Up to $50,000 Ghana Conservation Grant

UNDP Ghana, through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, is funding community-led conservation under the second phase of ICCA-GSI, a global initiative backing territories and areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Ghanaian NGOs, civil society organisations and community-based groups can apply for up to US$50,000 for projects of up to 24 months starting December 2026, focused on communities along the Black Volta Basin.

What you get:

• A grant of up to US$50,000 for a project lasting up to 24 months from 1 December 2026
• Funds paid in three tranches: 50 percent on signing, 40 percent after verified progress and financial reports, 10 percent on completion
• The budget can cover monitoring, communication and project administration, but not salaries or payroll costs

What you'll do:

• Deliver a community-led project in one of five areas: conservation of threatened ecosystems and species; sustainable agriculture, fisheries and food security; low-carbon energy access; chemicals and waste management coalitions; or sustainable urban solutions
• Work in the priority landscapes: Banda district (Bono), Bole, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Central Gonja (Savannah), and Wa West (Upper West)
• Report progress and finances to the SGP National Coordinator under strict monitoring and timelines
• A separate track in the same call funds one catalytic NGO to run monitoring and evaluation across the ICCA-GSI projects nationwide

• A non-profit or civil society organisation locally registered and operating in Ghana, with a registration certificate attached (Registrar General's Department and Social Welfare certificates), or a community group, community-based organisation or social enterprise recognised by the District Assembly and Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority
• At least 3 years of experience in environmental conservation, natural resource management or sustainable development
• At least 2 years of presence or similar work in the proposed project area or district
• The applicant must develop and implement the project directly, not act as an intermediary
• Must hold a bank account
• Proposals must score at least 70 of 100 on technical approach (50), institutional capacity (25) and finance and budgeting (25), which includes raising matching funds
• Co-financing, cash or in-kind, equal to or more than the grant is strongly encouraged