance, Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (see link for eligible countries)
Seeking projects researching the role of development finance: investments in private sector development that are impact-led but commercially rigorous.
Funding information: major research grants are grants of GBP 100,000 or more. There is no formal upper limit, but past MRGs have averaged around GBP 300,000
Deadline: Dec 21, 2020.
14. Call for Letters of Inquiry for Large Grants Program, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (Lebanon)
Inviting proposals in the form of letters of inquiry (LOIs) for large grants from nongovernmental organizations, community groups, private enterprises, universities, and other civil society organizations (CSOs) in Lebanon. The benefits to local communities and economic sustainability of the interventions must be carefully considered to ensure the maintenance of the actions beyond the life of the project.
Funding information: USD20,000 – 150,000
Deadline: Dec 23, 2020.
15. Solid Waste Management Grant Program, USDA (USA)
Qualified organizations will receive SWM grant funds to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas.
Funding information: award ceiling USD 1 million; total available USD 4 million
Deadline: Dec 31, 2020.
16. Call for Applications, Elsa U. Pardee Foundation Grant Program (USA)
Inviting applications for its grant program to funds research to investigators in United States non-profit institutions proposing research directed toward identifying new treatments or cures for cancer. The Foundation funds projects for a one-year period which will allow establishment of capabilities of new cancer researchers, or new cancer approaches by established cancer researchers.
Deadline: Dec 31, 2020.
17. Grant Program to Protect Natural Resources, The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation (low- and lower-middle-income countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East)
Seeks to protect natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and promote public health in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. The foundation supports projects that demonstrate local leadership and promote professional development in the conservation, agricultural, and health sciences; develop the capacity of local organizations; and address a particular problem or question in the field.
Funding information: avg. grant approx. USD 20,000. Those exceeding USD 30,000 rarely awarded.
Deadline: Jan 1, 2021.
18. Accessible Technology Program, Government of Canada (Canada)
Will co-fund innovative projects led by the private sector, not-for-profit organizations and research institutes to develop new assistive and adaptive digital devices and technologies in order to make it easier for Canadians with disabilities to more fully participate in the digital economy.
Deadline: Jan 2, 2021.
19. Integrating Tradition and Technology for Fermented Foods for Maternal Nutrition, Global Grand Challenges, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (see link for eligible countries)
Seeks to fund pilot studies that investigate the biological effect of traditional locally fermented foods on key microbiome, gut, and health biomarkers in local populations. Goal is to provide investigators in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with the resources to build local capacity to investigate fermented foods as novel maternal nutrition interventions.
Funding information: sequencing platforms (funded with up to USD 40K for sequencing technology out of this USD 200K award) and training will be provided
Deadline: Jan 6, 2021.
The main aim is to provide support for the production and dissemination of information and content linked to EU Cohesion policy, including inter alia the Just Transition Fund and the recovery plan for Europe, while respecting complete editorial independence of the actors involved.
Funding information: total available for co-financing of projects is EUR 5,000,000
Deadline: Jan 12, 2021.
21. Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence, William T. Grant Foundation (USA)
Studies on improving the use of research evidence should identify, build, and test strategies to ensure that research evidence is used in ways that benefit youth.
Funding information: major research grants range between USD100,000 and 1,000,000 and cover 2-4 years of support. Officers’ research grants are a separate funding mechanism for smaller projects with budgets typically ranging from USD 25,000 to 50,000
Deadline: Jan 13, 2021.
22. Research Grants on Reducing Inequality, William T. Grant Foundation (USA)
Proposals for studies are evaluated based on their fit with our interests in reducing inequality; the strength and feasibility of their designs, methods, and analyses; their potential to inform change; and their contribution to theory and empirical evidence.
Funding information: major research grants typically range between USD 100,000 and 600,000 and cover two to three years of support. Officers’ research grants on reducing inequality are a separate funding mechanism for smaller projects with budgets ranging from USD5,000 to 50,000
Deadline: Jan 13, 2021.
23. Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USA)
To solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. To fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics.
Funding information: estimated total program funding USD 25 million; award ceiling USD 2 million; award floor USD 50,000
Deadline: Jan 14, 2021.
