Eligible organisations can now apply for funding of up to 200,000 euros on the Applications page of the IKI Small Grants website until 15th January 2025.
At the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Jennifer Morgan, Germany’s State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, kicked off the 6th Call for Proposals of the IKI Small Grants programme on 18th November 2024. This announcement reinforces Germany’s commitment to local action in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. Eligible organisations can now apply for funding of up to 200,000 euros on the Applications page of the IKI Small Grants website until 15th January 2025.
Local actors close to people affected most
Part of Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI), IKI Small Grants provides funding and capacity building support to local organisations in countries eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA). The programme focuses on supporting and promoting innovative, localised approaches to the climate and biodiversity crises.
“I have been working a lot with civil society organisations my whole life and I know how much they can achieve in impact with comparatively small amounts of funding,” Morgan said during her speech at the COP29 in the German Climate Pavilion. “Germany supports local actors and organisations with funding for their local solutions. They are at the frontline of climate change and biodiversity loss and close to the people affected most.”
Up to €200,000 in funding for project ideas
The newly announced call for proposals is open to not-for-profit organisations and select private entities with non-profit objectives. Eligible applicants must have operated for at least three years and demonstrate sound financial and organizational structures. Projects must address one or more of the IKI’s key funding areas:
- Conserving biological diversity
- Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions
- Adapting to the impacts of climate change
- Preserving and restoring natural carbon sinks with a focus on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
Funding amounts range between €60,000 and €200,000, with project durations spanning one to two years. Morgan encouraged new project applications, saying, “Get your ideas flowing, we are very much looking forward to receiving innovative concepts and project ideas.”
In addition to financial support, IKI Small Grants also works with recipient organisations, equipping them with the skills and resources to scale their impact.
Part of the IKI DNA
Morgan highlighted the importance and impact of the IKI Small Grants approach, stating, “We hear about the need for local action, and this is also part of the IKI’s DNA. In the past five years, IKI Small Grants has provided funding for projects and 125 NGOs and institutions in over 50 countries. They are essential actors of change.”
The application process is open now, with interested organizations required to send in their application by 15 January, 2025. Shortlisted applicants will then submit detailed project proposals by 12 March, 2025. Selected projects will begin implementation in early 2026.
For further details and application guidelines, visit the application page on the IKI Small Grants website.