The Terra Viva Grants Directory brings free funding information to the developing world. Please consider making a donation to support our operations.

The Terra Viva Grants Directory develops and manages information about grants for agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in the world's developing countries.

National Geographic Society — Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution

The National Geographic Society seeks proposals for its program “Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution” from all around the world. The aim is to explore solutions to reduce marine plastic pollution (including behavior change). Projects may be focused around conservation, education, research, storytelling, or technology. Preference will be given to applicants who are residents or citizens of the country of fieldwork as well as to projects with strong local capacity development components. Applicants may request up to US$100 thousand, though grants are typically funded for less than US$30 thousand. The current grant cycle closes 10 April 2019. Click here

Franklin Institute — Bower Award for Science Achievement 2020

The Bower Award is made to individuals who have made significant contributions to understanding and quantifying perturbations of natural systems within the biosphere, atmosphere, or hydrosphere in the age of the Anthropocene. The award is a 14k gold medal and a cash prize of US$250 thousand. The competition is open internationally. Self-nominations are accepted. Notices of intent to nominate should be sent by 30 April 2019. The deadline for nominations is 31 May 2019. About the award

University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland — MENA Young Scientists Mobility Grants

The “young scientists’ mobility grant” aims to develop new research partnerships and collaborations between Switzerland and MENA countries. Priority countries under this call are: Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. Mobility grants can be awarded to young scientists who hold a Bachelor or Master’s degree (no PhD) and have less than 6 years of professional research experience. The call is open for activities and research visits in all scientific disciplines and fields of research. The applicant’s mobility visit should have a minimum duration of 4 weeks and with a maximum of CHF5 thousand per grant. (Note: The application form must be completed by the Swiss main applicant). Applications will be accepted until 31 December 2019. Find the MENA Young Scientists Mobility Grants

U.S. Department of State — Youth Leadership Program with Burma

The Office of Citizen Exchanges announces an open competition to conduct a four-week U.S.-based exchange program for teenagers and adult educators. The activities for each program will focus on civic education, community engagement and prepare participants to conduct projects at home that serve a community need. Applicants should plan to provide U.S.-based programming for 17-18 youth and 2-3 adult participants from Burma. Applicants may request up to US$190 thousand in project funding. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations and universities. The deadline for application is 25 February 2019. Link

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation — Improved Water Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa

SDC supports projects that improve the overall health and environment of the target populations through sustainable management and monitoring of water-related pollution by industrial activities. The project should focus on a river basin and/or work along the supply chain of a multinational company or a specific industry sector across Sub-saharan Africa. Applicants may request between CHF 1.5 million and CHF 2 million for 3 years (1st phase, followed by a possible 2nd and 3rd phase). Eligibility extends to businesses, non-profit organizations, and governments. Applications have to be submitted by 21 January 2019. More

International Center for Journalists — Eurasia Media Innovation Challenge

The Eurasia Media Innovation Challenge supports projects that produce and distribute high-quality content to combat biased or false information. This includes stories and initiatives about global health or climate change. The program offers grants of between US$5 thousand and US$100 thousand to applicants proposing innovative projects to provide information to Russian-speaking populations in Eurasia. The deadline to apply for the program is 11 November 2018. About

African Academy of Sciences — Access to Water and Sanitation

The African Academy of Sciences (The AAS), and partners, announce new funding for technology-based solutions to improve access to water and sanitation. Up to US$100 thousand will be given to projects for two years for technologies that improve access to clean drinking water, household sanitation and hygiene, and address urban pollution. The call is open to organizations. Applicants located in Africa should apply through The AAS while those in the rest of the world should apply through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The deadline is 24 November 2018. More info

European Commission — Fighting Climate Change in Malawi

The European Commission supports local civil society organisations in Malawi tackling climate change and mitigating its adverse effects. Focus areas of this call are (Lot 1) poverty alleviation through mitigating the impacts of climate change on the lives of community members, and (Lot 2) sustainable management of waste to enable the transition to a climate-resilient, low emissions economy. Applicants my request up to €800 thousand (Lot 1) and €615 thousand (Lot 2). Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations. Deadline for submission of concept notes is 03 December 2018. Find the call

World Bank — Support for Women Micro-Entrepreneurs

The World Bank Group invites applications for the “Sustainable Development Goals and Her Competition”. SDGs & Her is an online competition for women micro-entrepreneurs to showcase how they are supporting the SDGs through their business operations. Winners will receive leadership training, mentoring and will be flown to Washington DC, for an event at the World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings (April 2019). The deadline for the competition is 31 December 2018. Here

ASEAN Foundation — Leadership Training for Social Entrepreneurs

The eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN is a partnership programme between Maybank Foundation and ASEAN Foundation that consists of mentoring, regional leadership training, and overseas local community projects. The program aims to improve social and economic well-being of ASEAN communities through social enterprises (note: This may include one or more focus areas of the Terra Viva Grants Directory). This programme is eligible for citizens of ASEAN Member States (19 – 35 years old). The participation in this program is fully funded. Interested participants can apply online by 18 November 2018 the latest. Details here