24. Call for Proposals, Smart Built Environment, Formas (Sweden)
Digital Built Environment in Practice to contribute to the sustainable development of the built environment, through projects that center around digitalization and industrial processes. Applications can address processes, forms of collaboration, business models, technology or a combination of these.
Funding information: for innovation ideas SEK 500,000; research, development or innovation projects can apply for between SEK 500,000 to 4 million
Deadline: Jan 15, 2021.
25. New 2021 Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity (USA and South Africa)
Accepts 20 high-impact change-makers into the fellowship, which consists of an 18 months-long, non-residential experience that builds knowledge and capacity to effectively address the causes of racial inequality and to imagine more equitable futures.
Deadline: Jan 20, 2021.
26. Societal Transformations for Climate Action Research Program, Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Sweden)
Inviting research groups, jointly with civil society organizations, the public sector and other stakeholders, to submit proposals to facilitate societal transformation for climate action through research and innovation. In line with Mistra’s statutes, the research program shall be of strategic environmental importance.
Funding information: expected program budget total SEK 40 million over four years; Foundation’s financial contribution maximum of SEK 40 million.
Deadline: Jan 29, 2021.
27. New Professional Development Grants, WWF (see link for eligible countries)
To provide support for mid-career conservationists to pursue short-term, non-degree training to upgrade their knowledge and skills. This training can include short courses, certificate training, or conferences among other training opportunities.
Funding information: applicants may request up to USD 2,000
Deadline: Feb 1, 2021.
28. New IKI Small Grants, GIZ
With the IKI Small Grants scheme BMU extends its IKI strategy and outreach to small national, regional and local organizations to encourage active citizen involvement and local approaches to threats caused by climate change and biodiversity loss.
Funding information: funding more than 100 projects by 2025 with up to EUR 100,000 each (up to EUR 200,000 for mitigation and, in special cases, adaptation measures). After the first selection round, IKI Small Grants is providing three million euros for 38 selected small projects in 27 countries.
Deadline: Feb 9, 2021.
29. Partnerships Grants Program, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Canada)
These grants provide support for new and existing formal partnerships over four to seven years to advance research, research training and/or knowledge mobilization in the social sciences and humanities.
Funding information: applications successful at Stage 1 are valued at up to CAD 20,000
Deadline: Feb 10, 2021.
30. New 2021-22 Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Small Grants Program, UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (USA - California)
Priority will be given to projects that benefit socially disadvantaged communities and/or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Funding information: total funding approx. USD 80,000. Individual grants limited to max. USD 7,000
Deadline: Feb 15, 2021.
31. 2020 Mexico-U.S. Innovation Fund Competition, 100K Strong in the Americas (USA and Mexico)
Provides unique opportunities to U.S. universities and colleges to partner with higher education institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean to create partnerships, build capacity, provide students with access to training programs, and strengthen regional education cooperation throughout the Americas.
Funding information: to award up to eleven grants of up to USD 25,000 each.
Deadline: Feb 15, 2021.
32. Smart Farming Innovations for Small-Scale Producers, Global Grand Challenges, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (see link for eligible countries)
Seeks Smart Farming solutions that leverage digital technology innovations that have the potential to drive positive impact for small-scale producer (SSP) entrepreneurs delivered through bundled farmer services and enabled by scalable digital and data platforms.
Funding information: Seed Grants – Up to USD 250,000 to be implemented up to 12 months. Scale-Up Grants – Up to USD 1,500,000 to be implemented up to 24 months.
Deadline: Feb 25, 2021.
33. New Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
To provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives, recognize leaders in the field of species conservation; and elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate. Will potentially support projects focused on any and all kinds of plant, animal and fungus species, subject to approval of an independent evaluation committee.
Funding information: maximum of USD 25,000
Deadline: Feb 28, 2021.
34. Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities (USA)
To support national or regional (multistate) training programs for scholars, humanities professionals, and advanced graduate students to broaden and extend their knowledge of digital humanities. NEH seeks to increase the number of humanities scholars and practitioners using digital technology in their research and to broadly disseminate knowledge about advanced technology tools and methodologies relevant to the humanities.
