IEEE Empower a Billion Lives is a global competition aimed at fostering innovation to develop solutions to electricity access. Solutions are expected to be scalable, innovative and sustainable. The competition is open to student groups, companies, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Winners of the regional round will be provided enough funding to complete a 2-month long field pilot. Global final winners will receive up to $1 million in prize monies. Teams must present their solution concept and a three-minute pitch video until 31 October 2021. Link
universities
UK Government — Reducing Plastics Pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
The Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Program calls for concepts for research and development projects that have the potential to bring new solutions into the plastics value chain upstream of the end-of-life solutions. The program has an investment fund of up to £20 million to be disbursed over a 5 year period with up to £5 million for this call. Eligibility extends to NGOs, UK-based non-profit organizations, companies, and educational institutions. Priority will be given to projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The deadline for submitting applications is 02 July 2021. Plastics Call
Canada Fund for Local Initiatives — Community Projects in Malawi
The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives supports small-scale, high-impact projects in Malawi. The priorities under this call include one on environment and climate action focusing on adaptation and mitigation, as well as on water management. The average contribution is up to a maximum of CA$ 50 thousand in funding per project. Eligibility extends to local community organizations, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. The deadline for submission is 04 July 2021. Click here
EIT Climate-KIC — Education for Climate Change Awareness
EIT Climate-KIC invites partners and collaborators, e.g. civil society organizations, municipalities, research institutions and private actors, to experiment with novel educational and learning methodologies to inspire their communities’ climate mindset. The overall goal is to enable a just, resilient and prosperous transition to a net zero carbon economy that supports both planetary and human health. EIT Climate-KIC will fund up to 5 experiments with up to €12 thousand in EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries (Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine) and Outermost Regions. The closing date for applications is 11 July 2021. Link to RIS EduEx
ETH Zurich — Opportunity Grants
The Leading House ETH Zurich calls for proposals for opportunity grants with China, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN countries. Opportunity grants will support activities of Swiss researchers from universities or public research institutes linked to specific events, incidents, or major environmental and economic developments in the region in Asia. The call is open to all scientific disciplines and fields of research. Senior scientists may request up to CHF 50 thousand for projects of up to 12 months. The application deadline is 18 July 2021. Link
University of Montpellier — Circular Economy Challenge
The Circular Economy Challenge seeks innovations and ideas for producing goods and services in a sustainable way by limiting the consumption and waste of resources and the production of waste. Innovations must respond to the three challenges of sustainability: respectful of the environment, economically profitable and socially acceptable. Research staff at Muse, Agropolis Fondation, the Center INRAE Occitanie – Montpellier, and SATT AxLR are invited to apply. Projects may involve a non-academic partner (companies, associations, communities, etc.). Some proposals will be selected to benefit from funding between €20 thousand and €300 thousand. The closing date is 31 July 2021. Circular Economy Challenge
EIT Climate-KIC — Climate Action Citizen Engagement
The European Commission launches the design phase of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative. EIT Climate-KIC calls for climate innovation in public space through citizen engagement. Projects should mobilize citizen-driven initiatives and ideas all across-Europe and bring together cities, regions and social engagement innovators to empower civil society and drive climate action. EIT Climate-KIC will select three proposals and will grant a maximum of €30 thousand per proposal to develop a public space co-design activity in a city or region with civil society leadership. To be eligible, applicants must be a private or public legal entity. The call closes 09 August 2021. Cross-KIC New European Bauhaus
European Joint Programme — Sustainable Agricultural Soils
The Agence Nationale De La Recherche (ANR) and European Joint Programme (EJP) launch “Towards Healthy, Resilient and Sustainable Agricultural Soils”, an integrated framework for agricultural soil research in Europe. The objective is to foster holistic agricultural soil management practices which will assist in making a shift to diversify farming. The maximum project budget is €200 thousand. The countries participating in this call are: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Universities, public research institutions, private non-profit organizations, and private companies can apply. The submission deadline for pre-proposals is 25 June 2021. SOIL
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund — Updating Ecosystem Profile
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) seeks applications to update the ecosystem profile for Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot to identify and prioritize Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) actions. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. Total funding of up to US$80 thousand is available. CEPF accepts proposals from qualified organizations anywhere in the world, including non-governmental organizations, private companies and academic institutions. The closing date for applications is 09 July 2021. Click here
Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia — Leadership Program on Environment for Sustainable Development
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) accepts applications for the 12th Central Asian Leadership Program on Environment for Sustainable Development (CALP). The program provides knowledge and capacity to young leaders from government bodies and other stakeholders in order to enable their switching to Sustainable Consumption and Production in Central Asia and Afghanistan. CALP provides a neutral youth dialogue platform for discussing water cooperation, climate change, energy efficiency, as well as the coronavirus pandemic and its impact. CALP seeks participants that are representatives of civil society organizations, state, and academic sectors. Preference will be given to the applicants between the ages of 28 to 40. CAREC will accept applications until 15 July 2021. Link