The United Nations Development Program aims to foster the development of the blue economy in ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. The ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge seeks to identify, finance, and support innovative solutions geared towards the conservation and sustainable management of marine ecosystems, coastal areas, and freshwater resources. Selected awardees receive US$40 thousand to pilot their innovations. The deadline is 31 May 2024. ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
business/enterprise
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Direct Assistance in Sustainable Forestry
The EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan includes grants of technical assistance to benefit government institutions and private-sector organizations. Projects need to address the identified themes in FLEGT. Currently, requests can be submitted from entities in VPA countries and non-VPA countries. The VPA countries are Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Guyana, and Honduras. Grants are up to US$55 thousand. Eligibility extends to government institutions and non-profit organizations. Applications (English, French, Spanish) can be submitted at any time. More about FLEGT
International Fund for Agricultural Development — Earth Observation Data
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) makes grants for supporting the use of satellite data in project design, monitoring, and evaluation. The recipient can be a non-profit organization, private sector company, university, vocational training provider, or research institute. The deadline to receive proposals is 30 May 2024. Earth Observation Data
Inter-American Development Bank — Boosting Water Sector Innovation
The Inter-American Development Bank launches the Aquacerta Challenge. The challenge supports innovative solutions from the private sector that can be adopted by service providers in Latin America and the Caribbean to ensure safely managed drinking water and the resilience of water systems. Applicants can apply for contingent recovery financing from US$300 thousand to a maximum of US$500 thousand each. However, applicants should be able to contribute at least 50% in counterpart funds. Eligibility extends to legally established entities from the private sector such as startups, small and medium enterprises, and social businesses. The application deadline is 31 May 2024. Aquacerta Challenge
Earth Observation — Sustainable Blue Economy
The Earth Observation Sustainable Blue Economy project aims to develop new products, indicators, and tools to support local Blue Economic activities and monitor their impact on the marine environment. Four contracts will be implemented, each targeting one among four possible themes: Aquaculture, Fisheries, Marine Renewable Energy, Leisure, and Tourism. The activity shall be implemented in close collaboration with Early Adopters such as permitting and regulating authorities, financial investors, and the Blue Economy sector operators. The closing date is 05 June 2024. Details
U.S. African Development Foundation — Financing for Agriculture
The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) invites applications from registered African agricultural cooperatives and enterprises for grant financing. Grants will support solutions that increase revenues, create jobs, improve farmer incomes, and achieve sustainable market-based growth. USADF accepts applications in Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Applicants can request no more than US$250 thousand. The application deadline is 30 June 2024. More
European Union — Internationalization Grants
The European Union seeks applications for the Internalization Grants which enable SMEs to enter new markets or strengthen competitiveness abroad. The program has a special focus on the green and digital transition. Applicants can apply only for € 2,500. The Internationalization Grants address small and medium-sized enterprises. Activities should meet one of the main target destinations in Africa, Asia, North and Latin America. The application deadline is 30 September 2024. More
Caribbean Climate Investment Program — Climate Finance for Development
The Caribbean Climate Investment Program (CCIP) seeks applications to mobilize private sector financing for technologies that advance climate mitigation and adaptation goals across the Caribbean region. The primary focus is to catalyze financing for the development of RE and EE technology and deploy climate change adaptation interventions that increase the resiliency of clean energy investments in the region. Grants are limited to US$1 million per project. Applicants must be Caribbean-based businesses or organizations. Concept papers will be accepted on a rolling basis through 01 August 2025. Link to CCIP
Sea Pact — Funding for Fisheries and Aquaculture
Sea Pact is a consortium of seafood companies to support continuous improvements of fisheries and aquaculture in an international context. Sea Pact accepts applications from non-profit and for-profit organizations. Past grant recipients include conservation organizations, marine research organizations, development NGOs, and others. Grants generally range from US$10 thousand to US$35 thousand. Letters of Interest (LOI’s) are accepted on an open basis. Sea Pact Grant
Village Capital — Food Security and Resilience
Village Capital seeks entrepreneurs across Latin America to increase food security and resilience by supporting startups focused on reshaping consumer behavior and reducing loss risk in production. Participants have access to mentorship and milestone-based funding of US$4 thousand per organization. Eligibility extends to for-profit entities in Latin America that have a market-based solution that tackles food loss and food waste challenges. Applications close on 31 May 2024. Reshaping Consumer Behavior