The CIVICUS Nelson Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Awards shed a light on the importance of people power and civil society activism in creating a more just, inclusive and sustainable world. The Awards will recognize seven individuals, groups or organizations that stand out for their innovative work building people power in support of human rights and social justice for everyone. Each winning initiative will receive a US$5 thousand prize. The Awards are open to any individual, organization or group in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Pacific. Deadline to submit the online application form is 20 September 2021. Innovation Awards
agriculture
U.S. African Development Foundation — Mandela Washington Fellows Program
The Mandela Washington Fellows Program provides up to US$25 thousand in funding to African-owned, sustainable social ventures. Venture must be based in and operate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants have to demonstrate how the venture will improve and change the communities in which the grants are implemented. Applications are open until 21 September 2021. More info here
Aspen Institute — New Voices Fellowship 2022
The New Voices Fellowship is a year-long program that provides intensive media and advocacy training for top development professionals in the developing world. The Aspen Institute aims to select 15-20 Fellows who will write opinion articles, participate in interviews with local and international media, and speak at international conferences. Subject areas of interest include food security, climate change, and other themes. For the 2022 class, Aspen will give special consideration to Fellows whose work focuses on COVID-19 relief, vaccine development, and pandemic resiliency. Applications are welcome from all developing countries. The program provides funds to participate in media-related activities and conferences. The application deadline is 20 October 2021. Find the nomination form
European Commission — Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia
The European Commission (EC) seeks to improve farm structure in North Macedonia to improve the competitiveness of its agricultural sector. The EC calls for land consolidation projects to reduce land fragmentation, improve parcel shapes and increase the size of agricultural holdings. The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is €1 million, but budgets of proposed actions should range from €1,1 million to €1,6 million. The difference between the total cost of the action and the amount requested must be financed from other sources. Eligibility extends to nonprofit organizations. (Note: Please be aware that UK participants are no longer eligible to participate in actions under EU programs.) The application deadline is 28 November 2021. Details
Feed the Minds — Economic Empowerment
Feed the Minds supports projects which empower people in least developed, low income and lower to middle income countries through the Education for Change program. Projects are implemented by local non-governmental organizations or community-based organizations working to support marginalized communities. Specific projects include vocational training, agriculture, on-farm and off farm income generating activities. Medium projects with budgets between £25 thousand and £150 thousand will be supported. Applications should be submitted before 10 September 2021. Know more
United States Agency for International Development — Resilience of Community Conservancies Kenya
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks concept papers from qualified entities to implement the Scaling Sustainability and Resilience of Community Conservancies and Coastal Ecosystems of Kenya program. The goal of this activity is to improve the resilience of vulnerable populations and environments by increasing the capability of local communities to mitigate against recurrent environmental, economic, socio and political risks. USAID intends to provide US$9.8 million to prevent the loss of biodiversity, up to US$2.5 million for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and US$2 million for Feed the Future activities. Eligibility extends to non-profit and for-profit organizations. The closing date for applications is 13 September 2021. Resilience of Community Conservancies
Caribbean Policy Development Centre — Sustainable Livelihoods in Vulnerable Communities
The Caribbean Policy Development Centre seeks partners to implement a project to strengthen the enabling environment for Caribbean NGOs to provide essential developmental services to vulnerable communities by improving access to resources and increasing institutional capacity building opportunities post-COVID 19. Applicants are encouraged to include specific activities in their actions to increase livelihood opportunities for vulnerable groups in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Grant requests must fall between US$10 thousand and US$12 thousand. To be eligible, the applicant must be non-profit-making and be a legally registered and established organization in the Caribbean States: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenadines. The deadline for submitting applications is 23 September 2021. Link
Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources — Capacity Building Program
The Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB) invites civil society organizations from Fiji, Nepal and Vietnam to submit their expression of interest for possible funding to implement sub-projects. The objective of the proposal should be to strengthen the knowledge of targeted CSOs at local and national levels through trainings, workshops, awareness campaigns, and local meetings. Capacity building activities should enable participants to understand the impacts of climate change on local communities and locally-based sustainable livelihoods. Anticipated funding for each sub-project is US$90 thousand for 9 months. Proposed activities are to be implemented in Fiji, Nepal and Vietnam for the benefit of local communities. Eligible organizations must submit their expression of interest before 30 September 2021. More information
African Union — Agriculture Scientific Exchanges Program
The African Union Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework aims to facilitate harmonization of AU Member States’ SPS policy priorities of SPS systems in Africa. The Scientific Exchanges Program (SEP) supports USDA’s agricultural research goals of promoting collaborative programs among agricultural professionals of the African Union and agricultural professionals of the United States. The research areas are aligned within the three overarching areas of SPS including: food safety, animal health, and plant health. The fellowship will last 12 weeks. The application deadline is 10 October 2021. Agriculture Scientific Exchanges Program
European Commission — Food Security and Economic Empowerment of Women
The European Commission seeks to strengthen food security and the economic empowerment of women in Vanuatu through the adoption of green growth and the promotion of sustainable food systems. The priorities of this call for proposals are local innovative initiatives that create an enabling environment for smallholder farmers, agriculture diversification, and reducing CO2 emission and/or promoting carbon sequestration. Grants range from €500 thousand to €1.2 million. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations established in a Member State of the European Union or Vanuatu. The application deadline is 11 October 2021. Details