The COFO Working Group Drylands Global School 2025 is a capacity-building program aimed at professionals engaged in dryland management. The 2025 edition will take place in July 2025 in Mongolia, focusing on enhancing governance of dryland forests, rangelands, and agrosilvopastoral systems. While the school itself is free of charge, the participants or their organizations need to cover their travel and accommodation costs. Applicants should have experience in dryland management and must submit an expression of interest. Details
business/enterprise
iF International Forum Design GmbH — Social Impact Prize
The iF Social Impact Prize aims to publish and support design projects that contribute to solving urgent challenges and help to improve living conditions in the developing world. Solutions should already be established and help to solve well-known issues in any category of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The best projects will share a cash prize of €100 thousand in total. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations, companies, and foundations (student concepts will not be accepted). The application deadline is 01 September 2025. iF Social Impact Prize
World Food Forum — Startup Innovation Awards
The World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards is a global startup competition to support and showcase innovators and entrepreneurs who harness technology to drive the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems to end global hunger. The World Food Forum seeks applications for the 2025 Extreme Tech Challenge. The competition is open to companies whose work impacts an element of agrifood systems: production, aggregation, processing, distribution, consumption, and disposal of food products. Participants can win up to US$80 thousand, have the potential for global visibility, and the ability to raise capital. The closing date for applications is 22 May 2025. WFF Startup Innovation Awards
Swiss Re Foundation — Changemakers Africa
The Swiss Re Foundation invites applications for the 2025 Changemakers Africa Incubation Program. This online program is designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs across Africa who are developing innovative solutions in healthcare or climate resilience. Eligible applicants must be based in Africa and commit to 6–8 hours of weekly participation. Participants have the chance to pitch their ventures at the final Demo Day for seed funding of up to US$15 thousand. The deadline to apply is 28 May 2025. Changemakers Africa
Meaningful Business 100 — Entrepreneur Award
The Meaningful Business 100 (MB100) is an annual award program that honors global leaders who effectively combine profit and purpose to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The award is open to social entrepreneurs, corporate sustainability leaders, impact investors, and micro-entrepreneurs across various industries and regions. Individuals can nominate themselves or others. The deadline for entries is 15 June 2025. Know more
International Center for New Media — World Summit Awards 2025
Nominations are open for the World Summit Awards (WSA) and the WSA Young Innovators Awards (young social entrepreneurs under 26 years of age). Start-ups and social entrepreneurs are asked to submit their local digital innovations with high social impact. The 8 award categories include one on Environment & Green Energy (climate, sustainable resources, agriculture). The winner does not receive a monetary award but does benefit from partnerships and integrations. Applications are accepted from companies, organizations, or individuals. The deadline to apply for WSA and WSA Young Innovators is 30 June 2025. (Deadlines for national submission of applications for WSA may vary locally.) Find out more
NewGen — Renewable Energy Accelerator
The NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator (NewGen) supports the development and implementation of youth-led solutions in the climate and sustainable energy sectors. The program consists of a series of training, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing activities. Youth-led start-ups, scale-ups, and growth businesses from all around the world can apply. Eligible candidates must be between 18 and 35 years old. The application deadline is 10 May 2025. Renewable Energy Accelerator
UNIDO — Innovative Solutions in Cleantech
Global Cleantech Innovation Program promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging markets and developing economies to address climate and environmental challenges. The program supports start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises with innovative cleantech ideas in establishing and upscaling robust business models. Deadlines vary. Please check carefully. Know more
IUCN — Biodiversity Conservation
BESTLIFE2030 provides grant funding for small-scale field actions for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the EU’s Outermost Regions and associated Overseas Countries and Territories. The program provides support at both local and regional levels for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of ecosystem services, including for climate adaptation. Grants are a maximum of €100 thousand per recipient for projects ranging between 18 to 36 months. In order to be eligible the lead applicant must be a private or public legal entity and be located in one of the priority regions (Amazonia, the French Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and North Atlantic’s Saint Pierre and Miquelon). The application deadline is 30 May 2025. Link
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Global Forestry Recognition
The FAO 80 Global Forestry Recognition initiative aims to honor individuals and organizations worldwide that have made outstanding contributions to sustainable forest management and the transformation of agrifood systems over the past 80 years. Nominations are open to individuals, institutions, and organizations that have achieved long-term results in forest production, conservation, sustainable use of forest resources, or have implemented effective forest policies and strategies. Interested parties must submit nominations through the official FAO portal by 31 May 2025. Global Forestry Recognition