8th Call for Proposals Small-Size Grants Global EbA Fund Applications are now open, The Global EbA Fund supports innovative ideas that can help scale Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and overcome the challenges that often prevent these solutions from reaching a wider impact.
The Fund is particularly interested in projects that strengthen institutional and technical capacity, improve the availability and use of data and evidence, build knowledge-sharing networks, and make projects more ready for investment.
The Fund is aligned with the IKI Strategy up to 2030, with a strong focus on supporting a broader socio-ecological transformation.
Its main geographic focus is on ODA-eligible Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). However, proposals from other ODA-eligible countries may also be considered if they demonstrate exceptional ambition, innovation, and potential for meaningful impact.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 26th October 2026
8th Call for Proposals Small-Size Grants Global EbA Fund Applications are now open
About the Global EbA Fund
The Global EbA Fund is designed to support innovative projects that use Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to help communities respond to climate change. The Fund is led by IUCN and UNEP and supported through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Rather than simply funding large-scale projects, the Fund focuses on catalytic initiatives that can remove the barriers preventing EbA solutions from being adopted and scaled.
This includes improving access to knowledge and data, strengthening institutional and technical capacity, supporting research and pilot initiatives, influencing policies, and creating new ways to attract public and private investment for climate adaptation.
The Fund encourages applicants to think creatively, build strong partnerships, and develop solutions that can continue to create impact beyond the grant period.
8th Call for Proposals Small-Size Grants Global EbA Fund Applications are now open
What Does the Fund Focus On?
Projects are expected to address some of the key challenges that prevent EbA solutions from being taken to scale, including:
- Building capacity: Strengthening institutional and technical capabilities needed to plan and implement EbA.
- Generating evidence: Improving data, research, and evidence to demonstrate what works.
- Knowledge sharing: Creating networks and partnerships that help communities and institutions learn from one another.
- Climate-risk planning: Clearly linking climate hazards and risks with social and ecological vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity.
- Inclusion and safeguards: Ensuring meaningful participation of local communities, respecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights, addressing gender considerations, and avoiding maladaptation.
- Long-term sustainability: Demonstrating how the project will continue through local ownership, institutional support, and sustainable financing.
Encouraged Areas
The Fund particularly welcomes proposals focused on:
- Preparing projects for investment and developing strong project pipelines.
- Using innovative technologies to support EbA.
- Applied and practical research that can inform real-world action.
- Building synergies with other EbA and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) initiatives.
- Developing innovative approaches to climate adaptation finance.
8th Call for Proposals Small-Size Grants Global EbA Fund Applications are now open
Grant Size & Project Duration
- Grant Size: 10 grants up to USD 250,000.
- Project Duration: between 18 to 24 months
Who Can Apply?
The Fund is open to a wide range of organizations, including:
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- International NGOs (INGOs)
- Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)
- Community-based organisations (CBOs)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations
- Universities and academic institutions
- Research institutes and think tanks
- Eligible private-sector companies, subject to specific conditions
- Consortia with a clearly designated lead applicant organisation
Government entities may participate as consortium partners but cannot directly receive Fund money.
Individuals are not eligible to apply, including for individual PhD research. IUCN and UNEP offices are also not eligible applicants.
Key Eligibility Requirements
To be considered, a proposal should:
- Clearly qualify as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) under the Fund’s criteria and quality standards.
- Demonstrate clear innovation and catalytic potential.
- Identify the specific climate impacts and risks being addressed.
- Fit within a maximum of one Strategic Objective and two Action Pillars of the Fund.
- Focus globally, thematically, or on ODA-eligible countries, as applicable.
- Stay within the USD 250,000 funding limit and 24-month project duration.
- Build on existing work rather than being a completely standalone field-implementation project.
- Have a clear plan for sustainability after the grant ends.
- Work with relevant local institutions and partners.
- Be submitted by legally recognized organisations with relevant experience.
- Successfully complete the required due diligence process.
What Makes a Strong Proposal?
Applications are assessed primarily on the following areas:
| Evaluation Area | Weight |
| Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Approach | 30% |
| Innovation & Catalytic Contribution | 30% |
| Sustainability | 20% |
| Institutional Arrangements | 20% |
The proposal should have a strong Theory of Change, logical framework, SMART indicators, and a realistic and well-aligned budget.
Projects are also expected to demonstrate meaningful gender and social inclusion, participatory approaches, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) where Indigenous Peoples may be affected.
Reporting Requirements
Applicants must include at least three indicators from the Fund’s Core Indicator Framework in their project logframe.
