Dear SDSN Members,

As every week, we are excited to share a brand-new set of funding opportunities in the broad range of sustainable development with you. Further down, you can find the exhaustive list of all currently open funding opportunities of previous editions.

**Please note that this list no longer includes announcements of events (such as conferences) as well as awards and prizes. We will now share them as individual posts in the groups they are most relevant to.

Also, to ensure that you receive all opportunities, please make sure to update your email settings (LINK). If you have any questions related to this change, feel free to reach out to Dorothea Strüber or Giovanni Bruna.

Enjoy!

New in:

1. Call for Applications, Merck Research Grants 2021

2. Call for Proposals, 4th Human Rights Youth Challenge

3. LEAD Fellowship, Harvard Global Health Institute (see link for eligible countries)

4. Call for Applications for Large Research Grants on Education, Spencer Foundation

5. Call for Applications, World Bank Scholarships Program (see link for eligible countries)

6. 2021 Green Talents: International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

7. Call for Proposals, World Bank (see link for eligible countries)

All currently open calls:
Grant-making opportunities

1. CEIDizler Grant Program (Turkey)

To develop capacity, cooperation, advocacy, tools, and mechanisms for the Indicator-Based Monitoring of Gender Equality in the local area within the scope of the CEIDIzler Project.
Funding information: total amount EUR 400,000; lower limit EUR 10,000; upper limit 40,000
Deadline: Apr 8, 2021.

2. Call for Proposals, Innovation for sustainable and resilient agri-food and territorial development in Latin America and the Caribbean, FONTAGRO (see link for eligible countries)

Seeks to increase the number of technologies and innovations with high potential for adoption and impact on the sustainability of farming systems, agro ecosystems and the territory. Initiatives must be based on prior and validated scientific knowledge, and must either promote new innovations or validate promising or successful existing ones.
Funding information: total amount is USD 800,000. FONTAGRO will co-finance up to four proposals for a max. amount of USD 200,000 each
Deadline: Apr 9, 2021.

3. Open Call for 2021 Nexus Management Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems, Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (see link for eligible countries)

Proposals should address the interdependency of food, water and energy securities by analyzing trade-offs and synergies between sectors and potential impact on social stability due to resource shortages and climate change. Activities should analyze good practices for resource allocation and assess the economic, environmental and social implications.
Funding information: proposals in the range of EUR 4 million and duration of 36 months.
Deadline: Apr 13, 2021.

4. Call for Expressions of Interest, International Development Research Centre (see link for eligible countries)

Aims to advance the generation and use of context-specific evidence that can contribute to women’s economic empowerment in the Global South in the context of responses in lower-income countries to the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing climate crisis.
Funding information: CAD 750,000 – CAD 1,000,000 per project.
Deadline: Apr 13, 2021.

5. Call for Proposals for 2021 Farming Systems, Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (see link for eligible countries)

To increase the environmental and socio-economic performance of small scale farming systems through improvements in organizational aspects and new value chain governance models.
Funding information: in the range of EUR 2.75 million and with the duration of 36 months.
Deadline: Apr 13, 2021.

6. Call for Proposals, Water Management, Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (see link for eligible countries in MED)

Management of Water for combating land degradation and desertification and promoting ecosystem restoration. The proposals should identify actions, at different levels, to enhance the enabling environment and promote a wider uptake and implementation of sustainable land and water management options.
Funding information: in the range of EUR 2.75 million
Deadline: Apr 13, 2021.

7. Open Call for 2021 Agro-Food Value Chain, Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (see link for eligible countries in MED)

To increase adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a sustainable pattern including environmental, social and health aspects. Proposals must monitor and report of the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet through the development of methodologies able to acquire data and objective indicators, distinguishing the quality of food intakes.
Funding information: in the range of EUR 2.8 million
Deadline: Apr 13, 2021.

8. New Call for Proposals, World Bank (see link for eligible countries)

Seeking a consultant research firm to plan and implement a survey on the “Impacts of COVID 19 on “internal migrants”, their socio-economic characteristics, access to labor markets and social services and their strategies to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
Funding information: up to USD 16,000 for one applicant/organization for accomplished the tasks described in the TORs for each country.
Deadline: Apr 20, 2021.

9. Call for Applications, Research Grant Program, Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (see link for eligible countries in Asia-Pacific)

To financially support academic and scientific research that will deepen knowledge of the nature conservation in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Funding information: maximum grant size in this program is JPY 500,000 per project for a maximum duration of two years (minimum one year)
Deadline: Apr 20, 2021.

10. Call for EOIs, International Development Research Centre (see link for eligible countries)

To advance gender analysis and women’s leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through the Gender in STEM Research Initiative.
Funding information: CAD 1 million to 1.25 million per research consortium; a total of CAD 8 million is available for this call
Deadline: Apr 22, 2021.

