Top UAE Philanthropies offering Grants to NGOs around the world

(February 2021)

Arab Philanthropies are known for their major grant-giving in support of societies facing numerous societal challenges globally. With their grant-making opportunities, these pioneer foundations provide a unique platform to support and initiate innovative projects to create a sustainable impact in underprivileged people’s lives. These philanthropies also partner with various leading organizations promoting education, improving the community’s access to clean water, Youth development by job creation, and many more.

Therefore, if you seek funds, explore this article, which will give insight into the three prominent UAE Philanthropies offering financial support to NGOs and Individuals around the world.

Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

Submissions are open until 28th February 2021.

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is an innovative philanthropy proving small grants to boots-on-the-ground, get-your-hands-dirty, in-the-field species conservation projects for the world’s most threatened species.

Through innovative micro-financing, the MBZ Fund empowers conservationists to fight the extinction crisis instead of bureaucracy and red-tape. To date the Fund has awarded over 2000 grants to a diverse range of species across the world.

The Fund’s reach is truly global, and its species interest is non-discriminatory. It is open to applications for funding support from conservationists based in all parts of the world, and will potentially support projects focused on any and all kinds of plant, animal and fungus species, subject to the approval of an independent evaluation committee.

In addition, the Fund will recognize leaders in the field of species conservation and scientific research to ensure their important work is given the attention it deserves and to elevate the importance of species in global conservation discourse.

* The MBZ Species Conservation Fund will TEMPORARILY change the primary focus of its small grants for the next two rounds of grant giving. Grants will now be awarded to support the core operational costs of local, grassroots, species conservation organisations, which are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result face personnel or financial constraints in conducting species conservation work in 2021. The grant size will remain a maximum of $25,000.

The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is a philanthropic endowment established to do the following:

• Provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives
• Recognize leaders in the field of species conservation; and
• Elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate.

Funding Information

Grants will be awarded based on demonstrated need to independent, local NGOs and are for maximum of $25,000.

Currency: Budgets must be submitted in US Dollars.

Eligibility Criteria

• Anyone directly involved in species conservation can apply to the Fund for a grant.
• Depending on the type of conservation project and the work involved, the Fund will consider covering salary expenses or travel costs for a specific project. This would usually be for support staff in developing countries. However this can only be as part of the overall grant as officially applied for. The Fund will not consider applications for grants which only cover salary or travel expenses.
• In situ conservation: Generally the Fund is primarily interested in providing support to in situ conservation work in the field (such as survey work and data gathering, direct action, recovery management, training and the like), focusing on the species in its natural habitat. However, the importance of ex situ work (genetic analysis, workshops, ex situ populations etc) is also recognised, and so a few grants may be given to projects which focus on ex situ conservation work in certain circumstances.
• Core costs: For this temporary period up to mid-2021 the Fund will contribute to the core running costs of an organisation or administrative overheads.
• Species: Generally the Fund would prefer to support projects which focus on a single species, but it also recognises that in some geographic and taxonomic circumstances it makes more sense to group a number of species.
• Language: Applications must be submitted in English.

For more information, visit here.

UAE Water Aid Foundation: USD1 million Global Award to find Sustainable Solutions to Water Scarcity

Submissions are open until 30 April 2021.

Suqia cordially invites all corporations, research centers, institutions, innovators and youth from around the world, whose novel technologies provide solutions to the challenges of water scarcity, to apply for the 3rd cycle of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award supports research and development of new and innovative technologies that produce, distribute, store, monitor, desalinate and purify water using renewable energy to support the global position of the UAE in developing solutions for challenges that are faced by poverty– and disaster-stricken communities worldwide.

The biennial Award encourages leading corporations, research centres, institutions, the youth and innovators from across the world to compete in finding sustainable and innovative solutions to the problem of water scarcity. Until today and in two cycles, they awarded bright minds from around the world for their pioneering in water desalination and purification systems to overcome the world’s water crisis.

Categories

The award categories are:

