Deadline: 15-Sep-2025
The Restoration Returns Grants Program is now accepting applications to support community-led initiatives aimed at restoring ecosystems with high returns for both people and their environments. This grant helps communities restore lands in ways that benefit local livelihoods and natural resources.
The program is part of the G20 Global Land Initiative’s broader mission to restore 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 and cut land degradation in half by 2040.
Restoration involves improving land productivity or land cover and includes efforts such as reforestation, afforestation, agroforestry, sustainable farming, waste management, soil quality improvement, peatland rewetting, and preventing contamination or waterlogging.
To further boost these efforts, the initiative has increased the award amount to US$17,000 per project. This rise reflects both the innovation shown in proposals and the growing need for grassroots restoration support.
Grant funds can be used to expand restoration areas, adopt advanced techniques, incorporate new technology, provide technical assistance, enhance skills, and share lessons learned. Applicants may also combine these uses as needed.
Ecosystem restoration can occur in various landscapes, such as forests, drylands, croplands, wetlands, peatlands, mangroves, tundras, grasslands, and more. Projects are not restricted to G20 nations—submissions are welcome from all countries, with a special emphasis on civil society groups and Indigenous Peoples from developing and least developed regions.
Both new proposals and ongoing projects are eligible, though preference is given to existing efforts. To qualify, organizations must have an annual budget of at least USD 25,000, and the funds must support scaling up current or planned initiatives—not standalone projects.
There is also the possibility of receiving multi-year support, provided the project shows progress and a formal request is submitted.
For more information, visit G20 GLI.
