Deadline: 06-Aug-2026
The Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund Call for Proposals 2026/2027 supports innovative, partnership-driven projects that advance the Sustainable Development Goals and benefit underserved communities in Malaysia. The call has a total budget of USD 4.4 million, with project grants ranging from USD 100,000 to USD 500,000 for initiatives lasting 12 to 24 months.
Overview
The Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund is a partnership between the United Nations in Malaysia and Yayasan Matlamat Pembangunan Mampan Malaysia, also known as Yayasan MySDG.
The Fund is supported by the Ministry of Finance and follows the principle of Leave No One Behind.
The 2026/2027 Call for Proposals seeks scalable, people-centred interventions that address persistent vulnerabilities, strengthen local capacity, improve access to essential services, and promote inclusive development.
Key Details
- Fund: Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund
- Call: 2026/2027 Call for Proposals
- Country: Malaysia
- Total budget: USD 4.4 million
- Approximate value: MYR 17.6 million
- Project size: USD 100,000–USD 500,000
- Project duration: 12–24 months
- Eligible applicants: Malaysia-based non-profit legal entities and eligible UN agencies
- Main focus: SDGs, inclusion, partnerships, and vulnerable communities
Thematic Focus Areas
The call supports projects across four broad SDG themes.
1. People and Prosperity
This theme covers:
- Inclusive health
- Prevention and well-being
- Education
- Skills development
- Livelihood pathways
- Economic inclusion
2. Planet
This theme covers:
- Climate action
- Environment
- Human resilience
- Community adaptation
- Sustainable local development
3. Peace and Partnership
This theme covers:
- Social cohesion
- SDG localization
- Systems strengthening
- Local partnerships
- Inclusive governance
Priority Beneficiaries
The Fund prioritizes interventions that benefit communities most at risk of being left behind.
Priority groups include:
- Asylum seekers
- Refugees
- Stateless persons
- Undocumented persons
- Indigenous peoples
- Migrants
- Persons with disabilities
- Other underserved groups
Priority geographic areas include:
- Sabah
- Sarawak
- Kelantan
- Terengganu
- Kedah
- Perlis
Key Concepts Explained
What is the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund?
The Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund supports initiatives that help Malaysia advance the Sustainable Development Goals through partnerships, innovation, and inclusive development.
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals are global goals adopted by the United Nations to address poverty, inequality, health, education, climate change, peace, justice, and sustainable development.
What Does Leave No One Behind Mean?
Leave No One Behind means prioritizing people and communities who face exclusion, discrimination, poverty, limited services, or vulnerability.
What is SDG Localization?
SDG localization means adapting the Sustainable Development Goals to local needs, communities, institutions, and development priorities.
What is a Scalable Intervention?
A scalable intervention is a project or solution that can grow, expand, or be replicated in other communities or regions after successful implementation.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include Malaysia-based organizations registered as independent legal entities.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Civil society organizations
- Non-governmental organizations
- Non-profit organizations
- Academic institutions
- Think-tanks
UN agencies that are members of the Malaysia UN Country Team and recognized as participating organizations in the Fund may also apply through joint programmes.
What the Fund Supports
The call supports projects that:
- Deliver measurable SDG impact
- Improve outcomes for vulnerable communities
- Strengthen local capacity
- Improve access to essential services
- Promote inclusive and equitable development
- Build strong partnerships
- Support innovation
- Demonstrate governance and compliance readiness
Funding Amount and Duration
Projects must request between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000.
Projects must run for at least 12 months and no longer than 24 months.
The total available funding under this call is USD 4.4 million, approximately MYR 17.6 million.
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Check that the applicant is a Malaysia-based non-profit organization, academic institution, think-tank, or eligible UN participating organization.
Step 2: Select the Thematic Area
Choose the theme that best matches the project: People and Prosperity, Planet, or Peace and Partnership.
Step 3: Identify Priority Beneficiaries
Clearly define which underserved or vulnerable communities the project will support.
Step 4: Design a Scalable Intervention
Develop a project that can deliver measurable outcomes and has potential to grow or be replicated.
Step 5: Build Strong Partnerships
Show how the project will work with local actors, communities, institutions, or other partners.
Step 6: Prepare the Budget and Timeline
Ensure the budget is between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000 and the project duration is 12–24 months.
Step 7: Demonstrate Governance Readiness
Include evidence of compliance systems, financial management capacity, and implementation readiness.
Step 8: Submit the Proposal
Submit the proposal according to the Trust Fund’s application requirements.
Why It Matters
The Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund helps address development gaps affecting vulnerable communities in Malaysia.
It matters because it supports:
- Inclusive health and well-being
- Education and livelihood pathways
- Climate and environmental resilience
- Social cohesion
- SDG localization
- Stronger local systems
- Services for underserved communities
- Partnerships for sustainable development
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting projects outside the SDG themes
- Applying without Malaysia-based legal registration, unless eligible as a UN participating organization
- Proposing projects below USD 100,000 or above USD 500,000
- Submitting projects shorter than 12 months or longer than 24 months
- Failing to identify priority beneficiaries
- Providing weak evidence of measurable impact
- Ignoring partnerships and local ownership
- Overlooking governance and compliance requirements
- Submitting a proposal that does not reflect Leave No One Behind principles
Tips for a Strong Proposal
Applicants should:
- Clearly connect the project to specific SDG outcomes.
- Prioritize underserved and vulnerable communities.
- Show measurable results and realistic indicators.
- Demonstrate strong partnerships.
- Explain how the project can scale or be replicated.
- Include local context and community participation.
- Present a realistic budget.
- Show strong governance, compliance, and financial readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund Call for Proposals 2026/2027?
It is a funding call supporting innovative, partnership-driven projects that advance the Sustainable Development Goals and improve outcomes for underserved communities in Malaysia.
How much funding is available?
The total budget is USD 4.4 million, approximately MYR 17.6 million.
What is the project funding range?
Projects may request between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000.
How long should projects last?
Projects must run for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 24 months.
Who can apply?
Malaysia-based civil society organizations, NGOs, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and think-tanks registered as independent legal entities may apply. Eligible UN agencies may apply through joint programmes.
Which communities are prioritized?
Priority groups include asylum seekers, refugees, stateless and undocumented persons, Indigenous peoples, migrants, persons with disabilities, and other underserved groups.
Which regions are prioritized?
The Fund prioritizes projects benefiting communities in Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis.
Conclusion
The Malaysia-UN SDG Trust Fund Call for Proposals 2026/2027 supports scalable, inclusive, and partnership-based projects that advance sustainable development in Malaysia. With funding from USD 100,000 to USD 500,000, the call enables organizations to address persistent vulnerabilities, strengthen local systems, and improve outcomes for communities most at risk of being left behind.
For more information, visit United Nations in Malaysia.