Funding information: estimated total program funding USD 850,000; award ceiling USD 250,000
Deadline: Mar 2, 2021.
35. Call for Proposals, Social Science Research Council
As part of the Just Tech program, seeks proposals from across the social sciences and related fields that address the risks, opportunities, and challenges posed by public health surveillance stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Funding information: awards will range from USD 5,000 to 10,000, with larger amounts directed to projects committed to research partnerships
Deadline: ongoing
36. Collaborate Pacific, New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade (see eligible Pacific countries)
Aims to support effective governance, leadership, regional cooperation, and sustainable development in the Pacific through support to one-off, small scale activities that tackle issues that matter to the region. Recognizes that partnership, capacity building, people-to-people links, and knowledge-sharing are critical to ownership of development processes.
Deadline: ongoing
37. Global Water Futures – Affiliate Projects
To deliver risk management solutions, informed by leading-edge water science and supported by innovative decision-making tools to manage water futures in Canada and other regions where global warming is changing landscapes, ecosystems, and water environments.
Deadline: There is no associated closing date with applications.
38. Call for Applications, Urgent Action Fund (Africa)
Urgent Action Fund-Africa is expanding its COVID-19 response towards supporting women, transgender and gender non-conforming defenders with disabilities to: develop and widely disseminate messages and information about the disease in disability friendly formats, simplify and/or translate complex COVID 19 information, and provide practical resources.
Funding information: up to USD 8,000
Deadline: applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
39. COVID-19 Young Leaders Fund
Program is designed to support young leaders who are tackling the Covid-19 pandemic on the frontlines. Applicants should be focused on SDGs 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8. One Young World will prioritize initiatives which can use the funds to impact the maximum number of people to the greatest extent.
Funding information: One Young World recommends requesting between GBP 2,500 - GBP 10,000.
Deadline: Program is open on an ongoing basis.
40. Global Innovation Fund (GIF)
This program seeks to invest in social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of millions of people in the developing world. Open to funding innovations in any sector as long as they can demonstrate their innovation improves the lives of those living on less than USD 5 PPP per day.
Range: USD 50,000 – 15,000,000
Deadline: Program is open on an ongoing basis.
Fellowships and other opportunities
1. Call for Applications, Urban Development Technology Innovation Challenge, Asian Development Bank (see link for eligible countries)
To introduce new solutions in ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs) and thereby support ADB’s mandate in assisting DMC’s to reach the SDGs. Through TIC, DMCs will learn about new technology solutions to address various development challenges, and technology providers’ risks related to market entry may be reduced by showcasing their technologies.
Funding information: selected proposals (2 expected) can receive up to USD 500,000 grant, and technology providers must co-finance at least 10% of the total cost.
Deadline: Dec 4, 2020.
2. New ‘Open Minds - Young Voices’ Youth Activists Program, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Nigeria)
To provide groups of young, capable and proactive Nigerians with skills, knowledge and moral values that will equip and encourage them to use their future leadership positions to work and advocate for social justice, good governance and a more peaceful Nigeria.
Deadline: Dec 6, 2020.
3. New Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Program, African Union Commission
Will support 12 months of high-level professional development in advanced public health leadership that includes acquiring skills in health diplomacy, change management, influencing policy, among others.
Deadline: Dec 11, 2020.
4. World Justice Challenge: Advancing the Rule of Law in a Time of Crisis
Global competition to identify, recognize, and promote good practices and high-impact projects/policies that protect and advance the rule of law in a time of unprecedented crisis.
Award information: USD 20,000 will go to six projects that show demonstrable results and promising prospects for future progress, replication, and scaling.
Deadline: Dec 11, 2020.
5. Community Engagement Exchange Program, IREX (see link for eligible countries)
A year-long program designed to enable civil society leaders, ages 20-27, to harness the power of networks, relationships, and information for the public good, specifically on issues related to civic dialogue and peace building, open and participatory government, women and gender, resilience and sustainable development, and youth engagement.
Deadline: Dec 23, 2020.
6. Call for Proposals, Global Best Practice Program, EXPO2020 Dubai
Aimed at recognizing and promoting visibility of integrated development best practices for a better 2030 with a particular view on building back better and moving towards a “better normal” as they come out of the ongoing crisis.
