Call for Applications: Learning Grants (Ghana)

Deadline: 07-Sep-2026

The CRWFM Learning Grants support action research, pilot projects, and knowledge translation initiatives that generate practical evidence on water and climate governance in Ghana. The grants prioritize locally led adaptation, innovation, community participation, and the leadership of women and youth, with funding of up to GHS 70,000 per project. Projects must be implemented within one of the five CRWFM operational districts: Bawku West, Nabdam, Bongo, Kassena-Nankana West, or Kassena-Nankana Municipal. The grants can support research, pilot testing, evidence generation, and knowledge-sharing activities, but do not fund physical infrastructure construction, equipment purchases, individual scholarships, or projects outside the operational districts. What Are the CRWFM Learning Grants? The CRWFM Learning Grants are designed to generate actionable knowledge that can improve water and climate governance and strengthen climate adaptation practices in Ghana. The programme supports projects that do more than simply study a problem. Funded initiatives are expected to: Improve understanding of water and climate governance. The grant therefore connects research, innovation, community knowledge, and policy action. Why Do the CRWFM Learning Grants Matter? Climate change is creating increasingly complex challenges for water resources, WASH services, agriculture, livelihoods, and local governance. However, effective adaptation requires evidence about what works in specific communities. The Learning Grants help address this need by supporting projects that can: Test new approaches. Generate locally relevant evidence. Document community experiences. Identify successful adaptation practices. Improve water governance. Strengthen climate-resilient WASH solutions. Inform policymakers. Give communities a stronger role in knowledge creation. The programme places particular importance on locally led adaptation and participation by women and youth. What Is Locally Led Adaptation? Locally led adaptation means that communities and local actors have a meaningful role in identifying climate risks, designing solutions, implementing activities, and generating knowledge about what works. Under the Learning Grants, this approach can involve: A strong knowledge translation project should identify its intended audience and explain how the resulting knowledge will reach them. What Is Evidence Generation? Evidence generation involves collecting and analyzing information that can help communities, practitioners, and policymakers make better decisions.

Examples can include:

Documenting climate adaptation practices. Evaluating a pilot intervention. Recording community experiences. Comparing approaches to water governance. Identifying barriers to climate-resilient WASH. Generating lessons from locally led adaptation. The evidence should be actionable, meaning it should have practical value for improving policies, programmes, practices, or community decision-making. What Is the Maximum Grant Amount?

The maximum funding available is:

GHS 70,000 per project This is approximately US$3,780, based on the information provided.

The programme may also allow:

Co-financing. In-kind contributions. Applicants should explain any additional contributions clearly and ensure that the proposed budget is directly connected to eligible activities. What Activities Are Not Eligible? The CRWFM Learning Grants do not support: Construction of physical infrastructure. Equipment purchases. Individual scholarships. Activities outside the CRWFM operational districts. This distinction is important because the Learning Grants are intended primarily for research, innovation, piloting, evidence generation, and knowledge translation, rather than capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Who Is Eligible? Applicants must be based in Ghana or demonstrate a documented affiliation with a Ghana-based organization. Research institutions partnering with community actors. Individuals. Applicants must also provide appropriate evidence of their legal registration or group representation. Can Individuals Apply? Yes. Individuals are included among the eligible applicant categories, provided they meet the programme requirements and can demonstrate the required representation or organizational connection. Applicants should review the official requirements concerning registration, affiliation, representation, and implementation capacity before applying. What Geographic Areas Are Eligible? Projects must be implemented within one of the five CRWFM operational districts: Bawku West Nabdam Bongo Kassena-Nankana West Kassena-Nankana Municipal Activities outside these operational districts are not eligible for support under the Learning Grants. Why Is Geographic Eligibility Important? The CRWFM Learning Grants are designed to generate learning from specific communities and operational areas connected to the mechanism.

Therefore, applicants should demonstrate:

Where the project will be implemented. Which communities will participate. Why the selected location is relevant. What local water or climate challenge is being addressed. How the findings can contribute to broader learning. A strong proposal should clearly establish the connection between the proposed research or pilot and the selected CRWFM district. How Are Applications Reviewed? Applications go through several stages of review before final approval.

The assessment process considers:

Eligibility

Technical responsiveness Alignment with funding priorities Community validation Final approval by the Advisory Board This means that meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not automatically guarantee funding. How to Apply for the CRWFM Learning Grants Applicants can prepare their proposal through the following steps.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Check that:

You are based in Ghana or have a documented affiliation with a Ghana-based organization. You fall within an eligible applicant category. You can pro