REACT Grants to Advance Women’s Climate Action (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The REACT (REsearch and ACTion for women’s participation in environmental peacebuilding and climate change prevention) programme provides funding to civil society organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to strengthen women’s leadership in climate action, peacebuilding, and conflict prevention. The programme offers grants of up to €185,000 for advocacy and grassroots initiatives implemented from January 2027 to November 2028.

The initiative supports gender-responsive climate policies, women’s rights, community resilience, and environmental peacebuilding in conflict-affected areas through two funding streams: Advocacy Grants and Grassroots Initiatives Grants.

Overview of the REACT Programme

The REACT programme is a three-year initiative (2026–2028) implemented by The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation with support from the Austrian Development Agency.

The programme focuses on the relationship between gender equality, climate change, and conflict. It aims to strengthen women’s participation in environmental decision-making while supporting communities affected by climate risks and insecurity.

REACT works to build climate resilience, human security, and peace by supporting civil society organisations that promote women’s leadership in climate action and peacebuilding processes.

Objectives of the REACT Programme

The main goal of REACT is to increase meaningful participation of women in environmental peacebuilding and climate change prevention.

The programme aims to:

Promote women’s leadership in climate action and peace processes.
Strengthen gender-responsive environmental policies.
Support women’s rights and climate justice advocacy.
Improve resilience of communities affected by climate change and conflict.
Encourage inclusive and locally led climate solutions.
Strengthen collaboration between civil society organisations and stakeholders.

REACT Funding Streams

The programme provides funding through two grant categories.

Advocacy Grants (Lot 1)

The Advocacy Grants support women’s rights organisations and climate justice actors working to influence policies and decision-making processes.

Supported activities may include:

Advocacy for gender-responsive climate policies.
Monitoring and influencing Women, Peace and Security (WPS) commitments.
Engagement with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Policy dialogue with governments and institutions.
Strengthening women’s participation in climate governance.

The maximum grant available under this funding stream is:

Up to €100,000 per country.

Grassroots Initiatives Grants (Lot 2)

The Grassroots Initiatives Grants support community-level projects that improve the resilience of women and communities facing climate and conflict-related challenges.

Projects should focus on:

Climate adaptation.
Community resilience.
Gender-transformative solutions.
Women’s empowerment.
Environmental peacebuilding.
Inclusive participation in local decision-making.

The maximum grant available under this funding stream is:

Up to €85,000 per country.

Geographic Focus Areas

The programme supports organisations working in:

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Rwanda.
Uganda.

For Grassroots Initiatives:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Projects must be implemented in:

North Kivu Province.
South Kivu Province.

Rwanda and Uganda

Projects may focus on:

Conflict-affected regions.

Combined Funding Opportunity

Applicants may apply for both Advocacy and Grassroots Initiatives funding through a combined proposal.

Maximum combined funding available:

Up to €185,000 per country.

Project Duration

Selected projects will run for:

23 months.

Implementation period:

January 2027 to November 2028.

Projects should demonstrate clear results, sustainability, and long-term benefits for women and communities.

Eligible Project Costs

REACT funding can support costs directly related to project implementation.

Eligible expenses include:

Activity Costs

Funding may support:

Community engagement activities.
Advocacy campaigns.
Training sessions.
Workshops.
Research and knowledge-sharing activities.

Personnel Costs

Eligible personnel expenses may include:

Project coordinators.
Technical experts.
Implementation staff.

Operational Costs

Funding may support:

Project-related operational activities.
Administrative expenses linked directly to implementation.

Equipment Costs

Applicants may include costs for equipment required to deliver project activities.

Administrative costs can be included within eligible budget categories but cannot be claimed as a separate percentage-based overhead.

Who Is Eligible?

The REACT programme is open to legally registered civil society organisations operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Eligible applicants include:

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Community-based organisations.
Women’s rights organisations.
Civil society associations.
Networks working on gender equality, climate justice, or peacebuilding.

Applicants must:

Be legally registered in their country of operation.
Operate independently from political parties and religious institutions.
Have documented financial management systems.
Demonstrate experience in women’s rights, gender equality, climate action, or peacebuilding.
Have experience working in conflict-affected or climate-vulnerable communities.