Deadline: Dec 31, 2020.
7. Ontario Agri-food Research Initiative (Canada)
To help eligible organizations fund agri-food research projects. The goals are to: fund demand-driven research that can support agri-food policy, programs or the marketplace; improve knowledge or technology to help Ontario's agri-food sector businesses address challenge; help agri-food businesses expand market opportunities locally and globally.
Deadline: Jan 8, 2021.
8. 2021-2022 Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship (USA)
An 11-month program in which participants develop leadership skills as they gain hands-on experience working to end hunger and poverty in the United States through efforts led by local, state, regional, and national host organizations.
Deadline: Jan 11, 2021.
9. Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship 2021, International Peace Research Association Foundation (see link for eligible countries in Global South)
Available to women from countries in the Global South who have completed a Bachelor's degree, who have been accepted into a graduate program, and whose graduate work is to be focused on issues related to the goals of the IPRA Foundation.
Award information: every other year two women receive school expenses in the amount of USD 5,000 per year for two years.
Deadline: Jan 15, 2021.
10. New Call for Projects Ideas: Transboundary Climate Action in Europe, German Federal Environment Ministry (see link for eligible countries)
Projects provide forward-looking ideas for European climate action. They are categorized into eight core areas: climate policy, energy, buildings and municipalities, mobility, agriculture, soils and forestry, awareness, climate-aligned finance and sustainable economy.
Deadline: Jan 19, 2021.
11. Call for Applications, Racial Equity 2030
Global challenge in honor of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 90th anniversary. It is a call for bold solutions to drive an equitable future for children, their families and communities. This $90 million challenge seeks ideas from anywhere in the world and will scale them over the next decade to transform the systems and institutions that uphold inequity. Solutions may tackle the social, economic, political or institutional inequities.
Deadline: Jan 28, 2021.
12. African Peacebuilding Network, Individual Research Fellowships, Social Science Research Council (Africa)
Inviting applications from African researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners working on conflict and peacebuilding issues at universities and research institutions; or regional, governmental, and nongovernmental agencies or organizations in Africa.
Award information: support 6 months of field-based research from June to Dec. 2021. Up to 17 fellowships of a max. of USD 15,000 each will be awarded. Women encouraged to apply.
Deadline: Feb 1, 2021.
13. 2021 Victor J. Goldberg Prize, Institute of International Education
To recognize outstanding work being conducted jointly by two individuals, one Arab and one Israeli, working together to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East.
Deadline: Feb 1, 2021.
14. New Call for Applications, 2021 One Planet Fellowship (see link for eligible countries)
It brings together an intergenerational network of scientists from across Africa and Europe; strengthens the leadership skills of emerging climate scientists from both continents; and contributes towards building a robust pipeline of climate science leaders.
Deadline: Feb 15, 2021.
15. International Climate Protection Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (see link for eligible countries)
Enables fellows to conduct a one-year research-based project in Germany focusing on combating climate change, on adaptation strategies, on preserving ecosystems and biodiversity, or on the sustainable use of the oceans and seas. Sustainability topics relating to natural resources, resource-efficient consumption or urban development also welcome. Awards up to 15 Fellowships to prospective leaders and up to five to postdoctoral researchers each year.
Deadline: Mar 1, 2021.
Each Chair will be provided up to USD 970,000 over a four-year period and tasked with executing a world-class research program able to contribute significantly towards building both the human capital and the scientific knowledgebase required to solve important climate change-related problems in Africa and beyond.
The application process will remain open until suitable candidates are identified.
17. Scholarship for Displaced Students, Columbia University
Supports displaced students from anywhere in the world who are unable to complete their higher education. These students will receive full tuition, housing, and living assistance while pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees across all 18 Columbia schools and affiliates. Scholarship aims to shift the global dialogue surrounding displaced persons, from one that views them as a burden to one that recognizes them as vital contributors to global innovation and prosperity.
18. Partnering for Change: Link Research to Societal Challenges, University of Basel
Course: How can we address societal challenges with research? Investigate the principles, processes, and uses of transdisciplinarity. Topics include: transdisciplinary projects on sustainable development, migration, and health.