The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program supports the development and implementation of locally-driven, marine debris assessment, removal and prevention projects that benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and marine resources. Projects awarded through this competition may be implemented throughout the United States or within coastal areas of Mexico or Canada as long as it benefits US resources. The typical funding level of project awards ranges from US$50 thousand to US$400 thousand. Marine debris projects can apply for removal, prevention, and research grants. Eligible applicants for projects taking place in Mexico or Canada are limited to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations or commercial (for-profit) organizations with expertise in a field related to marine debris. The application deadline is 11 February 2022. Marine Debris Program
pollution
CIVICUS — Civil Society Activism
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
U.S. African Development Foundation — Mandela Washington Fellows Program
The Mandela Washington Fellows Program provides up to US$25 thousand in funding to African-owned, sustainable social ventures. Venture must be based in and operate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants have to demonstrate how the venture will improve and change the communities in which the grants are implemented. Applications are open until 21 September 2021. More info here
Young Water Solutions — Young Water Fellowship Program: Senegal
Young Water Solutions supports young entrepreneurs to launch their water and sanitation related social businesses. The Young Water Fellowship provides training, seed-funding and mentorship. The bootcamp aims to empower its participants to implement projects addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), water pollution, and water scarcity. After the bootcamps Fellows can apply for a funding of up to €5 thousand to pilot their business models over 6 months. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 to 30 years old, be fluent in French, intend to stay in Senegal for at least 1.5 years after the training and spend at least 15 hours per week to work on their social business. The call for applications is open until 22 September 2021. Young Water Fellowship Senegal
Sustainable Mekong Research Network — Rapid Response Grants
The Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) seeks to reduce water insecurity for the poor, marginalized and socially vulnerable groups in the Mekong Region. SUMERNET will provide up to two grants to collaborative research projects that focus on water access; governance and management of water-related disaster risks; and transboundary interactions with water systems. The proposed project must cover the whole Mekong region or at least two countries in the study area. Funding support will not exceed US$ 45 thousand per research project to be completed within 6-12 months. The Lead Applicant must be a formal SUMERNET network member. Expressions of Interest have to be submitted by 20 September 2021. Rapid Response Grants
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Grants to U.S. University Students for Research on Global Sustainability 2022
The P3 Awards (People, Prosperity, and the Planet) fund research projects in air quality, water resources, health, and chemical safety. Grants are up to US$25 thousand for one year (Phase I); winners in Phase I will be eligible to apply for larger grants to follow. The competition is open to U.S. institutions of higher education to support teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Collaboration and partnerships with colleges and universities outside the USA are permitted (up to 40% of the grant can be contracted to an international partner), but only U.S. institutions are eligible to apply. The application deadline is 27 October 2021. P3 Awards
Wallace Global Fund — Environmental Policy and Governance
The Fund supports advocacy campaigns, awareness raising, and citizen engagement in environmental policy and governance. It aims to strengthen environmental law and justice; to build grassroots coalitions; and to support media that take progressive positions on social and environmental issues. Grants are to nonprofit charitable organizations in the USA and internationally. The application process begins with an online letter of inquiry. Link
Afri-Plastics Challenge — Marine Plastic Waste
The Afri-Plastics Challenge seeks proposals that focus on solving the marine plastics problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Challenge aims to reduce marine plastics by developing and scaling innovative solutions to plastic mismanagement. Challenge prizes are competitions that offer a reward for the first or best solution to a problem. The process identifies the most promising and supports them with seed funding and expert support to develop the idea further. Applicants must be formally constituted and operating in Sub-Saharan Africa as either a registered business or non-governmental organization. The closing date for applications is 15 September 2021. About the Afri-Plastics Challenge
Unleash — Incubation Program for Entrepreneurs
UNLEASH Plus is a global 6-month incubation program for entrepreneurs working on social or environmental challenges, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The program provides teams with the right skills, mindsets, and resources to test and launch their solutions, and design them for large-scale impact. Teams will explore real-life challenges within the SDG themes, before defining specific problems and coming up with solutions. The top teams will present their solutions to investors and experts. The program is open to all youth entrepreneurs looking to advance solutions that address the SDGs. The application deadline is 25 July 2021. UNLEASH Plus
Grinnell College — Grinnell Prize 2022
Grinnell College invites nominations for the 2022 Grinnell Prize. The Grinnell Prize of US$50 thousand will be awarded to individuals who show creativity, commitment, and extraordinary accomplishment in effecting positive social change. Past nominations have spanned a diversity of social issues related to agriculture and hunger relief, conservation and environment, and many other thematic areas. Nominees may be nationals of any country who have earned a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) between 2006 and 2022. Nominees must be nominated by a third party. The closing date for nominations is 31 October 2021. About the Grinnell Prize