Deadline: January 15, 2026
The IKI Small Grants – 7th Call for Proposals 2025–2026 is now open, offering substantial funding to support local, sub-national and national projects focused on climate action and biodiversity protection. This opportunity provides between EUR 60,000 and EUR 200,000 per project, enabling eligible organisations to implement impactful, community-centred environmental initiatives. The IKI Small Grants – 7th Call for Proposals 2025–2026 also includes institutional capacity-building support, designed to strengthen long-term organisational resilience.
This post outlines all the essential details you need to prepare a competitive submission.
About the Opportunity
The IKI Small Grants programme aims to empower locally based organisations to address urgent climate and biodiversity challenges. This 7th call supports projects within four key thematic areas:
- Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions
- Adaptation to climate change impacts
- Conservation of natural carbon sinks (such as forests and wetlands)
- Biodiversity conservation
Funding ranges from EUR 60,000 to EUR 200,000, with project durations between 12 and 24 months. Projects must operate at the local, sub-national or national level, as multi-country initiatives are not permitted.
Successful applicants will also receive tailored capacity-building support, including institutional development assistance.
Eligibility
To apply, organisations must meet the following criteria:
- Be a national not-for-profit organisation or a non-profit private company.
- Have been legally registered and operational for a minimum of three years.
- Maintain an average annual revenue between EUR 60,000 and EUR 500,000 over the last three years.
- Demonstrate strong financial management capacity, including:
- Dedicated accounting personnel
- Software-based accounting
- Internal controls and external auditing
- Submit the application in English.
- Implement the project in an ODA-eligible country.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Government or public institutions (e.g., ministries, public universities).
- Branches of organisations headquartered in non-ODA countries.
- Consortia or arrangements where an applicant intends to forward funds to a secondary organisation.
- Purely academic or research-only projects without clear implementation components.
Benefits / Award Details
- Funding amount: EUR 60,000 – 200,000
- Project duration: Minimum 12 months, maximum 24 months
- Additional benefits:
- Institutional capacity-building
- Technical support from IKI
- Strengthened organisational systems for long-term sustainability
Application Requirements / Documents
Applicants should be ready to provide:
- Organisational registration documents
- Evidence of operational history (minimum three years)
- Financial statements for the last three years
- Details of accounting systems and governance structures
- A clear project concept aligned with one of the four programme themes
- Proof of organisational capacity to deliver locally focused climate or biodiversity action
Timeline / Key Dates
- Registration deadline: 15 January 2026
- Full proposal submission deadline: 17 March 2026
- Eligibility checks: Conducted after registration
- Notification of successful applicants: Following proposal review
- Earliest project start date: First quarter of 2027 or later
Only organisations that pass the eligibility screening will be invited to submit the full proposal.
How to Apply
Applicants must begin by registering on the official IKI Small Grants application portal. Only organisations that successfully pass the eligibility check will proceed to the full proposal stage.
A strong concept note aligned with the programme’s thematic priorities and solid organisational financial records will significantly increase your chances of progressing.
Selection Process
The selection process includes:
- Eligibility screening based on organisational and financial criteria.
- Invitation to submit a full proposal for successful registrants.
- Technical and thematic evaluation of the full proposal.
- Final selection and contracting for approved projects.
Projects demonstrating high feasibility, strong community relevance and clear climate or biodiversity impact will be prioritised.
Additional Information / Terms
- Projects must focus on a single country.
- No forwarding of funds or consortia arrangements is permitted.
- Applicants must show adequate institutional systems to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Capacity-building is an integral part of the programme; applicants should demonstrate willingness to participate.
Host Organisation
The programme is funded under the International Climate Initiative (IKI), which supports climate and biodiversity projects globally. Since its inception, IKI Small Grants has empowered numerous locally based organisations to implement high-impact environmental projects through funding and long-term institutional support.
Important Links
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