Preferred Applicants

The programme encourages applications from organisations that:

Are women-led.
Support persons with disabilities.
Work with indigenous communities.
Support marginalised and vulnerable groups.
Have strong community partnerships.
Demonstrate experience in cross-sector collaboration.

Organisations Not Eligible

The following entities cannot apply:

International NGOs.
Consultancy firms.
Consortiums.
Organisations applying only for sub-granting activities.
Political organisations.
Religious institutions.

Why REACT Matters

Climate change and conflict often affect women and vulnerable communities disproportionately. However, women are frequently excluded from environmental decision-making and peacebuilding processes.

REACT addresses these challenges by supporting organisations that:

Increase women’s participation in climate governance.
Strengthen community resilience.
Promote inclusive peacebuilding.
Support gender-responsive climate policies.
Develop locally owned environmental solutions.

The programme recognises that sustainable climate action requires the participation and leadership of women and affected communities.

Key Principles of REACT

Projects supported under REACT should follow several important principles.

Human Rights-Based Approach

Projects should:

Promote equality and dignity.
Protect women’s rights.
Address barriers limiting participation.
Encourage inclusive decision-making.

Intersectionality

Applicants should consider how different factors influence women’s experiences, including:

Gender.
Disability.
Age.
Ethnicity.
Social and economic conditions.

Conflict Sensitivity

Projects should demonstrate:

Understanding of local conflict situations.
Safe approaches to community engagement.
Strategies that prevent further tensions.

Knowledge Sharing and Learning

Successful projects should include:

Documentation of lessons learned.
Sharing of successful approaches.
Collaboration with other organisations.
Development of knowledge products.

How to Apply for the REACT Programme

The application process includes several stages.

Step 1: Submit an Initial Proposal

Applicants must submit a short proposal explaining:

Organisation background.
Proposed project idea.
Target communities.
Climate and gender challenges addressed.
Expected outcomes.

Step 2: Organisational Assessment

Shortlisted organisations will undergo an assessment process.

The assessment will review:

Financial management systems.
Organisational capacity.
Governance structures.
Previous project experience.

Step 3: Submit Full Proposal and Budget

Selected applicants will prepare a detailed proposal including:

Project activities.
Implementation timeline.
Detailed budget.
Expected results.
Monitoring and evaluation plan.
Risk management strategy.

Tips for a Strong REACT Application

Applicants can improve their proposals by:

Clearly linking gender equality, climate action, and peacebuilding.
Demonstrating knowledge of local challenges.
Explaining how women will participate in leadership roles.
Including measurable project outcomes.
Providing realistic budgets.
Highlighting partnerships and community involvement.
Showing experience working with vulnerable groups.

Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Submitting projects without a clear gender focus.
Failing to explain climate and conflict connections.
Providing incomplete budgets.
Ignoring community participation.
Applying without relevant organisational experience.
Designing projects without sustainability plans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the REACT programme?

The REACT programme is a funding initiative that supports women’s participation in environmental peacebuilding and climate change prevention in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Who implements the REACT programme?

The programme is implemented by The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation with support from the Austrian Development Agency.

How much funding is available?

Applicants can receive up to €100,000 for Advocacy Grants, €85,000 for Grassroots Initiatives Grants, or €185,000 for combined applications.

Which countries are eligible?

Eligible countries are:

Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda.
Uganda.

Who can apply for REACT funding?

Legally registered civil society organisations, NGOs, community-based organisations, associations, and networks with relevant experience can apply.

What is the project duration?

Projects will run for 23 months from January 2027 to November 2028.

Can international NGOs apply?

No. International NGOs, consultancy firms, consortiums, and sub-granting organisations are not eligible.

Conclusion

The REACT programme provides important funding support for organisations working to strengthen women’s leadership in climate action, environmental peacebuilding, and conflict prevention.

By supporting advocacy and grassroots initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, REACT aims to create stronger climate resilience, promote gender equality, and empower communities affected by climate change and conflict.

Civil society organisations with experience in women’s rights, climate justice, and peacebuilding are encouraged to apply and develop solutions that create lasting environmental and social impact.