Deadline: 21-May-2026
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone is inviting organisations to apply for a grant under the Global Plastics Innovation Programme to develop innovative solutions that reduce plastic waste and support circular economy practices. Selected projects will receive USD 25,000 for a 9-month pilot focused on reducing plastic pollution, improving waste management systems, and promoting environmental sustainability.
UNDP Global Plastics Innovation Programme Overview
This initiative supports practical, scalable, and innovative interventions that address plastic pollution in Sierra Leone. It is designed to strengthen environmental sustainability through pilot solutions, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.
The programme also contributes to global learning by sharing results across multiple participating countries.
Key Objectives and Focus Areas
The programme focuses on:
- Developing and piloting innovative solutions to reduce plastic pollution
- Phasing out single-use plastics and improving waste reduction systems
- Promoting circular economy practices and sustainable alternatives
- Strengthening stakeholder engagement and community awareness
- Building capacity in plastic waste management systems
- Supporting knowledge management, learning, and dissemination of best practices
- Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of environmental outcomes
- Encouraging scalable and replicable solutions
Funding Details
- Grant amount: USD 25,000 per project
- Project duration: 9 months
- Funding type: Innovation pilot grant
- Implementing body: UNDP Country Office, Sierra Leone
Funding is intended for implementation of one innovative solution per selected project.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible organisations include:
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Civil society organisations (CSOs)
- Community-based organisations (CBOs)
- Foundations
- Academic institutions
- Other legally registered non-profit organisations in Sierra Leone
Eligibility requirements:
- Must be legally registered in Sierra Leone
- Must demonstrate relevant experience in environmental or waste management initiatives
- Must have technical and operational capacity to implement pilot projects
Partnership and Consortium Applications
- Joint applications are allowed
- A lead organisation must be designated
- Roles and responsibilities of all partners must be clearly defined
- Lead organisation must demonstrate relevant implementation experience
Project Implementation Requirements
Selected applicants are expected to:
- Implement one innovative pilot solution addressing plastic waste
- Engage relevant stakeholders, including communities and institutions
- Conduct awareness-raising campaigns on plastic pollution
- Strengthen local capacity for waste management
- Collect and analyse data for monitoring and evaluation
- Submit technical, financial, and narrative progress reports
- Participate in continuous learning and evaluation processes
Reporting and Accountability
Projects must maintain strong monitoring and reporting systems, including:
- Regular progress updates to UNDP Sierra Leone
- Financial reporting aligned with grant requirements
- Final evaluation report at project completion
- Documentation of lessons learned and best practices
- Contribution to global knowledge sharing initiatives
Global Learning Component
The programme includes a strong international knowledge-sharing element:
- Successful projects will share results in a multi-country workshop
- Five other participating countries will be involved
- Lessons learned will contribute to global plastic pollution solutions
- Emphasis on replicability and scalability of successful models
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative is important because it:
- Directly addresses plastic pollution in Sierra Leone
- Promotes innovative and scalable environmental solutions
- Strengthens circular economy practices
- Builds local capacity for sustainable waste management
- Encourages community awareness and behavioural change
- Supports evidence-based environmental policy development
- Contributes to global environmental knowledge sharing
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applications may be weaker if they:
- Lack legal registration in Sierra Leone
- Do not demonstrate relevant environmental experience
- Propose non-innovative or already widely implemented solutions
- Fail to include clear monitoring and evaluation plans
- Do not show stakeholder engagement strategies
- Ignore reporting and learning requirements
- Lack clear roles in consortium applications
Tips for a Strong Application
- Focus on a clearly defined innovative pilot solution
- Demonstrate strong experience in environmental or waste management
- Include a realistic implementation and monitoring plan
- Show strong community and stakeholder engagement
- Highlight scalability and long-term sustainability
- Provide clear roles and responsibilities for all partners
- Emphasise data collection, learning, and reporting capacity
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for this grant?
Registered NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, foundations, and academic institutions in Sierra Leone.
What is the grant amount?
USD 25,000 per project.
What is the project duration?
9 months.
What is the main focus of the programme?
Reducing plastic pollution and promoting circular economy solutions.
Are partnerships allowed?
Yes, but one lead organisation must be designated.
What are the reporting requirements?
Regular progress updates, financial reports, and a final evaluation report.
Is knowledge sharing required?
Yes, successful projects must participate in regional and global learning activities.
Conclusion
The UNDP Global Plastics Innovation Programme in Sierra Leone supports innovative, community-driven solutions to reduce plastic pollution and promote circular economy practices. By funding pilot projects, strengthening capacity, and enabling global knowledge sharing, the programme contributes to long-term environmental sustainability and scalable waste management solutions.
For more information, visit UNDP.