Application Documents
Applicants will need to submit:
- Applicant Declaration
- Co-applicant Mandate, where applicable
- Small-Size Grants Application Form
- Project Proposal and Budget Template
- Due Diligence and Financial Capacity Questionnaire, including the required annexes
All applications must be submitted in English. Organisational documents in other languages must be translated into English.
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
| Call Launch | 24 August 2026 |
| Application Window | 28 September – 26 October 2026 |
| Submission Method | Online application portal |
Only successful applicants will be contacted, and individual feedback will not be provided to unsuccessful applicants.
Why This Grant Opportunity Is Important
The Global EbA Fund is valuable because it supports projects that can help move Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) from promising ideas to solutions that can be replicated and scaled.
What makes the opportunity particularly attractive is its focus on removing the barriers that prevent good climate-adaptation solutions from growing—rather than simply funding one-off field activities.
- Meaningful funding: Grants of up to USD 250,000 can support ambitious initiatives with strong potential for impact.
- Focus on climate resilience: The Fund supports solutions that help communities and ecosystems respond to climate risks.
- Supports innovation: Innovative technologies, applied research, new financing approaches, and new models for EbA are encouraged.
- Catalytic potential: Projects should have the potential to influence policies, attract additional investment, build partnerships, or enable wider adoption.
- Strong emphasis on inclusion: Gender equality, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, local participation, and social and environmental safeguards are important parts of the programme.
- Pathway to scale: The Fund is particularly relevant for organisations that already have some groundwork in place and are looking to take their approach to the next level.
- Long-term impact: Applicants are expected to demonstrate how the work will continue after the grant ends through local ownership, institutional support, partnerships, or sustainable financing.
What Makes a Strong Application?
A strong application should show that the project is more than a good environmental idea. It should demonstrate a clear climate problem, a credible EbA solution, and a realistic pathway to lasting impact.
1. Clearly define the climate problem
Explain the specific climate hazards and risks affecting the target communities or ecosystems. Show who or what is vulnerable and why action is urgently needed.
2. Demonstrate a genuine EbA approach
The proposed intervention should clearly qualify as Ecosystem-based Adaptation and demonstrate how healthy ecosystems can help people adapt to climate change.
3. Show why the project is innovative and catalytic
This is a major evaluation area. Explain what is different about the approach and how the project could unlock wider change, influence systems, attract investment, inform policy, or be replicated elsewhere.
4. Build on existing work
The Fund is not intended primarily for standalone field implementation. A strong proposal should show what has already been tested, learned, developed, or established and explain how the grant will help take that work further.
5. Have a clear Theory of Change
Connect the dots clearly:
Problem → Intervention → Outputs → Outcomes → Long-term Impact
Use realistic SMART indicators and explain how progress will be measured.
6. Put local communities at the centre
Demonstrate meaningful participation from local institutions and communities. Where Indigenous Peoples are involved, address their rights and appropriate FPIC processes.
7. Think beyond the grant period
A strong proposal should answer a simple question: “What happens when the funding ends?”
Show how the project can continue through local ownership, institutional support, partnerships, policy adoption, investment, or other sustainable mechanisms.
8. Make the budget work for the story
The budget should be realistic and directly connected to the proposed activities and outcomes. Every major cost should have a clear purpose and contribute to the project’s objectives.
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much funding is available under the Global EbA Fund?
The Fund can provide grants of up to USD 250,000 per project, with a maximum implementation period of 24 months.
2. Can an individual apply for the grant?
No. The Fund is intended for legally recognised organisations and eligible entities, including NGOs, CBOs, Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations, universities, research institutions, think tanks, eligible private-sector organisations, and consortia. Individuals, including those seeking funding for PhD studies, are not eligible.
3. Does the project have to be completely new?
Not necessarily. In fact, the Fund expects projects to build on existing work. Applicants should demonstrate what has already been developed or learned and explain how the proposed funding will help overcome barriers, strengthen the approach, or enable it to scale.
4. What are the most important areas considered during evaluation?
The strongest emphasis is on the EbA approach (30%) and innovation and catalytic contribution (30%), followed by sustainability (20%) and institutional arrangements (20%). A proposal therefore needs both a strong technical EbA foundation and a convincing case for wider impact.
5. What can make an application stand out?
A compelling application will typically combine a clearly defined climate challenge, a credible EbA solution, strong local partnerships, evidence of existing work, measurable outcomes, innovative thinking, and a realistic plan for scaling and sustaining the impact beyond the grant period.
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