11. Call for Ideas, Civic Europe (see link for eligible countries)

Ideas from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe that strengthen civic engagement as well as social and political participation to tackle societal challenges at the local level.
Funding information: supports up to 20 ideas with grants of up to EUR 35,000 each.
Deadline: Apr 26, 2021.

12. Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator, UNEP & Climate Technology Centre and Network (see link for eligible countries)

To support developing countries to test, evaluate, roll out and scale up innovative adaptation practices, products and technologies
Funding information: The Fund will receive USD 5 million to administrate and aggregate 25 micro-grants projects (up to USD 250,000 each).
Deadline: Apr 30, 2021.

13. Collaborative Research Program, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (see link for eligible countries)

To promote training of young scientists and to facilitate the creation of appropriate research facilities. The program provides support for research projects in basic science, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology and bioenergy.
Funding information: maximum annual contribution is EUR 25,000
Deadline: Apr 30, 2021.

14. 2021 Healthy, Resilient and Sustainable Communities Grant Program, EPA (USA)

Will support Region 10 communities as they develop and implement pollution prevention and/or sustainable materials management systems that help make their communities safer, healthier, and more resilient.
Funding information: awarding 2-4 grants, ranging from USD 30,000 to 60,000
Deadline: Apr 30, 2021.

15. IUCN NL Land Acquisition Fund (see link for eligible countries)

Provides funds for local NGOs to acquire (through purchase or lease) threatened nature, create safe reserves and connect wildlife habitats for endangered species.
Funding information: max. assistance provided is EUR 85,000
Deadline: May 1, 2021.

16. Call for Proposals to Highlight Blind Spots in AI Development, UNESCO

UNESCO in cooperation with Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute seeks to identify blind spots in AI Policy and Program Development. The collective work will explore creative, novel and far-reaching approaches to tackling blind spots in the AI lifecycle.
Funding information: for accepted contributions outside of academia, authors may request financial support available on a needs-based basis up to USD 1,000.
Deadline: May 2, 2021.

17. Call for Applications, Conference Grants Program, Spencer Foundation

Provides support to scholars to organize small research conferences, focused symposia, or other forms of convening are around important issues in education research.
Funding information: supports proposals with budgets of USD 50,000 or less
Deadline: May 6, 2021.

18. New Call for Applications for Large Research Grants on Education, Spencer Foundation

The goal is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education.
Funding information: budgets ranging from USD 125,000 to 500,000 for projects ranging from one to five years.
Deadline: May 19, 2021.

19. Call for Project Ideas, IKI Medium Grants 2021

Aimed at civil society actors based in Germany that work in concert with local partners in selected ODA-eligible implementing countries to put measures in place to intensify North South cooperation on climate action, adaptation to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity conservation.
Funding information: grant of between EUR 300,000 and a max. of EUR 800,000 may be granted per project.
Deadline: May 24, 2021.

20. Call for Proposals, AI for Humanitarian Action Grant, Microsoft

Since 2018, Microsoft has supported 40 AI for Humanitarian Action projects in 13 countries, advancing solutions to address challenges in disaster response, refugees, displaced people, human rights, and the needs of women and children through grants, technology donations, and data science support.
Deadline: May 31, 2021.

21. Small Research Grant on Education, Spencer Foundation

Supports rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically sound research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education (broadly conceived).
Funding information: supports education research projects, with budgets up to USD 50,000 for projects ranging from one to five years.
Deadline: Jun 1, 2021.

22. Call for Proposals, Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund

To support conservation programs that protect threatened wildlife and habitats worldwide. Field studies and other projects that demonstrate a multi-disciplinary approach to biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, and projects that involve in-country collaborators receive the highest funding priority.
Deadline: Jun 1, 2021.

23. Hubs of Interdisciplinary Research and Training in GEOHealth Research Training, National Institutes of Health

To strengthen environmental and occupational health-related research collaborations, enhance research training, create relevant advanced educational curricula and outreach material; support research needed to identify and design mitigation strategies for the adverse consequences of environmental and occupational exposures, and inform nationally-relevant policy development in LMICs.
Funding information: anticipated budget total costs may not exceed USD 300,000 per year.
Deadline: Jun 8, 2021.

24. Most Innovative Development Project 2021, Global Development Network (see link for eligible countries)

Invites NGOs and CSOs to submit project applications within the following three themes of the Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project: universal health coverage and COVID; community-driven, climate-related, disaster risk reduction in rural areas; quality urban infrastructure and community driven governance
Funding information: winning projects will receive grants worth USD 45,000 and, in total; the MIDP category will award 9 grants worth USD 135,000.
Deadline: Jun 9, 2021.

