ACP-EU Skills & TVET Call — Employability for Youth
Joint OACPS / EU call funding TVET providers, technical colleges and training NGOs across ACP countries to deliver demand-driven vocational training, work-based learning, and youth employability pathways.
Who can apply: TVET institutions, technical colleges, sector skills councils and training NGOs in OACPS member states.
Flagship OACPS Research & Innovation grant supporting collaborative R&I projects across African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Funds technology transfer, innovation ecosystems, and knowledge-economy transition with grants up to EUR 1.5M per consortium.
Who can apply: Research institutions, universities, innovation hubs, and private sector consortia from OACPS member states (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific).
OACPS R&I — Open Call for Research & Technology Stakeholders
Sub-grant call under the OACPS R&I Programme for research labs, technology centres and innovation intermediaries to access ACP Innovation Fund services, mobility support and capacity-building.
Who can apply: Research and technology stakeholders (universities, labs, tech transfer offices) in OACPS member states.
OpenMinistry for Foreign Affairs of FinlandInternational Developmentgrant
Business Partnership Support (Finland MFA)
Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs Business Partnership Support funds Finnish-led business partnerships in 100+ developing countries. Budget EUR 2.75M, rolling deadline through 2027.
Who can apply: Academic institutions, private sector, NGOs (Finnish-led partnerships).
Recognises outstanding community and indigenous initiatives that advance nature-based solutions for sustainable development. Winners receive USD 10,000 and global recognition.
Who can apply: Local, indigenous and community-based organisations from rural areas in tropical and subtropical countries demonstrating proven nature-based solutions.
RollingUN agency SourceGEF Small Grants Programme (UNDP)Climate & Environmentgrant
GEF Small Grants Programme — Country Calls 2026
Implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF, providing grants up to USD 50,000 to civil society and community-based organisations for biodiversity, climate, land, water, and chemicals projects.
Who can apply: Registered civil society organisations (NGOs, CBOs) in participating countries. Calls are issued at country level — check your national SGP page.
Deadline
Rolling
Eligible countries
120+ participating GEF-SGP countries (Global South)
Grants from USD 200,000 to USD 500,000 to women-led civil society organisations advancing women's economic and political empowerment.
Who can apply: Women-led, women's rights civil society organisations legally registered for at least 2 years in an eligible country, with audited annual budget of at least USD 20,000.
Funding up to USD 26,000 per project for activities aligned with UNESCO's strategic objectives in education, sciences, culture, and communication. Submitted via National Commissions.
Who can apply: Member State governments, National Commissions for UNESCO, and accredited NGOs. Applications must be submitted through the National Commission, not directly.
Catalytic, short-duration projects up to USD 500,000 supporting governments on food security, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and rural development priorities.
Who can apply: FAO Member governments only. Civil society and private actors must engage through their national Ministry of Agriculture or equivalent.
UNHCR NGO Partnership — Annual Call for Expressions of Interest
Country-level partnership opportunities for NGOs to deliver protection and assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless and internally displaced people.
Who can apply: International and national NGOs legally registered in the country of operation, with operational capacity to deliver protection or assistance services.
UNICEF Innovation Fund — Open-Source Technology Call
Equity-free investments of USD 50,000–USD 100,000 in early-stage open-source technology start-ups in UNICEF programme countries.
Who can apply: For-profit start-ups registered in a UNICEF programme country, with a working open-source prototype that benefits children and young people.
United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) — Annual Project Proposals
Grants of USD 100,000 to USD 300,000 to civil society projects strengthening democratic voice, rule of law, and human rights.
Who can apply: Civil society organisations with a clear focus on advancing democracy. Government entities are not eligible. Most funding goes to local CSOs in the Global South.
UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture — Annual Grants
OHCHR-managed grants to organisations providing medical, psychological, social, legal, and humanitarian assistance to torture victims and their families.
Who can apply: Established NGOs, associations, hospitals, legal aid clinics, and rehabilitation centres directly assisting torture victims, with at least 3 years of operational history.
Funding for developing IOM Member States to design and implement migration management projects up to USD 200,000.
Who can apply: IOM Member States classified as developing countries (eligible for ODA). Project requests are submitted by national governments through IOM country offices.
RollingIKI Small Grants (Germany / BMUV)Climate & Environmentgrant
IKI Small Grants — Local climate & biodiversity action
Germany's IKI Small Grants programme funds local actors worldwide for bottom-up climate and biodiversity solutions, with two funding lines including a 'funding the funders' approach for institutions running their own programmes.
