Deadline: 31-Jul-2026
The United Nations Development Programme is requesting applications to support community-driven environmental and socio-economic initiatives across selected landscapes and seascapes in Thailand. The call provides grant financing and technical support to civil society organisations, community-based organisations, grassroots groups, and indigenous or ethnic community organisations working on biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, watershed restoration, renewable energy, waste management, and ecosystem protection.
Programme Overview
The United Nations Development Programme is inviting applications to support community-led environmental and socio-economic initiatives across selected landscapes and seascapes.
The programme builds on a landscape-based approach under SGP Operational Phase 8 in Thailand. It aims to support local solutions that generate both environmental and socio-economic benefits for communities.
The call provides grant financing and technical support to civil society organisations and community-based organisations working in priority landscapes and seascapes.
Programme Purpose
The purpose of the programme is to strengthen community-led action for environmental protection, sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, and social inclusion.
The programme supports local actors to design and implement practical solutions that address community needs while also contributing to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, climate co-benefits, pollution reduction, water governance, and sustainable resource management.
The approach is based on learning by doing, helping communities build capacity while implementing projects that can create long-term impact.
Key Funding Details
Multiple grants will be awarded across selected landscapes and seascapes.
Key funding points include:
- Total allocation: Up to THB 10,000,000 per priority area
- Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan River Basin support: Up to THB 2,000,000 through complementary partnership support, subject to funding availability
- Individual grant range: THB 800,000 to THB 2,000,000
- Project duration: 6 to 18 months
- Co-financing requirement: At least 50 percent of the requested grant amount
- Eligible applicants: Civil society organisations, community-based organisations, grassroots groups, NGOs, foundations, associations, networks, informal community groups, and indigenous or ethnic community organisations
Co-Financing Requirement
Applicants are required to contribute co-financing of at least 50 percent of the requested grant amount.
Co-financing may be provided through:
- Cash contributions
- In-kind contributions
- Community contributions
- Partner contributions
- Staff time or volunteer time
- Equipment, materials, or local resources
- Other justified contributions linked to project implementation
Proposals must clearly explain how co-financing is structured and how it supports the project budget.
Key Focus Areas and Objectives
The call focuses on community-based environmental action, sustainable livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience.
Key focus areas include:
- Community-based management of threatened ecosystems and species
- Biodiversity conservation
- Ecosystem restoration
- Sustainable use of natural resources
- Sustainable agriculture
- Sustainable fisheries
- Sustainable food systems
- Climate-resilient practices
- Sustainable livelihoods
- Renewable energy access
- Energy efficiency solutions
- Low-carbon energy access
- Climate co-benefits
- Chemicals and waste management
- Pollution reduction
- Hazardous substance control
- Sustainable solutions in targeted landscapes and seascapes
- Watershed restoration
- Nature-based ecosystem management
- Forest restoration
- Soil conservation
- Protection of upstream ecosystems
- Integrated watershed management
- Water governance
- Community-based water resource management
- Agroecological practices
- Crop diversification
- Local food security
- Pollution management
- Transboundary environmental issues
- Reduction of agricultural runoff
- Waste management
- Cross-border environmental risk reduction
- Conservation of the Indochinese Tiger
- Conservation of the Great Hornbill
- Habitat protection and restoration
- Community awareness initiatives
Priority Environmental Themes
The programme supports projects that protect ecosystems, species, and natural resources while improving community wellbeing.
Priority environmental themes include:
- Biodiversity protection
- Threatened species conservation
- Habitat restoration
- Forest and watershed protection
- Soil conservation
- Sustainable farming and fisheries
- Pollution control
- Waste reduction
- Renewable energy and energy efficiency
- Climate-resilient livelihoods
- Nature-based solutions
- Community-led environmental governance
Biodiversity and Species Conservation
The programme supports biodiversity conservation in selected landscapes and seascapes.
Projects may focus on protecting threatened species, restoring habitats, and raising community awareness about conservation.
Special biodiversity priorities include conservation of the Indochinese Tiger and Great Hornbill through habitat protection, restoration, and community awareness initiatives.
Watershed and Ecosystem Restoration
The programme supports integrated watershed management and ecosystem restoration.
Eligible activities may include:
- Watershed restoration
- Forest restoration
- Soil conservation
- Protection of upstream ecosystems
- Community-based water resource management
- Nature-based ecosystem management
- Water governance activities
- Reduction of agricultural runoff
- Local planning for watershed protection
These activities are intended to strengthen ecosystem health, improve water security, and reduce environmental risks.
Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Systems
The programme supports community-based livelihoods that are environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
Eligible livelihood-related activities may include:
- Sustainable agriculture
- Sustainable fisheries
- Agroecological practices
- Crop diversification
- Local food security initiatives
- Climate-resilient livelihoods
- Community-based natural resource management
- Sustainable food system development
These activities should help communities improve resilience while reducing pressure on ecosystems.
Renewable Energy and Climate Co-Benefits
The programme supports low-carbon energy access and climate-friendly solutions.
Eligible energy-related activities may include:
- Renewable energy solutions
- Energy efficiency initiatives
- Low-carbon community energy access
- Climate co-benefit projects
- Energy solutions that support livelihoods or local services
Projects should show how energy activities contribute to environmental sustainability and community resilience.
Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Management
The programme supports projects that reduce pollution and improve waste management.
Eligible activities may include:
- Chemicals and waste management
- Pollution reduction
- Hazardous substance control
- Reduction of agricultural runoff
- Local waste management systems
- Community awareness on pollution prevention
- Transboundary environmental risk reduction
These activities should help reduce environmental harm and protect community health.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include local and community-focused organisations with the ability to implement activities in the target landscape or seascape.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Civil society organisations
- Community-based organisations
- Local community groups
- Non-governmental organisations
- Foundations
- Associations
- Networks
- Informal community groups
- Grassroots initiatives
- Indigenous community organisations
- Ethnic community organisations
Applicants must demonstrate local presence, relevant experience, and the ability to implement activities effectively.
Applicant Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate the capacity to work closely with communities and deliver practical environmental and socio-economic results.
Applicants are expected to show:
- Local presence in the target area
- Relevant technical or community experience
- Ability to implement activities within the target landscape or seascape
- Strong connection to local needs and priorities
- Capacity to manage grant funds responsibly
- Ability to contribute at least 50 percent co-financing
- Proficiency in the Thai language for community-level communication and coordination
- Commitment to inclusion, sustainability, and community participation
Project Requirements
Proposals should be practical, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable.
Projects should demonstrate:
- Clear community need
- Strong local participation
- Environmental benefits
- Socio-economic benefits
- Realistic activities and budget
- Clear co-financing structure
- Implementation period of 6 to 18 months
- Potential for replication or scaling
- Contribution to broader policy processes where relevant
- Alignment with priority landscapes or seascapes
Why This Programme Matters
Local communities are often closest to the ecosystems, landscapes, seascapes, and natural resources that need protection.
This programme matters because it gives local actors the resources and technical support needed to lead environmental solutions. It supports community ownership, local resilience, sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity protection, climate action, and social inclusion.
By combining environmental and socio-economic goals, the programme helps communities protect nature while also improving livelihoods, food security, energy access, and local wellbeing.
How the Programme Works
The programme works through community-led grants and technical support.
The implementation approach includes:
- Eligible organisations identify local environmental and socio-economic challenges.
- Applicants design community-driven projects linked to selected landscapes or seascapes.
- Proposals include clear activities, budgets, co-financing, and expected results.
- Selected projects receive grant financing and technical support.
- Communities implement practical activities using a learning-by-doing approach.
- Projects are implemented over 6 to 18 months.
- Results contribute to local resilience, sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and policy learning.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the local problem, proposed solution, community role, environmental benefits, socio-economic benefits, budget, and co-financing.
Application Preparation Steps
- Confirm applicant eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are a civil society organisation, community-based organisation, NGO, foundation, association, network, informal community group, grassroots initiative, or indigenous or ethnic community organisation. - Confirm local presence
Applicants should show that they have a presence or strong working relationship in the target landscape or seascape. - Identify the priority area
The proposal should clearly identify the landscape, seascape, watershed, ecosystem, or community area where the project will be implemented. - Define the environmental challenge
Applicants should explain the issue being addressed, such as habitat loss, water degradation, waste, pollution, climate vulnerability, agricultural runoff, biodiversity decline, or unsustainable resource use. - Describe the community-led solution
The proposal should explain how the community will participate in project design, implementation, monitoring, and learning. - Link activities to focus areas
Applicants should connect proposed activities to conservation, restoration, sustainable livelihoods, renewable energy, waste management, watershed protection, biodiversity, food security, or climate resilience. - Prepare a realistic budget
The budget should match the project scope and fall within the expected individual grant range of THB 800,000 to THB 2,000,000. - Explain co-financing
Applicants must show co-financing of at least 50 percent of the requested grant amount through cash or in-kind contributions. - Set a feasible timeline
Projects should be implemented within 6 to 18 months. - Demonstrate inclusion and sustainability
Proposals should show how marginalized groups, local communities, women, youth, indigenous or ethnic communities, or vulnerable groups will be included where relevant. - Show potential for scaling or replication
Applicants should explain whether the project can be replicated, scaled, or used to support broader policy processes. - Ensure Thai language capacity
Applicants should demonstrate sufficient Thai language proficiency for effective communication and coordination with communities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting proposals that are too broad or not grounded in local community needs.
