UNDP Ghana, GEF Small Grants ProgrammeGrant

Up to $50,000 Ghana Conservation Grant

Oct 02, 2026 17:00:00 UTC

Opportunity type

Grant

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Ghana

Deadline

Oct 02, 2026 17:00:00 UTC

About this opportunity

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

Key dates:

Call opened 16 September 2026 (the UNDP news page says 18 September)
Virtual proposal workshop held Tuesday 22 September 2026
Applications close Friday 2 October 2026 at 17:00 GMT
Projects start 1 December 2026 and complete by November 2028

More information:

Proposals go by email to helpdesk.gh@undp.org using the matching Proposal Template, with the subject line "Projects in territories and areas conserved by Local communities (ICCAs) in Ghana" for regular grants, or "Monitoring and Evaluation Support" for the catalytic NGO track
Questions go to akosua.bireduaa.aninakwa@undp.org
Full call documents and proposal templates are linked from the UNDP Ghana page

Who can apply

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

AI Verification

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Good to know

+Run by UNDP Ghana through the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme
+Up to US$50,000 for a project lasting up to 24 months from December 2026
+Youth-led and women-led organisations are explicitly encouraged, and applying by email is free

Worth checking yourself

!Closes 2 October 2026 at 17:00 GMT, not midnight
!Only for organisations registered in Ghana with 3 years of conservation experience and 2 years in the project district
!Projects must be in named districts along the Black Volta Basin
!The grant cannot pay salaries, and matching funds strongly improve your score

Sources checked

OPopportunitiesforyouth.orgOfficialUNundp.orgApplyUNundp.orgApplyUNundp.orgApplyUNundp.orgApplyUNundp.orgApplyUNundp.orgApplyUNundp.orgApply

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