1. Innovative Projects Award: Small Project Awards | Large Project Award
   • The project submitted by the applicant must be an innovative and commercialized or a ready-to-be- commercialised (e.g. past pilot stage) solution with measurable results in operation for at least 3 months (minimum requirement) prior to the closing date of the application window. The project can consist of a single system or a pool of multiple systems that have been deployed by the same organisation in different locations.
   • The project should rely on 100% use of renewable energy to produce safe drinking water in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. It should demonstrate innovation in production capacity, overcoming technical limitations, disinfection systems, operation and maintenance requirements, while also improving efficiency and cost effectiveness. The project benefits should meet the WHO requirements for non-emergency water availability, that is, provide a minimum of 30 lit/person/day* to that intended recipients.
     • Intended Applicants: Governmental, semi-governmental, private and non-governmental organisations.
   • Small Project Award: In addition to the category description, the project must have a capital expenditure (CAPEX investment not including operational expenses) of USD 2.5 million or below and/or benefit 25,000 persons or less.
   • Prize Money and Distribution: Prize money will be awarded to the institution/entity directly (not the project team). The prize in this category will be awarded as follows:
     • Total Prize Value is $240,000 and is distributed as follows:
     • 1st Place: $120,000;
     • 2nd Place: $72,000;
     • 3rd Place: $48,000.
   • Large Project Award: In addition to the category description, the project must have a capital expenditure (CAPEX investment not including operational expenses) over USD 2.5 million and/or benefit more than 25,000 persons.
   • Prize Money and Distribution: Prize money will be awarded to the institution/entity directly (not the project team). The prize in this category will be awarded as follows:
     • Total Prize Value is $300,000 and is distributed as follows:
     • 1st Place: $150,000;
     • 2nd Place: $90,000;
     • 3rd Place: $60,000.
2. Innovative Research and Development Award – National Institutions Award | International Institutions Award
   • The project submitted by the applicant must be an innovative and prototyped, piloted or deployed solution, with the ability to demonstrate measurable results. The project must be developed and executed by the applicant with the aim of extracting safe drinking water from natural sources in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
   • The project should be able to operate exclusively on renewable energy once deployed in the field without affecting its economic viability. The project should preferably be a solution that is easily installed, operated and maintained without the need for highly specialised skills and tools and should be able to operate reliably in different and harsh ambient conditions, using low cost and maintenance friendly technology.
     • Intended Applicants: Individuals or teams from non-profit, educational and academic institutions and research centres that are independent or annexed to governmental or semi-governmental organisations.
   • National Institutions Award: In addition to the category description, the application must be submitted by the project team and endorsed by the research / educational / corporate / non-profit institution within the UAE that is sponsoring the project.
   • Prize Money and Distribution: Prize money will be awarded to the sponsoring institution/entity directly (not the project team). A prize distribution agreement between the sponsoring institution and the project shall be provided and submitted to the Applications Team. The sponsoring institution shall be responsible for further distribution of the prize as per the prize distribution agreement.
     • Total prize value is $200,000 and is distributed as follows:
     • 1st Place: $100,000;
     • 2nd Place: $60,000;
     • 3rd Place: $40,000.
   • International Institutions Award: In addition to the category description, the application must be submitted by the project team and endorsed by the research / educational/ corporate / non-profit institution outside the UAE that is sponsoring the project.
   • Prize Money and Distribution: Prize money will be awarded to the sponsoring institution/entity directly (not the project team). A prize distribution agreement between the sponsoring institution and the project shall be provided and submitted to the Applications Team. The sponsoring institution shall be responsible for further distribution of the prize as per the prize distribution agreement.
     • Total prize value is $200,000 and is distributed as follows:
     • 1st Place: $100,000;
     • 2nd Place: $60,000;
     • 3rd Place: $40,000.
3. Innovative Individual Award –  Youth Award | Distinguished Researcher Award
   • The individual applying to this category should have developed one or more contributions to enable innovative technological solutions to address water scarcity, which can use renewable energy to produce safe drinking water in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
   • The applicant should submit an overview of their research and implementation contributions towards the aims of the award, along with all relevant supporting documents (scientific publications, patents, prototype photos and descriptions etc.)
     • Intended Applicants: Individual applicants.
   • Youth Award: In addition to the category description, the applicant must be between the ages of 15 and 35, and have demonstrated the deployment of a project developing and enabling renewable energy powered water solutions of proven environmental, scientific, social or technological significance, and demonstrated relevance to water issue(s) locally or globally.
   • Prize Money and Distribution: Prize money will be awarded to the individual applicant.
     • Prize Value: $20,000 (1 winner).
   • Distinguished Researcher Award: In addition to the category description, the applicant shall have attained outstanding achievements of lasting significance for sustainable use and protection of the world’s water resources, with at least 10 years of contribution to the water industry or academia research, with a focus on renewable energy powered water innovation demonstrated by their scientific publication track record (e.g. by number of citations, h-index, journal impact factor and awards) and/or project deployment.
   • Prize Money and Distribution: Prize money will be awarded to the individual applicant.
     • Prize Value: $20,000 (1 winner).
4. Innovative Crises Solutions Award
   • The applicant’s project must be an innovative system or management system to offer emergency relief by providing clean and safe drinking water in communities that have been affected by internationally declared crises, such as natural disasters, or catastrophic events.
   • The project can consist of a single system or a poSuqia cordially invites all corporations, research centers, institutions, innovators and youth from around the world, whose novel technologies provide solutions to the challenges of water scarcity, to apply for the 3rd cycle of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award.

Eligibility Criteria

• The award is open internationally to all innovators, students, companies, and research institutions who have developed renewable energy powered technologies that can produce clean drinking water in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

For more information, visit here.

Zayed Sustainability Prize: $3 Million fund for Empowering Innovations in Health, Food, Energy, Water

Submissions are open until 6th May 2021.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering global award for rewarding impact, innovation, and inspiration, has officially announced that the 2022 edition is now open for submissions.

The Prize fund comes from the Abu Dhabi Government as a way to honour and continue the sustainability and humanitarian legacy of the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Established in 2008, the Prize has grown from an ambitious, UAE leadership-driven initiative that sought to encourage global action on the development of renewable energy solutions, into one of the most significant and globally-renowned awards for affecting positive human and sustainable impact.

