The International Water Association (IWA) opens the third cohort of their fellowship for Young Water Professionals aged 18 to 35. This cohort focuses on innovation and uptake of technology in the water sector, in three areas: applied research and product or solution innovation, financial mechanisms and business models, and capacity building. Applicants need an existing idea, prototype or early pilot addressing a water challenge. The fellowship is expected to cover economy flights, meals, single-occupancy accommodation, ground transport, travel insurance and visa fees for required travel. Applications close on 05 November 2026. Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship
Day: November 1, 2026
ICPAC — Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) will hold a regional hackathon in Kenya, to identify, test and promote youth-led innovations that improve the delivery, accessibility, relevance and use of climate services. Participants must be 18 to 35 years old and nationals of, or based in, an IGAD member state. Participants present their solutions to technical experts, an evaluation panel and potential partners. Applications close on 06 November 2026. Know more
Freshwater Biodiversity Information System for Africa — Small Grants
The Freshwater Biodiversity Information System for Africa (FBIS Africa) offers small grants of US$5,000 to US$10,000 to publish existing African freshwater biodiversity data that is not yet on GBIF. Funds cover data collation and digitisation, cleaning and quality control, georeferencing, metadata preparation and formatting. Eligible data holders include universities, research institutions, museums, government agencies, NGOs, freshwater programmes, and individual researchers working through an eligible host institution. Eligible groups are freshwater fishes, amphibians, molluscs, crustaceans, and the insect orders Odonata, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Megaloptera. Applications close on 09 November 2026. Link
AXA Foundation — Early-Career Research on Responsible Nature-Based Solutions
The AXA Foundation offers two-year grants of up to €140,000 to early-career researchers working on “Responsible Nature-Based Solutions for a Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Future”. Projects must be transdisciplinary, combining social sciences or humanities with natural sciences or engineering, and must partner with societal actors such as public authorities, NGOs or communities. For-profit companies cannot be partners. Only academic institutions and public research organisations can host, and the host institution submits the application on the researcher’s behalf. Expressions of interest close on 12 November 2026. (Note: Institutions not yet registered must register by 03 November 2026). Know more
University of Turku — Postdoctoral Fellowship
The University of Turku offers up to 10 three-year research positions in Finland, open to researchers from any discipline within the university’s five faculties (including Biodiversity and Sustainability). Candidates must have a PhD completed within the last eight years and meet the MSCA mobility rule (not having lived in Finland for more than 12 of the past 36 months). Fellows receive full salary funding to carry out their own research project. Applicants must apply online by 13 November 2026. TIES2 Postdoctoral Fellowship
UNESCO — Research Continuity Grants for Africa
UNESCO’s Science for Crisis Response and Solutions program opens its first pilot call for six institutional grants of up to US$2,000 each. The grants help African researchers resume or complete a defined part of natural-science research interrupted by armed conflict or a natural or biological hazard within the past three years. Applicants must be African nationals based at a recognised university or research institute in Africa. Funds cover consumables, local fieldwork, data collection and storage, minor equipment repair, and laboratory or open-access publication costs, for activities of up to six months. Applications close on 15 November 2026. Link to UNESCO
Global EbA Fund — Medium-Size Grants
The Global EbA Fund invites proposals that address systemic barriers to scaling ecosystem-based adaptation and strengthen the enabling environment for its uptake and investment. Projects can unlock private capital and blended finance for EbA, integrate EbA into security frameworks in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, or link biodiversity, land, climate and disaster risk reduction commitments into investable action. Grants are up to US$500,000 for projects of up to 24 months. Projects must be global, thematic or in ODA-eligible countries. NGOs, community and Indigenous organisations, universities, research institutes, private companies and intergovernmental organisations can apply, alone or in consortia. Projects must build on existing work and partner with local institutions, and governments cannot receive funding. Applications are open until 16 November 2026. Global EbA Fund
Conservation International — International Blue Carbon Institute Fellowship
The International Blue Carbon Institute (IBCI) at Conservation International awards one fellow US$60,000 to support new or existing blue carbon work on mangroves, salt marshes, seagrasses or kelp forests. Funds can cover supplementary research costs, lab travel, equipment, publication fees and field assistants. Fellows may also receive funding to attend the annual International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group meetings, and join a network with training and lab exchange opportunities. Applications are welcome from all regions. The deadline is 23 November 2026. International Blue Carbon Institute Fellowship
Masdar — Leadership Training and Mentorship
The WiSER Pioneers Program offers young women aged 25 to 35 access to educational workshops and global networking opportunities. The program empowers young women to take a leading role in the global transition to a net-zero future. Applicants must be employed or self-employed and hold a degree in a field related to the environment, energy, sustainability, or STEM disciplines. Applications have to be submitted no later than 23 November 2026. WiSER Pioneers Program
Onewater — Walk of Water Photostory Contest
Onewater, UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Programme and UNEP invite photographers worldwide to submit photo stories on water and health, with a focus on wastewater: sanitation, polluted rivers, nature-based treatment, resource recovery and wastewater surveillance for pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. Prizes range from $200 to $3,000, with a separate Youth Wastewater Award for photographers aged 25 or under. Each entry needs 5 to 10 photographs, a 2,500 to 8,000 character story, captions and a signed photo license. Entries close on 29 November 2026. Water Photostory Contest