Global EbA Fund Medium-Size Grants 2026
By International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
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Quick Answer
Provides grants of up to USD 500,000 (₹4.17 crore) to organizations, including private sector companies, for innovative Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) projects globally, especially in ODA-eligible countries like India, focusing on scalability and policy impact.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Application deadline
- 16d — 16 Nov 2026
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Global EbA Fund's Medium-Size Grants Call for Proposals invites innovative and collaborative approaches to advance Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) worldwide. This initiative aims to address systemic barriers to scalability, foster global learning, and contribute to policy dialogue around climate, biodiversity, land, and development priorities. The program seeks to strengthen enabling environments and embed EbA into national frameworks, encouraging proposals that unify strategic climate, biodiversity, land, and development agendas.
The call features priority topics including Innovative Finance Solutions for EbA, which supports partnerships with private sector actors to unlock private and blended capital, emphasizing the evolution of EbA practices into profitable, scalable business models. Another key area is EbA for Human Development and Security, focusing on integrating EbA into national and international security frameworks to achieve sustainable development outcomes in fragile and conflict-affected regions. The third topic, Interlinkages for people-nature-climate-land synergies, encourages non-governmental leadership to scale approaches that bridge biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. Through these grants, the fund seeks to catalyze transformative shifts at a systemic level, influencing policy, addressing capacity gaps, and developing financing mechanisms to enhance resilience to climate change impacts globally.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Grants up to USD 500,000 (approximately ₹4.17 crore) are provided to support innovative Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) projects. Beyond financial assistance, the program offers significant opportunities for global learning and policy dialogue, enabling environments for EbA uptake, and strengthening technical and institutional capacities. Grantees benefit from improved networking with diverse stakeholders, contributing to the scaling of EbA implementation and embedding it into national frameworks for climate, biodiversity, land, and development priorities. The funding supports projects with catalytic potential, leading to transformative shifts at a systemic level through influencing policy, addressing capacity gaps, and developing financing mechanisms.
- Disbursement
- Tranched
- Duration
- 24 months
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
The selection process involves a robust evaluation of proposals based on specific criteria and weighting. Projects will be assessed on their Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach and its effectiveness in reducing vulnerability or enhancing resilience (40%), design and methodology including Gender & Social Inclusion (40%), innovative & catalytic contribution (20%), and sustainability beyond the project lifecycle (20%). Furthermore, the institutional arrangements and the project's budget, demonstrating strong cost-efficiency and alignment with expected outcomes, will be evaluated (20%). An emphasis is placed on projects demonstrating exceptionally high standards for innovation and scalability, and clear alignment with the Fund's strategic objectives and action pillars. Only successful applicants will be contacted after the selection process is complete.
Application Process
- 1
Download Documents
Download the Call for Proposals and Grants Procedures Manual to understand guidelines and criteria.
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Program templates & documents
Files the program publishes for applicants — download these and apply in the prescribed format.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to the Global EbA Fund? How can I access application documents?
All details on eligibility, process, and timeline can be found on the Medium-Size Grants webpage. The application template may be found on the Medium-size Grants webpage.
Who is eligible to apply? What sort of projects is eligible to apply?
Only organizations with established legal status are eligible. Grants provided by the Global EbA Fund are open only to organizations and cannot be applied toward funding for individual study. Please refer to the Grants Procedure Manual for information on criteria. Eligible projects must qualify as “Ecosystem-based Adaptation,” have catalytic and innovative potential, clearly identify and address climate impacts, and fall under a maximum of 1 Strategic Objective and a maximum of 2 Action Pillars of the Global EbA Fund. Projects must be Global, Thematic, or otherwise target only ODA-eligible countries.
When should I expect to hear back on the outcome of my application?
Only successful applicants will be contacted. Due to the high volume of applications, individual feedback on unsuccessful applications cannot be provided. Decision letters will be sent once the selection process has been completed.
In a multi-country arrangement for a Global EbA Fund grant, does the budget holder need to be in one of the countries where the project will work on?
The applicant organization, which will sign the agreement with the Global EbA Fund and is therefore the principal budget holder, does not have to be located in one of the identified beneficiary countries. However, in this case, they should have working experience in the project country(ies), EbA experience and/or expertise, and one or more local partners.
In what language can I submit my application?
Applications must be submitted in English. Official documents of the organization and register entries must be translated into English.
What is the Medium-size grant range?
Up to USD 500,000 for medium-size grants.
What is the timeline for the submission of applications to the Global EbA Fund?
Medium-size grants will accept applications beginning 12 October and will close on 16 November.
Can government partners be involved in the proposal?
No, in line with current IKI policies, the Fund will not grant directly to government partners. However, the Fund will provide grants to organizations working with national, sub-national and local governments to create an enabling environment for EbA and support the implementation of strategic partnerships. Thus, government partners/entities can be beneficiaries but should not receive any of the funding.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
