Call for Proposals: SGP CSO Innovation Challenge Grant Program

The SGP CSO Innovation Challenge Program supports civil society organizations with proven environmental solutions that are ready to scale or replicate successful approaches across eligible countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific and Oceania. Selected organizations can receive grants of up to US$300,000, along with technical, institutional, and capacity-building support to expand environmental impact.

What Is the SGP CSO Innovation Challenge Program?

The SGP CSO Innovation Challenge Program is designed to identify and support civil society organizations that have already developed effective environmental solutions and are ready to take those solutions to a larger scale.

The program combines grant funding with capacity development and technical support to help organizations:

• Scale successful environmental projects.
• Replicate proven solutions in new communities or countries.
• Strengthen organizational and technical capacity.
• Develop partnerships.
• Improve access to additional financing.
• Share knowledge and lessons with other organizations.
• Increase measurable environmental and community benefits.

The program particularly values solutions that combine environmental protection with social inclusion, innovation, partnerships, and community empowerment.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Selected grantees can receive up to:

US$300,000 per project

Projects can run for a maximum of 24 months.

All proposed activities and expected results must be completed within the approved grant period.

In addition to financial support, selected finalists can receive programmatic and institutional assistance designed to improve their ability to scale their work and attract additional funding or investment.

What Are the Priority Areas?

Applicants must align their projects with one of five priority environmental areas.

Threatened Ecosystems and Species

Projects may focus on conserving threatened ecosystems, protecting endangered species, improving community-based conservation, and strengthening sustainable management of natural resources.

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

This area supports solutions that promote environmentally sustainable agriculture, food security, resilient farming systems, and improved natural resource management.

Low-Carbon Energy Access

Projects can address access to clean and low-carbon energy while supporting sustainable livelihoods and reducing environmental impacts.

Chemicals and Waste

This priority area covers innovative approaches to waste management, pollution reduction, chemicals management, recycling, and circular or environmentally sustainable production systems.

Sustainable Urban Solutions

Projects may address environmental challenges associated with urban development, including sustainable resource use, climate resilience, pollution reduction, and community-based urban solutions.

What Does the Program Mean by Innovation?

Innovation is not limited to new technology.

The program can support innovative approaches involving:

• Technology.
• Financing mechanisms.
• Business models.
• Policy approaches.
• Community participation.
• Institutional systems.
• Partnerships.
• New approaches to scaling or replication.

Applicants should demonstrate what is innovative about their existing solution and explain why the approach has potential to work at a larger scale or in another context.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants are civil society organizations (CSOs) that meet the program requirements and are directly responsible for implementing the proposed project.

Eligible CSOs may be:

• Local organizations.
• National organizations.
• Regional organizations.
• International civil society organizations.

Organizations must be legally authorized to receive charitable contributions and must be responsible for implementing the proposed activities.

Projects must be implemented in GEF SGP-eligible recipient countries within the program’s eligible regions:

• Africa.
• Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Asia-Pacific and Oceania.

Are Governments Eligible?

Governments may participate in project activities and partnerships, but governments cannot receive the grant funding directly.

The civil society organization must remain the eligible grant recipient and directly responsible for implementation.

What Makes a Project a Strong Fit?

The program is intended for organizations that already have a proven environmental solution, rather than projects that are still at the very early idea stage.

A strong proposal should demonstrate:

• Evidence of previous results.
• Measurable environmental benefits.
• A credible scale-up or replication model.
• Strong community participation.
• Potential for broader impact.
• Partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
• Organizational capacity to implement the project.
• A clear pathway to sustainability.
• Potential to mobilize additional resources.

The proposal should clearly explain what has already worked, why it worked, and how the solution can produce greater impact.

Focus on Women, Youth and Indigenous Peoples

The program strongly encourages projects involving:

• Youth.
• Women.
• Indigenous Peoples.
• Local communities.
• Other marginalized or underserved groups.

Applicants should explain how these groups will participate in project design, implementation, decision-making, or benefit-sharing.

Projects that combine environmental outcomes with meaningful social inclusion can demonstrate stronger alignment with the program’s objectives.

Why This Program Matters

Many environmental solutions demonstrate success at a local level but struggle to reach larger populations because organizations lack financing, technical expertise, partnerships, or institutional capacity.

The SGP CSO Innovation Challenge Program addresses this scaling gap.

The program can help proven solutions move from successful local implementation to broader replication and impact by combining financial resources with capacity development, technical assistance, knowledge exchange, and partnership building.

Co-Financing and Additional Resources

Co-financing is not mandatory, but applicants are encouraged to demonstrate existing or potential co-financing commitments.

