The Fonds Pierre Castel invites applications for the Pierre Castel Prize to support agricultural entrepreneurship in Africa. The program targets entrepreneurs between 18 and 45 years old who lead businesses in the agriculture, agrifood, or circular economy sectors. Applicants must be residents and nationals of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, or the Democratic Republic of Congo. The prize offers €15 thousand for the first-place winner and €10 thousand for the second-place winner in each country, along with mentorship and professional coaching. Applications must be submitted by 30 May 2026. Pierre Castel Prize
Funding News
Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry
The Forests Travel Award encourages junior scientists to present their latest research at academic conferences in the field of forests and forest ecology. The financial support of CHF800 can be used to attend an international conference held in 2026. Applicants must be postdoctoral fellows or PhD students involved in forestry-related sciences. Applications have to be submitted by 31 May 2026. Forests Travel Award
- Tags: forests, individuals, may2026, research, travel/mobility, worldwide
The journal Forests invites nominations for its annual award recognizing outstanding research published in the field of forest science. The competition is open to authors of research or review articles published in the journal during the 2025 calendar year. The editorial board selects winners based on the scientific merit and impact of the work. The program offers a prize of CHF 500 and a certificate, along with an opportunity to publish one additional paper free of charge in the journal after peer review. The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2026. Best PhD Thesis Award
- Tags: awards/prizes, early-career, forests, may2026, research, worldwide
Biodiversity, Conservation, Wildlife
The Pulitzer Center invites applications for the Rainforest Investigation Network Fellowship to support investigative reporting on tropical forests. The program offers full-time fellowships to seasoned journalists who will collaborate on cross-border stories exploring the intersection of climate change, corruption, and governance in the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia. Both staff reporters and freelance journalists are eligible to apply, provided they have a proven track record of complex investigative projects and a strong proposal for data-driven or investigative reporting. The fellowship covers a professional salary and provides additional support for travel and research costs. Applications must be submitted by 22 May 2026. Rainforest Investigation Network Fellowship
- Tags: Africa, Asia-Pacific, conservation, forests, individuals, LAC, may2026, media/journalism
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) invites proposals for the Sustainable Small Grants Programme to address plastic pollution in the Caribbean. The program supports community-driven projects in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines that implement circular economy principles and improve local waste management systems. Non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and academic institutions are eligible to apply for funding. Each participating country is allocated up to €80 thousand, with individual grants ranging from €30 thousand to €80 thousand. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026. Know more
- Tags: community projects, conservation, LAC, may2026, nonprofit orgs, pollution
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) invites civil society organizations to submit letters of inquiry (LOIs) for small grants to support biodiversity conservation in the Cerrado hotspot in Brazil. This call targets projects that align with the investment priorities detailed in the regional ecosystem profile. Grants are available for amounts of up to US$50 thousand. The deadline for letters of inquiry is 03 June 2026. Small Grants for the Cerrado
Energy, Climate Change
MIT Solve supports social entrepreneurs addressing critical global issues in health, education, and economic prosperity. The program is open to individual entrepreneurs and organizations worldwide that have previously participated in Solve’s programs or are working on scalable solutions aligned with their impact pillars. Selected innovators receive a portion of US$1 million in prize funding to further develop and scale their technological solutions. Applications must be submitted by 21 May 2026. MIT Solve
The CCAS Center of Excellence (CCAS CoE) invites applications for its fellowship programs focused on climate change research and atmospheric sciences. These fellowships are open to PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers who are affiliated with academic or research institutions in any country. The program provides financial support to cover travel expenses and research-related costs for projects aligned with the Center’s mission to address environmental challenges. While specific grant amounts are not listed on the website, the funding typically supports short-term research stays and collaborative projects. Applications must be submitted by 31 May 2026. Details here
The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) invites applications for the Future Energy Leaders Innovation Challenge. The program is open to young African innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs who are developing sustainable energy solutions to address energy poverty and climate change across the continent. Selected participants receive technical mentorship, access to industry networks, and a grant of US$5 thousand to pilot or scale their innovations. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old and residents of an African country. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2026. Energy Innovation Challenge
- Tags: Africa, awards/prizes, climate, early-career, energy, individuals, may2026, MENA
Water Resources
The African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE) invites applications for its African Women in Science (AWIS) program to support women pursuing careers in freshwater sciences. The program provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and professional development to female scientists who are citizens of African countries bordering the African Great Lakes (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia). AWIS offers financial support to cover research-related expenses and participation in international conferences, though specific grant amounts are not listed. Applications must be submitted by 15 June 2026. Link to ACARE
- Tags: Africa, individuals, june2026, research, water
The RELX Group sponsors the RELX Group Environmental Challenge to recognize projects worldwide that best demonstrate sustainable access to safe water and/or access to improved sanitation. The challenge is open to individuals and organizations (profit and non-profit). Projects must advance sustainable access to safe water where it is presently at risk, and/or access to improved sanitation. Two prizes are available, with one winner in the clean water and sanitation category and one winner in the ocean category each receiving a grant of US$75 thousand. The submission deadline is 12 July 2026. About the RELX Group Environmental Challenge
The National Geographic Society invites proposals for its Common Waters initiative to support projects that strengthen community-based stewardship of coastal and riverine ecosystems. This program is open to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, including conservationists, researchers, and storytellers, and does not require formal academic degrees. Eligible projects must be located in areas that overlap with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions voyages, such as the Arctic, the Peruvian Amazon, and the South Pacific. The society offers grants of up to US$75 thousand to support initiatives focused on local ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation, or sustainable resource management. The application deadline is 31 May 2026. For more information
Cross-Cutting
The Government of Canada invites proposals for small-scale, high-impact projects in Angola through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The program provides funding to local non-governmental organizations and community groups for initiatives focused on inclusive governance, gender equality, and environmental action. While typical grants range from CAN$25 thousand to CAN$50 thousand, some projects may receive larger amounts depending on the scope. Applications must be submitted by 14 May 2026. Link
The Government of Canada invites proposals for small-scale, high-impact projects in Mozambique through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). This program provides funding to local non-governmental organizations, community groups, and other non-profits for initiatives focused on inclusive governance, gender equality, and environmental action. Most grants range from CAN$30 thousand to CAN$50 thousand to support projects with a maximum duration of two years. The deadline for applications is 14 May 2026. CFLI Mozambique
The Government of Canada invites proposals for small-scale, high-impact projects in Eswatini through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). This program provides funding to local non-governmental organizations, community groups, and other non-profits for initiatives focused on inclusive governance, gender equality, and environmental action. Most grants range from CAN$30 thousand to CAN$50 thousand to support projects with a maximum duration of two years. The deadline for applications is 14 May 2026. CFLI Eswatini