Applications Invited for UNEP Small Grants Programme on Community-Based Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Initiatives

Applications Invited for UNEP Small Grants Programme on Community-Based Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Initiatives

Organization: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Apply By: 02 Nov 2026

About the grant

The UNEP Small Grants Programme (SGP) supports community-led conservation, restoration and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems. It focuses on mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs. These protect shorelines, store blue carbon, sustain biodiversity and provide livelihoods, especially for communities in LDCs and SIDS that face sea-level rise and extreme weather. The programme has previously supported 20 implementing partners in 17 countries. This call aims to scale up successful models. Funded projects are field-based pilots that test and validate innovative approaches and show a clear path to replication, policy uptake or scaling through public or private financing. Components (projects must address one or more): - Scale up marine and coastal ecosystem restoration (coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses), in line with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. - Strengthen climate action through blue carbon ecosystems, including carbon finance to improve coastal community resilience, livelihoods and incomes. - Promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, youth and Indigenous Peoples.

Grant recipients:

- Community-based organizations and associations, civil society organizations, local and national NGOs, government institutions, and regional not-for-profits. - They must work directly with coastal and island communities in LDCs and SIDS on ecosystem conservation, restoration, livelihoods and climate resilience. - Community-based organizations and local NGOs are prioritized as direct implementing partners. International NGOs play a supporting role in knowledge transfer and capacity building. - Applicants are selected through UNEP focal points and implementing partners after due diligence on technical and financial capacity and on-the-ground presence. Even then, the proposal must meet the minimum evaluation standards.

Funding:

- Maximum USD 100,000 per grant. - Administrative costs (including local experts’ pay) must be no more than 10% of the budget. - Co-finance is mandatory. The applicant or its partners must contribute significant co-finance, in cash or in kind. - Funds are released based on results reporting.

Project period: 2027 to 2028

Key requirements for proposals:

- Clear evidence of threats to coral reefs, mangroves or seagrass, such as habitat loss or unsustainable use. - Direct benefit to around 100 or more households, with measurable socio-economic and environmental outcomes. - Alignment with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the 30x30 targets and national plans (NDCs, NAPs, NBSAPs). - A results framework or theory of change, a risk plan, and a sustainability and exit strategy. - Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) where Indigenous Peoples are involved. - Women’s leadership is an added advantage. - Proposals must be in English, using the annexed template. Proposal contents (templates in the annexes): Applicant details, background and rationale, objectives, outcomes and outputs, indicators and risks, budget and annual work plan, management arrangements, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder plan, safeguards compliance, exit strategy, organizational background (1 page), methodology and work plan, CVs of key personnel, and supporting documents.

Evaluation (100 points):

- Quality of proposal, work plan and cost effectiveness: 55 (cost effectiveness alone is 30) - Expertise and experience of the institution: 25

- Qualifications of personnel: 20

How to Apply For more information, please check the link: Applications Invited for UNEP Small Grants Programme on Community-Based Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Initiatives

Funding organisation: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Grant announcement listed on NGOBOX. Applications are made to the funding organisation — see the official announcement.