The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work recognize individuals ages 15 to 29 who lead innovative development projects in themes that include agriculture, small enterprise, skills training, climate change, environmental protection, sustainable livelihoods, and poverty reduction. The program selects regional winners from each of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Winners are awarded grants of up to a total of £5 thousand in total to advance their projects. The application deadline is 17 October 2025. Commonwealth Youth Awards
Ilka Westermeyer
UNICEF — Climate Innovation Challenge
The UNICEF Climate Innovation Challenge invites early- and growth-stage frontier technology startups in emerging economies to propose scalable, child-centered solutions using AI, data science, blockchain, and related tools to tackle climate-related threats to children—such as health risks, disaster resilience, and systems adaptation. Selected ventures will receive technical mentorship, visibility and networking opportunities, and support to prepare for future investment. Eligible applicants must be private for-profit companies registered in UNICEF programme countries. The application deadline is 21 October 2025. Climate Innovation Challenge
Earth Journalism Network — Western Balkans Environmental Media Grant
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) awards grants to support activities that improve media coverage of environmental challenges and solutions. ENJ provides €10 thousand to a single journalist network, media organization, civil society group, or academic institution in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo) to support journalistic coverage of biodiversity, environmental threats, and nature-based solutions. Applications are due 30 October 2025. Western Balkans Environmental Media Grant
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Mountain Future Award
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) invites institutions and individuals to submit proposals for transformative mountain projects. Projects must address glacier-related challenges, sustainable water management, agrifood systems, glacier preservation or the resilience and livelihoods of mountain communities. Winning projects will receive seed funding and project incubation assistance. New projects and projects in the initial planning stages are eligible; ongoing projects are not. The application deadline is 31 October 2025. Mountain Future Award
Global Biodiversity Information Facility — Biodiversity Information for Development: Sub-Saharan Africa
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) invites proposals for project funding from Sub-Saharan Africa under the “Biodiversity Information for Development” program. GBIF offers support for four types of projects: (1) Institutional-level biodiversity data mobilization to strengthen institutional capacity and mobilize policy-relevant biodiversity data (maximum funding: €30 thousand); and (2) Multi-institutional biodiversity data mobilization to build or strengthen collaborations between institutions to mobilize data for research and policy addressing national or regional priorities (maximum funding: €60 thousand. Applicants must be legal entities such as government agencies, natural history museums, research institutes, universities, or NGOs located in an eligible African country. The deadline for submission of concept notes is 03 November 2025. BID Africa
Wild Animal Initiative — Challenge Grants
Wild Animal Initiative provides grants for research projects that help us understand and improve the lives of wild animals. Challenge grants researchers exploring critical research questions that will unlock new avenues of wild animal welfare research and are not prioritized by other funders. Grant size varies from US$50 thousand to US$100 thousand. Challenge grants program is open to experienced researchers, but can include financial support for students or other early-career collaborators. Expressions of Interest have to be submitted by 14 November 2025. Challenge Grants
Wild Animal Initiative — Discovery Grants
The Wild Animal Initiative provides funding for projects that expand the evidence base of wild animal welfare. Discovery Grants are available to early career researchers (postdocs and PhD students) pursuing a long-term research career in wild animal welfare and established researchers who seek to expand their research portfolio to include wild animal welfare. Grant size varies from US$10 thousand to US$50 thousand. Projects must be led by a principal investigator affiliated with a university or other research institution. Expressions of Interest have to be submitted by 14 November 2025. Discovery Grants
Caribbean Biodiversity Fund — Advancing Circular Economy
The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) seeks applications for projects that promote and apply practical circular economy principles to minimize or prevent waste from entering the marine environment. Grant funding amounts range from US$400 thousand to US$2 million and need to be complemented by co-financing. Eligible countries are Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Applications can be submitted until 25 November 2025. Details here
Global Thinkers Forum — Mentoring Program 2026
The Global Thinkers Forum brings together a diverse network of thought leaders to share their visions of the future, create meaningful conversations around them, and effect positive change in the world. The program consists of an 8-month mentoring cycle that includes one-on-one sessions with experienced thought leaders and individuals aged between 18 and 29 from all over the world. The program’s mentors are successful individuals across several professional fields and countries. The application deadline is 28 November 2025. Become a Global Thinkers Mentee
Startupbootcamp — Energy & Climate
Startupbootcamp provides access to funding, supporting the development of innovative solutions in climate change, resource conservation, and renewable energy. The accelerator supports startups developing solutions with the potential to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in energy and sustainability. Participants have access to a 3-month in-person accelerator designed to enable growth at speed, and €25 thousand cash investment per startup to cover expenses during the program, plus €100 thousand in-kind services. Applications close on 07 December 2025. Accelerator program