Who can apply: Local civil-society organisations, community-based organisations, and institutions in eligible developing and emerging countries. Specific eligibility varies per call — check the programme page.
Deadline
Rolling
Eligible countries
50+ developing & emerging countries (Global South focus)
RollingUSDA Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)Agriculture & Foodgrant
USDA LAMP Grants 2026 — Local Agriculture Market Program
USDA's Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) funds farmers, agribusinesses, and food system innovators across the U.S. to expand into local and regional markets, build sustainable food systems, and create jobs. Includes Farmers Market Promotion, Local Food Promotion, Regional Food System Partnerships, and Value-Added Producer Grants. Deadlines vary by sub-programme — check the official links.
Who can apply: U.S.-based farmers, agribusinesses, food system innovators, producer cooperatives, non-profits, tribal governments, and local/regional partnerships. Specific eligibility varies by sub-programme.
RollingUSAID — Development Innovation VenturesInternational Developmentgrant
USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV)
Open-innovation funding window from USAID for breakthrough solutions to global development challenges. Stage 1: up to $200K; Stage 2: up to $1.5M; Stage 3: up to $15M for scaling.
Who can apply: Open globally — for-profits, non-profits, universities, researchers. Rolling submissions.
Global Gateway — NDICI/Global Europe grant windows
The EU's Global Gateway strategy funds infrastructure, digital, climate, energy, transport, health, and education projects in partner countries worldwide through NDICI/Global Europe calls for proposals published on the Funding & Tenders Portal. New calls open throughout the year — this entry links to the portal search pre-filtered for Global Gateway.
Who can apply: Varies per call — typically NGOs, public bodies, international organisations, and private companies in EU partner countries. Check each call's guidelines on the portal.
Global Gateway flagship window supporting women's economic empowerment, youth employment, skills, and entrepreneurship across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Asia through grant calls co-funded by EU member states and development finance institutions.
Who can apply: Organisations in Global Gateway partner countries; specific eligibility per call published on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
EIB Global — loans & blended finance for partner countries
EIB Global finances public and private projects outside the EU — infrastructure, climate action, water, energy, health, and education — through direct loans, intermediated credit lines via local banks, and blended finance combining loans with EU grants under Global Gateway.
Who can apply: Public authorities, companies, and financial intermediaries in EU partner countries. Projects typically €25M+ for direct loans; smaller projects go through local partner banks.
The EIB channels credit lines to local banks and microfinance institutions that on-lend to small businesses, mid-caps, and social enterprises — often at better rates and longer terms than the local market. Apply through the EIB's partner bank in your country.
Who can apply: SMEs, mid-caps, and social enterprises. Applications go to local banks and funds that have EIB credit lines — searchable on the EIB partner map.
EIB Venture Debt — growth finance for innovative companies
EIB venture debt provides €5M–€50M loans to innovative scale-ups in life sciences, deep tech, climate tech, and digital — complementing equity without heavy dilution. Rolling applications directly to the EIB.
Who can apply: Innovative companies with strong R&D, typically post-Series A, headquartered in the EU or associated countries.
RollingInvestEU (EIB Group & partners)SMEs & Innovationother
InvestEU Fund — EU-guaranteed loans & equity
InvestEU provides an EU budget guarantee (€26.2B) that unlocks private and public investment in sustainable infrastructure, research & innovation, digital, SMEs, and social investment. Delivered through the EIB Group and other partner banks — businesses apply via financial intermediaries, not to the EU directly.
Who can apply: Companies, projects, and individuals via InvestEU implementing partners and their local intermediaries. Social enterprises and micro-borrowers have dedicated windows.
EIB Advisory — free project preparation support (ELENA & JASPERS)
EIB Advisory offers free technical assistance to prepare fundable projects: ELENA grants cover up to 90% of the cost of preparing large energy-efficiency and transport investments, while JASPERS helps public authorities prepare major EU-funded infrastructure projects.
Who can apply: Public authorities, project promoters, and businesses preparing sustainable investment programmes. Rolling applications.
RollingEIB — Green GatewayClimate & Environmentother
EIB Green Gateway — climate finance outside the EU
EIB Green Gateway channels climate and environmental finance into projects outside the EU — renewable energy, water, sustainable cities, and adaptation — often blended with EU grants so partners get concessional terms.
Who can apply: Public and private project promoters in EU partner countries with climate or environmental projects.