Applicants should also show how the project could mobilize additional resources after or during the grant period.

This could include:

• Additional donor funding.
• Government partnerships.
• Private-sector investment.
• Philanthropic support.
• Community contributions.
• Other financing mechanisms.

A credible resource-mobilization strategy can strengthen the case for long-term sustainability.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Country Eligibility

Check that the proposed project will be implemented in a country eligible for the GEF Small Grants Programme within one of the three participating regions.

Step 2: Identify the Environmental Priority

Select one of the five priority areas:

1. Threatened ecosystems and species.
2. Sustainable agriculture and food security.
3. Low-carbon energy access.
4. Chemicals and waste.
5. Sustainable urban solutions.

Step 3: Demonstrate Existing Results

Explain the environmental solution that the organization has already developed or implemented.

Provide evidence showing:

• What problem was addressed.
• What solution was tested.
• Where it was implemented.
• What results were achieved.
• Why the approach is suitable for scaling or replication.

Step 4: Develop the Scale-Up Strategy

Explain exactly how the project will expand the solution.

This should cover:

• Target communities.
• Geographic expansion.
• Implementation approach.
• Partnerships.
• Required resources.
• Expected environmental results.
• Risks and mitigation measures.

Step 5: Build an Inclusive Partnership Model

Identify relevant communities and partners, including women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities where appropriate.

Explain how stakeholders will participate and benefit.

Step 6: Prepare the Budget

Develop a realistic budget of up to US$300,000 and ensure that proposed activities can be completed within the maximum 24-month project period.

Step 7: Explain Long-Term Sustainability

Show how the solution can continue beyond the grant.

Applicants should describe potential financing, institutional partnerships, business models, policy adoption, or other mechanisms that can sustain the project.

Step 8: Submit the Proposal

Submit the required application materials according to the program’s application procedures and ensure that the proposal demonstrates eligibility, proven impact, innovation, scalability, and environmental benefits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Presenting an untested idea without evidence of results.
• Failing to explain why the solution can be scaled.
• Providing environmental claims without measurable evidence.
• Ignoring local communities.
• Treating inclusion of women, youth, or Indigenous Peoples as an afterthought.
• Proposing activities outside the eligible geographic regions.
• Asking governments to receive grant funding directly.
• Providing an unrealistic 24-month workplan.
• Failing to explain long-term sustainability.
• Submitting a project that does not clearly fit one of the five priority areas.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

A competitive proposal should make a clear connection between proven results, innovation, scale, environmental impact, and sustainability.

Applicants should:

• Quantify previous project results where possible.
• Explain why the existing model is ready for replication.
• Define clear environmental indicators.
• Identify the communities that will benefit.
• Demonstrate meaningful partnerships.
• Include women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, or local communities where relevant.
• Provide a practical scale-up plan.
• Explain how knowledge will be shared.
• Demonstrate organizational capacity.
• Identify future financing opportunities.
• Show how benefits will continue after the grant ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding can an organization receive?

The program provides grants of up to US$300,000 per grantee. Projects can last for a maximum of 24 months.

What types of organizations can apply?

Eligible applicants are local, national, regional, or international civil society organizations that are authorized to receive charitable contributions and are directly responsible for project implementation.

Do applicants need an existing successful project?

Yes. The program is designed for organizations with proven environmental solutions that are ready to scale or replicate their impact.

What are the five priority areas?

The five priority areas are threatened ecosystems and species; sustainable agriculture and food security; low-carbon energy access; chemicals and waste; and sustainable urban solutions.

Is co-financing required?

No. Co-funding is not required, but applicants are encouraged to demonstrate co-financing commitments and credible plans to mobilize additional resources.

Can government organizations receive the grant?

No. Governments can participate in project activities and partnerships, but they are not eligible to receive the grant directly.

Can projects involving women, youth, and Indigenous communities apply?

Yes. The program strongly encourages proposals that involve youth, women, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, particularly where these groups have meaningful roles in project design, implementation, and decision-making.

Conclusion

The SGP CSO Innovation Challenge Program provides an opportunity for civil society organizations to take proven environmental solutions to a larger scale. With grants of up to US$300,000, projects can receive both financial resources and capacity-building support to expand conservation, sustainable agriculture, clean energy, waste management, and sustainable urban solutions.

The strongest applications will demonstrate proven results, genuine innovation, measurable environmental benefits, strong community participation, a credible scale-up strategy, and long-term sustainability. Organizations should also clearly explain how their solution can be replicated across eligible communities and how partnerships and additional resources will help sustain its impact.