UNDP Ethiopia GEF Small Grants Programme 2026: NGOs Can Apply for Up to US$75,000

UNDP Ethiopia GEF Small Grants Programme 2026: NGOs Can Apply for Up to US$75,000. The programme supports eligible civil society and community-based organisations implementing projects in biodiversity conservation, climate change, land restoration and sustainable environmental management.

Background & Job Description

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implements the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) to support community-led environmental initiatives.

The programme helps local organisations address environmental challenges while improving livelihoods, promoting social inclusion and strengthening community resilience. The latest Ethiopia-specific call I could verify was published on 2 October 2025 for the programme’s eighth operational phase. It offered eligible organisations the opportunity to apply for project grants of up to US$75,000. I could not verify a new, active Ethiopia call for 2026 or confirm a 2026 application deadline. <Cite refs={[“turn306786search0″,”turn306786search1”]}/>

Tasks

Projects supported through the programme may address:

Biodiversity conservation and habitat protection.
Land degradation, restoration and rehabilitation.
Sustainable forest management.
Climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Chemicals, plastic and solid waste management.
Capacity development and community environmental awareness.

Proposals should demonstrate community participation, social inclusion, gender equality, potential for wider impact and a clear contribution to environmental sustainability. <Cite refs={[“turn306786search0”]}/>

Qualifications

Education and Certification

This is an organisational grant opportunity, not an individual scholarship or employment programme.

Eligible applicants under the published Ethiopia call include locally registered, not-for-profit:

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Civil society organisations (CSOs).
Community-based organisations (CBOs).

Experience

Applicants should demonstrate the organisational capacity to manage grant-funded projects and implement community-based environmental initiatives.

Proposals should show local ownership, meaningful participation by women, young people, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities, and potential for replication or expansion. Projects should align with the programme’s environmental priorities and Ethiopia’s designated priority landscapes. <Cite refs={[“turn306786search0”]}/>

Additional Information

Implementing organisation: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Funding programme: Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme
Country: Ethiopia
Maximum grant under the published call: US$75,000 per project
Maximum project duration: 24 months
Eligible applicants: Qualifying locally registered, not-for-profit NGOs, CSOs and CBOs
2026 application deadline: Not independently verified

The published Ethiopia call prioritised the Central Rift Valley, Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha district, Hawassa Zuria district and Mareko district. It also reserved 30% of the total grant allocation for eligible projects outside the priority landscapes. These details relate to the published call and should not be assumed to apply unchanged to a future round. <Cite refs={[“turn306786search0”]}/>

How to Apply

Interested organisations should:

Visit the official UNDP Ethiopia announcement.
Check whether a new call for proposals has been published for 2026.
Download the relevant guidelines, proposal template and terms of reference.
Confirm eligibility, project priorities, budget limits and the current submission deadline before preparing an application.

Official programme announcement: UNDP Ethiopia – GEF Small Grants Programme

The published announcement lists the Ethiopia National Coordinator as Dejene Biru and provides the contact email Dejene.biru@undp.org for programme enquiries. Contact the programme directly to confirm whether a new application round is open. <Cite refs={[“turn306786search0”]}/>

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much funding can organisations receive?

The published Ethiopia call offered grants of up to US$75,000 per project, depending on the organisation’s implementation capacity and proposed activities.

2. Which organisations can apply?

The published call identifies locally registered, not-for-profit NGOs, civil society organisations and community-based organisations as eligible applicants.

3. What projects does the programme support?

Priority areas include biodiversity conservation, land restoration, sustainable forest management, climate change, waste management and capacity development.

4. How long can projects run?

The published Ethiopia call specified a maximum project duration of 24 months.

5. Is the 2026 application round open?

I could not verify an active 2026 Ethiopia-specific call from the official sources available. The latest Ethiopia-specific call located was published in October 2025 and had a deadline of 31 October 2025. Applicants should contact UNDP Ethiopia before treating this opportunity as open. <Cite refs={[“turn306786search0”]}/>

Disclaimer: Opportunities Feed shares funding information for public awareness and is not affiliated with UNDP or the Global Environment Facility. Applicants should rely on official programme announcements for current deadlines and eligibility requirements.

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