Funding Opportunity: Global EbA Fund Grant

About the Organization

Implemented by IUCN and UNEP, with funding from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the Global EbA Fund is a funding mechanism for catalytic, innovative, and inclusive projects that aim to create an enabling environment for the implementation of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change.

With the focus on EbA, a nature-based solution that harnesses biodiversity and ecosystem services to reduce vulnerability and build resilience of human communities to climate change, the Fund is strategically positioned to connect and contribute to the delivery of global agendas on the Climate Change – Biodiversity nexus.

About the Grant

In 2023 the Global EbA Fund introduced two funding tracks: a general EbA project proposals track and a thematic proposals track.

General EbA project proposals track – Catalytic and innovative projects that support the creation of an enabling environment for mainstreaming EbA.

Thematic EbA project  proposals track – Catalytic and innovative projects that support the creation of an enabling environment for mainstreaming EbA in within a specific thematic context.

All proposed projects requesting funding must clearly contribute to one of the Global EbA Fund Strategic Objectives as well as fall under a maximum of two of the three action pillars.

Projects must not focus primarily on field implementation in the scope of the proposal. Field interventions are allowed if clearly justified.

Overall, while the Fund’s strategic objectives define the overarching aim and direction for the projects – the “What” – the action pillars focus on “How” these can be reached within the scope of the Fund.

The Global EbA Fund supports catalytic projects that help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

Global EbA Fund grants range from USD 50,000 to USD 250,000, with an encouraged duration of up to 24 months.

Our grant selection criteria concern both the project and the wider context for its implementation. Global EbA Fund grants should be complementary to and add value to existing work, by filling a gap in an existing project, enhancing the impact of an investment in EbA, contributing to policy upscaling of EbA, and/or serving to develop a larger proposal to another funding mechanism.

In summary, we support projects that…

  • contribute to an enabling environment for the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change and ultimately aligns with the Friends of EBA EbA Qualification Criteria & Quality Standards.
  • result in catalytic impact and/or are innovative1, such as by piloting innovative approaches for EbA, removing barriers from upscaling EbA interventions at the policy or landscape levels, strategic and focused EbA policy mainstreaming, supporting innovative finance mechanisms for EbA, incentivising private sector investment in EbA, and supporting unlikely matches between partners; shifting business models.
  • add value to or upscale existing work. Projects should fill a gap in existing work, address a knowledge gap, contribute to policy upscaling, enhance the impact of an investment in EbA, and/or serve to develop a larger proposal for another funding mechanism. Projects should leverage existing knowledge, standards, partnerships, experiences, and best practices or fill gaps therein to facilitate the creation of enabling environment for increased uptake and/or impact of EbA. Global EbA Fund projects should not be standalone interventions. As such, projects must not focus primarily on field implementation in the scope of the proposal, though field implementation may be a component if clearly justified.
  • prioritise project sustainability and financial continuity. The project should have a clear plan for how results will be maintained and developed past the end of the funding period. This should include environmental, infrastructural, institutional, social and financial sustainability considerations as applicable. If follow-up(s) to the proposed project will require a budget and/or time frame outside of that offered by the Fund – for instance, if the project will develop a larger project proposal to a different funding mechanism – the applicant should clearly articulate anticipated funding options, including any market-based, private sector, or public sector funding opportunities. Exit strategy for the project is a requirement.

How to Apply

We are happy to announce the 6th cut-off date that is set for 15 September 2023.

Applications must be submitted in English. Official documents of the organisation and register entries must be translated into English.

All application documents must be submitted via email to Submit.EbAFund@iucn.org. Applicants must also fill out the submission form.

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