The IKI Small Grants scheme for small scale climate and biodiversity projects has opened for applications for the first time, with a submission window of 5 February to 5 March 2020.

The implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) requires that the capacities of smaller actors in developing and emerging countries are substantially strengthened at the local and regional level. Small organisations provide key impetus for climate action and, in many cases, their work reaches regions that are not a focus of national government measures.

IKI Small Grants was set up by the German Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) in response to the fact that the IKI’s current structure primarily funds large projects and programmes. The new scheme focuses on supporting small organisations and initiatives (small according to their annual budget) in developing and emerging countries. The programme’s goal is to select, by 2025, more than 100 "small" projects through international calls for proposals which will be awarded a grant of up to 100,000 euros each. GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) is responsible for the new IKI Small Grants and for its coordination. The funds are provided by the International Climate Initiative.

Applications can be submitted via the IKI Small Grants website between 5 February 2020 and 5 March 2020. There you will also find further information about the call and the application guidelines.