Common mistakes include:
- Not showing local presence in the target area
- Failing to demonstrate community leadership
- Providing unclear co-financing details
- Not meeting the 50 percent co-financing requirement
- Proposing activities outside the selected landscapes or seascapes
- Submitting a project that is not environmentally sustainable
- Ignoring socio-economic benefits
- Providing weak links to biodiversity, climate resilience, watershed management, waste management, or livelihoods
- Submitting a budget that does not match the project scope
- Not explaining how activities will be completed within 6 to 18 months
- Leaving out replication, scaling, or policy relevance
- Not demonstrating Thai language capacity for community coordination
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong proposal should be community-led, practical, inclusive, and clearly linked to environmental and livelihood outcomes.
Applicants should:
- Start with a clear local problem
- Show strong community participation
- Link activities to the selected landscape or seascape
- Include both environmental and socio-economic benefits
- Provide a realistic workplan
- Clearly explain co-financing sources
- Use practical and measurable activities
- Demonstrate local experience and partnerships
- Include women, youth, indigenous or ethnic communities, and vulnerable groups where relevant
- Explain how the project supports resilience and sustainable livelihoods
- Show potential for learning, replication, or scaling
- Align the project with SGP Operational Phase 8 priorities in Thailand
Key Terms Explained
Community-Driven Initiative
A community-driven initiative is a project designed and implemented with strong leadership and participation from local communities.
Landscape-Based Approach
A landscape-based approach looks at environmental, social, and economic issues across a wider geographic area rather than focusing only on one village or activity.
Seascape
A seascape refers to a coastal or marine area where ecosystems, communities, livelihoods, and natural resources are connected.
Agroecology
Agroecology is a sustainable farming approach that uses ecological principles to improve soil health, biodiversity, resilience, and local food systems.
Nature-Based Ecosystem Management
Nature-based ecosystem management uses natural processes and ecosystem restoration to address environmental challenges such as flooding, erosion, water degradation, and biodiversity loss.
Co-Financing
Co-financing is the applicant’s contribution to the project, provided through cash or in-kind resources. Under this call, applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the requested grant amount.
Climate Co-Benefits
Climate co-benefits are additional climate-related benefits that result from a project, such as reduced emissions, improved resilience, or increased use of renewable energy.
Transboundary Environmental Issues
Transboundary environmental issues are environmental problems that affect more than one area, region, or country, such as pollution, shared watersheds, or cross-border ecosystem risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this UNDP call?
The call supports community-driven environmental and socio-economic initiatives across selected landscapes and seascapes in Thailand.
Who can apply?
Civil society organisations, community-based organisations, local community groups, NGOs, foundations, associations, networks, informal community groups, grassroots initiatives, and indigenous or ethnic community organisations can apply.
What is the expected grant amount per project?
Individual project grants are expected to range from THB 800,000 to THB 2,000,000 depending on project scope and complexity.
What is the total allocation per priority area?
The total allocation is up to THB 10,000,000 per priority area.
Is there special support for the Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan River Basin?
Yes. Up to THB 2,000,000 may be provided through complementary partnership support for the Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan River Basin, subject to funding availability.
How long can projects last?
Selected projects must be implemented within 6 to 18 months.
Is co-financing required?
Yes. Applicants must contribute co-financing of at least 50 percent of the requested grant amount through cash or in-kind contributions.
What types of activities are supported?
Supported activities may include biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture, sustainable fisheries, renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, pollution reduction, watershed restoration, water governance, agroecology, food security, and community awareness initiatives.
What species conservation priorities are mentioned?
The call includes biodiversity conservation priorities related to the Indochinese Tiger and Great Hornbill through habitat protection, restoration, and community awareness initiatives.
Do applicants need Thai language capacity?
Yes. Applicants are expected to have sufficient proficiency in the Thai language to ensure effective community-level communication and coordination.
Conclusion
The UNDP community grant call under SGP Operational Phase 8 in Thailand supports practical, locally led action for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, renewable energy, waste management, and water governance. By funding civil society organisations, community-based organisations, grassroots groups, and indigenous or ethnic community organisations, the programme strengthens community resilience, social inclusion, and sustainable development across selected landscapes and seascapes.
For more information, visit UNDP.