Categories

The Zayed Sustainability Prize awards 5 categories:

• Health: This category recognises organisations that can demonstrate innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of health that include, but are not limited to:
  • Ensuring access to essential and affordable healthcare
  • Ensuring access to maternal and new-born healthcare
  • Ending epidemics (AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis etc.)
  • Preventing and treating water-borne, communicable and non-communicable diseases
  • Reducing illness from pollution, hazardous chemicals and contamination
• Food: This category recognises organisations that can demonstrate innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of food that include, but are not limited to:
  • Decreasing hunger and malnutrition
  • Increasing agricultural or other food processing productivity
  • Enhancing sustainable food production
• Energy: This category recognises organisations that can demonstrate innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of energy that include, but are not limited to:
  • Ensuring access to affordable and reliable clean energy
  • Increasing production of clean energy
  • Improving energy efficiency
  • Introducing new forms of clean energy or other technology innovations
• Water: This category recognises organisations that can demonstrate innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability solutions in the areas of water that include, but are not limited to:
  • Ensuring access to safe and affordable drinking water
  • Ensuring access to sanitation and hygiene
  • Increasing water use efficiency
  • Improving water quality
• Global High Schools
  • The Global High Schools category recognises high schools or secondary schools, from six global geographic regions that propose innovative, impactful and inspirational sustainability projects in the areas of health, food, energy and/or water. The proposed project could be in one area (e.g. water) or a combination of areas (e.g. energy, water, food, and health). The application must be submitted by the students and supported by the school management. The projects must:
    • demonstrate how they meet the three criteria: impact, innovation, inspiration; as explained in the Evaluation Criteria section of this page;
    • be able to be implemented and operational within one to two years;
    • benefit the school community and/or their local/regional community for several years
  • In each of the following six global regions:
    • The Americas
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
    • Middle East & North Africa
    • Europe & Central Asia
    • South Asia
    • East Asia & Pacific

Prize Information

The total prize fund is USD 3 million, distributed as follows:

• Health – $600,000
• Food – $600,000
• Energy – $600,000
• Water – $600,000
• Global High Schools – $600,000 – (divided amongst 6 Schools, awarding each up to US$100,000)

Eligibility Criteria

The Zayed Sustainability Prize is open to all entrants other than:

• Board members and employees of Masdar; and
• Anyone who has been involved in organising, promoting or judging the Prize.
• Masdar, the Selection Committee and the Jury reserve the right and have full discretion to reject or not select any submission for any reason that may, in the sole opinion of the Selection Committee, the Jury or Masdar, damage the reputation of the Prize, the UAE, Abu Dhabi or Masdar, or bring the Prize, the UAE, Abu Dhabi or Masdar into disrepute. The decision of the Selection Committee, the Jury or Masdar shall be final and no follow up correspondence shall be replied to.

Evaluation Process

The evaluation of each submission to the Prize consists of a robust, three-tier process.

1. First Stage: A reputed international research and analysis consultancy firm conducts due diligence on all our submissions received. These independent consultants ensure that each entry meets the submission standards and then scores the entries against the criteria set out for the Zayed Sustainability Prize.
2. Second Stage: A Selection Committee, sub-divided per category by the member’s technical specialty and/or knowledge, evaluates and scores the shortlisted candidates. They then pass on the list of finalists for the final review stage.
3. Third Stage: The Jury meets, in person, to deliberate the entries and elect the winner in each category. The final decision must be unanimous. The Jury members are typically comprised of former world leaders, UAE government ministers, leading international business people and, occasionally, high profile international celebrities.

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for the Prize, the following steps will guide you through the submission process.

Preparation: Before starting your application, it is advisable that you identify an award category most suited to your organisation. Reading the Frequently Asked Questions can offer more details to help you get started.

Creating an Account

• The submission portal may be accessed here.
• To participate in the Zayed Sustainability Prize, you will need to create an account using your email address. After an account is created, you will receive an email to validate your email account. You must verify your email address before submitting your entry.
• You may also create an account using your Facebook, Twitter or Google account.

Completing the Online Application Form

• After you have created an account and verified your email address, please login to access the application form.
• To ease completion of the application, the form is divided into sections. You must complete ‘Account Information’ and ‘Category’ sections before proceeding.
• Complete the questions in the order presented.

Submitting Your Entry

• You will be guided through a series of questions and there will be opportunities to attach documents to support your submission. Please ensure you read carefully which file formats and file sizes are accepted. Non-supporting files or sizes cannot be uploaded, nor can they be sent separately (i.e. emailed) outside of the online portal’s upload options.
• You are not required to complete your application in one sitting. For your convenience, you may save your progress at any stage and return to complete it later (as long as this falls within the submissions phase).

Please note: We will not be able to process your entry until you have provided all the required information and it is officially submitted via the online portal. Incomplete entries or registrations not converted into full submissions will not be counted as an official entry.

Acknowledging Your Entry

• In acknowledgement of your submission, you should receive a confirmation email of its receipt. This will be in the form of a “no reply” email and no further correspondence will be entered into, unless the Prize administration team contacts you directly.

For more information, visit here.