Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs (RISE) is a project for the youth, willing to learn and change things for the betterment of the Western Balkans. RISE invites ideas or innovative solutions for a new and better way to approach education, women empowerment, culture, rural development, health or employment in regional communities. The program will support regional changemakers through tailor-made programs, mentorship, and training. Young people from 18 to 35 years old from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are eligible. Please note that Local Incubators may have different deadlines. Applications close on 30 September 2023. Link to RISE
Russia/Eastern Europe
Climate Technology Initiative — Funding for Climate or Clean Energy Projects
The Climate Technology Initiative (CTI PFAN) provides funding to climate or clean energy projects. PFAN accepts applications for projects in low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, Central America and Caribbean Islands. Projects may request between US$1 million and US$50 million. Projects providing energy access or rural electrification (clean cookstoves, solar home systems, mini grids) may request smaller sums between US$500 thousand and US$50 million. Proposals are invited from companies, individuals or legal persons; public-private partnerships; and entities which are legally structured to redistribute profits. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Climate Technology Initiative
Youth Climate Justice Fund — Funding for Young Climate Leaders
The Youth Climate Justice Fund seeks applications to support climate justice young leaders with trust-based funding, resources, and youth-to-youth capacity development. Groups can apply for a grant of up to US$10 thousand, which can be used for a period of 12 months. Applying networks or collectives have to be led by young people aged 35 and under and be based in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, or Central and Eastern Europe. Applications have to be submitted by 24 September 2023. Youth Climate Justice Fund
Climate Arena — Journalism Fellowship Europe
Climate Arena has a fellowship opportunity for those who have a cross-border and investigative climate story idea. Fellows will be invited to join the Climate Arena journalism conference in Vienna (November 2023), receiving mentoring and training right up to publication time. Fellows will have the opportunity to set up teams and receive a working grant up to €2000. Applicants should be based in Europe to be able to benefit from the program. Deadline is 31 August 2023. Climate Arena Journalism Fellowship
Journalism Fund — Investigation Grants for Environmental Journalism
The Investigation Grants for Environmental Journalism supports cross-border teams of professional journalists or news outlets to conduct investigations into environmental affairs related to Europe. The grant covers working time and expenses such as logistics, travel, insurance, access to legal support, translations, access to technology and data sets. The total available amount to be distributed among all supported investigations will be around €400 thousand. The grant is open to professional freelance journalists or news outlets (cross-border teams of at least two journalists). The next application deadline is 26 October 2023. Click here
Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition — Children and Youth Challenge
The Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET) wants children and young people to come up with ideas for how we can teach people about sustainable energy in our communities in fun and easy to understand ways, and ways we can use sustainable energy. All individuals and team members must be a resident in a Commonwealth member country. The winning entries (one per five Commonwealth regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada, Caribbean, and Pacific) will be offered the chance to pitch their ideas to their local governments and policymakers. Deadline for submissions is 31 August 2023. CSET Children and Youth Challenge
Rome MED Dialogues — Youth-led Policy Lab
The Youth Policy Lab supports youth-led climate solutions in the Mediterranean by showcasing innovative ideas globally. Selected participants will draft actionable policies shared with high-level policymakers at the 2023 Rome MED Dialogues and potentially presented at the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28). Eligibility to participate extends to young experts, scholars, and students from North Africa, Middle East, or Europe. Applications are open until 01 September 2023. Youth-led Policy Lab
German Academic Exchange Service — Bilateral Exchange for Postdoctoral Researchers
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports exchanges of scientists and academics from partner countries for bilateral research projects in Germany. Foreign academics and scientists with doctoral degrees who work at a university or research institute in EU countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine are eligible to apply. Participants receive monthly stipends of €2 thousand. The application deadlines are 15 November 2023 (for a research stay starting from October 2024) and 30 May 2024 (for a research stay starting from February 2025). More information
European Journalism Centre — Climate Journalism Award
The Climate Journalism Award promotes and recognizes exceptional climate journalism that adopts an innovative or original story telling approach, encouraging journalists to prioritize reporting on climate-related issues. Stories can be submitted in five categories and winners will each receive a cash prize of €2,000. The submitted piece must have been published in a European-based media outlet. The submission process ends on 17 July 2023. Climate Journalism Award
European Commission — Sustainable Development of the Prespa Lake Area
The European Commission (EC) aims to support eco-friendly socio-economic development in the Prespa Lake Area (North Macedonia). The priorities of this call for proposal are: sustainable eco-friendly tourism and improving cross-border exchanges and cooperation with Albania and Greece for the preservation of the area. Applicants may request between €150 thousand to €400 thousand in project funding. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations. The deadline for submission of concept notes is 15 August 2023. More information