25. Energize the Environment Grant Program, Quadratec Cares (USA)

Program/initiative examples: trail building or restoration projects, park beautification events, litter prevention initiatives, Earth Study missions, Sustainable Land Management activities, community environment education projects, & youth education engagement events.
Funding information: offering two USD 3,500 environmental grants per year – spring and fall
Deadline: Jun 30, 2021.

26. Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

To provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives, recognize leaders in the field and elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate.
Funding information: maximum grant size is USD 25,000
Deadline: Jun 30, 2021.

27. Grants Program, The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation (see link for eligible countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Middle East)

Seeks to protect natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and promote public health. Supports projects that demonstrate local leadership and promote professional development in the conservation, agricultural, and health sciences; develop the capacity of local organizations; and address a particular problem or question in the field.
Funding information: average grant is approx. USD 20,000. Grants exceeding USD 30,000 rarely awarded.
Deadline: Jul 1, 2021.

28. New Call for Applications, Merck Research Grants 2021

To create new sustainable partnerships with leading global science and technology players to work on breakthrough science and to generate valuable seeds for future business.
Funding information: amount of the grant(s) is EUR 40,000 – 450,000 per year/up to 3 years.
Deadline: Aug 31, 2021.

29. Fund for Innovation in Development Grant Program

A new initiative to support innovation that contributes to reducing global poverty and inequality. Through flexible grant funding, FID enables innovators and researchers to test new ideas, build rigorous evidence of what works, and scale the highest-impact and most cost- effective solutions.
Deadline: ongoing

30. Call for Proposals, Social Science Research Council

As part of the Just Tech program, seeks proposals from across the social sciences and related fields that address the risks, opportunities, and challenges posed by public health surveillance stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Funding information: awards will range from USD 5,000 to 10,000, with larger amounts directed to projects committed to research partnerships
Deadline: ongoing

31. Collaborate Pacific, New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade (see eligible Pacific countries)

Aims to support effective governance, leadership, regional cooperation, and sustainable development in the Pacific through support to one-off, small scale activities that tackle issues that matter to the region. Recognizes that partnership, capacity building, people-to-people links, and knowledge-sharing are critical to ownership of development processes.
Deadline: ongoing

32. Global Water Futures – Affiliate Projects

To deliver risk management solutions, informed by leading-edge water science and supported by innovative decision-making tools to manage water futures in Canada and other regions where global warming is changing landscapes, ecosystems, and water environments.
Deadline: There is no associated closing date with applications.

33. Call for Applications, Urgent Action Fund (Africa)

Urgent Action Fund-Africa is expanding its COVID-19 response towards supporting women, transgender and gender non-conforming defenders with disabilities to: develop and widely disseminate messages and information about the disease in disability friendly formats, simplify and/or translate complex COVID 19 information, and provide practical resources.
Funding information: up to USD 8,000
Deadline: applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

34. COVID-19 Young Leaders Fund

Program is designed to support young leaders who are tackling the Covid-19 pandemic on the frontlines. Applicants should be focused on SDGs 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8. One Young World will prioritize initiatives which can use the funds to impact the maximum number of people to the greatest extent.
Funding information: One Young World recommends requesting between GBP 2,500 – GBP 10,000.
Deadline: Program is open on an ongoing basis.

35. Global Innovation Fund (GIF)

This program seeks to invest in social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of millions of people in the developing world. Open to funding innovations in any sector as long as they can demonstrate their innovation improves the lives of those living on less than USD 5 PPP per day.
Range: USD 50,000 – 15,000,000
Deadline: Program is open on an ongoing basis.

Fellowships and other opportunities

1. AWLA Fellowship Program for Women (see link for eligible MENA countries)

The fellowship program aims to help women researchers in agriculture secure leadership roles by encouraging gender-responsive working cultures and creating platforms that showcase their intellect, capability, and contribution.
Deadline: Apr 15, 2021.

2. Call for Applications, Trinity Challenge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How can data and analytics be used to better identify, respond to, and recover from global health emergencies? The scaled use of digital tools – in a transparent, interoperable, and secure manner – are solutions to properly identify, respond to, and recover from health emergencies.
Funding information: inaugural round will comprise a total Prize Fund up to GBP 10 million
Deadline: Apr 15, 2021.

3. 2021/2022 Qalaa Holdings Scholarship (Egypt)

To grant academic scholarships for talented and promising young Egyptian men and women to pursue master degrees abroad in all fields of study.
Deadline: Apr 15, 2021.

4. New LEAD Fellowship, Harvard Global Health Institute (see link for eligible countries)

For promoting women in Global Health to promote leadership skills in individuals from low- and middle-income countries who will, in turn, mentor future female leaders in global health.
Deadline: Apr 22, 2021.

5. Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program, World Bank

Matches aspiring development economics researchers from developing countries with World Bank research economists creating unique opportunities for the fellows to participate in rigorous policy-relevant research in the Bank’s Development Economics Vice Presidency.
Benefits: USD 42,750 net of income taxes per fellow for an 8-month fellowship (paid in monthly installments)
Deadline: Apr 30, 2021.

6. Public Call for EE 30 Under 30 Class of 2021, North American Association for Environmental Education

NAAEE has opened the search to find 30 game-changing leaders under 30 years of age who are using environmental education to build a sustainable future for all.
Deadline: May 5, 2021.

7. Call for Proposals for Sustainable Fisheries Challenge

On sustainable fisheries and aquaculture focusing on SDG 14 and the targets that call for ending overfishing and IUU fishing, increasing the economic benefits to SIDS and LDCs from marine resources, and enhancing small scale fishers’ access to fisheries resources and markets.
Deadline: May 9, 2021.

8. Call for Applications for 2022-23 Rotary Peace Fellowship Program

Up to 130 fellows are selected every year in a globally competitive process based on personal, academic, and professional achievements. Fellows earn either a master’s degree or a certificate in peace and development studies at one of the seven Rotary Peace Centers, located at leading universities around the world.
Deadline: May 15, 2021.

9. New 2021 Green Talents: International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

To promote the international exchange of innovative green ideas from various fields of research. Are you a promising scientist with innovative ideas and a strong focus on sustainable development? Does your research have the potential to help make the world a more sustainable place?
Deadline: May 19, 2021.

10. New Call for Applications, World Bank Scholarships Program (see link for eligible countries)

Open to citizens of certain developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a master degree program in a development-related topic.
Deadline: May 21, 2021.

11. New Call for Proposals, 4th Human Rights Youth Challenge

Hearing from youth and from their perspective and their thoughts on how climate change impacts drinking water, water used for personal and domestic purpose as well as sanitation facilities including sewerage, toilet and shower facilities, hygiene products, among others.
Prize information: UN Special Rapporteur will invite the winner to join him and to speak at a side-event to Human Rights Council in September 2021.
Deadline: May 31, 2021.

12. Call for Applications, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations

To support the research and development of broadly protective SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (BPCoV2) to meet the need for protection against variants. Emphasis is again on antigen design to elicit durable, potent and broad protection against variants.
Deadline: May 31, 2021.

13. UNESCO Clubs 2021 Worldwide Youth Multimedia Competition

2021 Entry Question: COVID-19 has tested Human Solidarity like nothing before. Based on your research, knowledge and experience, develop and submit, a Multimedia proposal/project that describes the lessons we have learned and how those lessons will shape our future. For example, our future in education, employment, development, or social aspects.
Deadline: May 31, 2021.

14. Indigenous Communities Fellowship 2021, MIT SOLVE (USA)

Solve’s Indigenous Communities Fellowship seeks solutions by Native innovators across the US that consider both technology and traditional knowledge to support and scale positive impact.
Deadline: Jun 7, 2021.

15. Matching Awards Program, National Forest Foundation (USA)

Provides funding for results-oriented on-the-ground projects that enhance forest health and outdoor experiences on National Forests and Grasslands.
Deadline: Jun 9, 2021.

16. Call for Applications, Resilient Ecosystems Challenge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How can communities sustainably protect, manage, and restore their local ecosystems? The MIT Solve community is looking for technology-based solutions that help communities restore, sustain, and benefit from resilient ecosystems.
Funding information: applicants will receive a $10,000 grant from Solve
Deadline: Jun 16, 2021.

17. Call for Female Applicants: AIMS-Canada Research Chairs in Climate Change Science, International Development Research Centre, Canada and Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

Each Chair will be provided up to USD 970,000 over a four-year period and tasked with executing a world-class research program able to contribute significantly towards building both the human capital and the scientific knowledgebase required to solve important climate change-related problems in Africa and beyond.
The application process will remain open until suitable candidates are identified.

18. Scholarship for Displaced Students, Columbia University

Supports displaced students from anywhere in the world who are unable to complete their higher education. These students will receive full tuition, housing, and living assistance while pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees across all 18 Columbia schools and affiliates. Scholarship aims to shift the global dialogue surrounding displaced persons, from one that views them as a burden to one that recognizes them as vital contributors to global innovation and prosperity.

19. Partnering for Change: Link Research to Societal Challenges, University of Basel

Course: How can we address societal challenges with research? Investigate the principles, processes, and uses of transdisciplinarity. Topics include: transdisciplinary projects on sustainable development, migration, and health.