The Global EbA Fund Grants 2026 provide an important funding opportunity for organisations working to address climate change, strengthen ecosystem resilience and advance Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in vulnerable countries.

For the 2026 funding cycle, the Global EbA Fund is inviting organisations to submit innovative and catalytic proposals designed to overcome systemic barriers that prevent Ecosystem-based Adaptation from being adopted, scaled and mainstreamed. The calls place particular emphasis on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), where climate vulnerability is often high while institutional, technical and financial capacity remains constrained.

The 2026 calls provide two grant tracks: Small-Size Grants of up to US$250,000 and Medium-Size Grants of up to US$500,000. Both tracks support projects of up to 24 months and seek initiatives capable of creating lasting enabling conditions for climate adaptation rather than simply financing isolated conservation activities.

What Is the Global EbA Fund?

The Global EbA Fund is a funding mechanism focused on creating an enabling environment for the implementation and scaling of Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation uses the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems to help people and communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. Rather than treating climate adaptation solely as an infrastructure or technological challenge, EbA recognises the important role that healthy ecosystems can play in reducing climate vulnerability.

The Fund supports innovative initiatives that address the systemic obstacles preventing EbA from being effectively adopted and expanded. These obstacles can include gaps in:

• Climate and environmental data
• Scientific evidence
• Technical capacity
• Institutional capacity
• Governance
• Policy implementation
• Financing
• Investment readiness
• Knowledge sharing
• Awareness
• Partnerships and collaboration

According to the information provided, the Fund has been operational since 2020 and, as of June 2026, had supported 75 projects across 41 countries, with 29 projects completed and 46 at various stages of implementation.

Its portfolio covers a wide range of ecosystems and landscapes, including:

• Coastal and marine environments
• Drylands
• Grasslands
• Forests
• Mountains
• Urban areas
• River basins
• Wetlands

This broad portfolio demonstrates that Ecosystem-based Adaptation can be applied across different ecological, social and economic contexts.

The Fund’s overall objective is to finance innovative approaches capable of overcoming systemic barriers and enabling EbA to be taken up, scaled and mainstreamed.

Learn More HERE

Why the 2026 Global EbA Fund Call Matters

Climate change is increasing pressure on communities, economies and ecosystems around the world. Rising temperatures, droughts, floods, storms, changing rainfall patterns, sea-level rise and other climate-related hazards are affecting food security, water security, livelihoods and socioeconomic development.

At the same time, many ecosystems are being degraded through unsustainable resource use and other pressures. This creates a double challenge: communities become increasingly exposed to climate risks while the ecosystems that could help protect them become less capable of providing essential services.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation seeks to address these interconnected challenges by strengthening the health and resilience of ecosystems while also reducing vulnerability among people.

The 2026 Global EbA Fund calls are particularly relevant to Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

SIDS are highly vulnerable to climate impacts because of factors such as their small land areas, remoteness and close connections between communities, oceans and ecosystems. They can face increasingly frequent and intense tropical cyclones, storm surges, heatwaves, droughts, flooding, changing precipitation patterns and sea-level rise.

LDCs also face significant climate vulnerability. Their economies frequently depend heavily on climate-sensitive sectors, while limited institutional and financial capacity can make it difficult to recover from climate-related shocks or mobilise sufficient resources for adaptation.

The call therefore seeks projects that do more than implement individual adaptation activities. It seeks initiatives capable of strengthening the systems, institutions, knowledge, partnerships and investment mechanisms needed to enable EbA to grow over the long term.

Global EbA Fund Small-Size Grants 2026

The Small-Size Grants Call for Proposals is intended to support innovative and catalytic initiatives that address systemic barriers to scaling Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

Small-Size Grant Amount

The Fund will provide grants of up to US$250,000 per project.

The provided call information indicates that the Small-Size Grants track will support 10 grants, with projects lasting between 18 and 24 months. The official webpage specifies a maximum project duration of 24 months.

Small-Size Grants Deadline

Applications for the Small-Size Grants can be submitted through the online platform from:

28 September to 26 October 2026

The application deadline is 26 October 2026. The call was officially launched on 24 August 2026.

Click HERE to download the Small-size Call for Proposals Document.

What the Small-Size Grants Will Support

The Small-Size Grants call is looking for projects that address upstream or systemic barriers preventing the uptake and scaling of Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

Successful proposals should contribute to one or more areas such as:

1. Strengthening Institutional and Technical Capacity

Projects can address institutional or technical limitations that prevent organisations, governments and other stakeholders from effectively implementing EbA.

This could include initiatives that improve technical expertise, institutional systems, planning capacity or decision-making processes.

2. Improving Data and Evidence

Strong evidence is essential for convincing policymakers, investors and other stakeholders to support adaptation approaches.

The Fund therefore welcomes projects that generate, improve or apply quality data and evidence to resolve specific barriers to EbA implementation and investment.

3. Building Knowledge and Learning Networks

Projects can strengthen systematic knowledge exchange, learning networks and communities of practice that enable practitioners and decision-makers to learn from successful EbA approaches.

4. Improving Investment Readiness

The call encourages initiatives that prepare projects and concepts capable of attracting larger-scale climate financing.

This can include developing investable project pipelines, strengthening financial models and preparing scalable concepts that can eventually move beyond small grant funding.

5. Supporting Innovative EbA Technologies

Projects may adapt or scale tested technological solutions for particular socio-ecological systems.

The emphasis is on technologies that can generate useful lessons for practitioners and decision-makers and contribute to broader EbA uptake.

6. Conducting Applied and Functional Research

The Fund is interested in practical research that addresses specific obstacles to EbA implementation or investment.

Research should therefore have a clear application and contribute to solving real-world adaptation challenges.

7. Creating Synergies With Other Initiatives

Applicants are encouraged to work with existing Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Nature-based Solution initiatives where this can generate operational synergies, strengthen collaboration and create opportunities for co-financing.

These areas are explicitly highlighted in the Small-Size Grants call.

Key Requirements for Small-Size Grant Proposals

A successful Small-Size Grant proposal must demonstrate that the project is genuinely focused on Ecosystem-based Adaptation and has the potential to create an enabling environment for its uptake and scaling.

Projects must:

• Qualify as Ecosystem-based Adaptation.
• Have catalytic and innovative potential.
• Clearly identify the climate impacts being addressed.
• Explain how the proposed intervention will address those impacts.
• Fall under no more than one Strategic Objective and no more than two Action Pillars of the Global EbA Fund.
• Be global, thematic or focused on ODA-eligible countries.
• Request no more than US$250,000.
• Have a duration of no more than 24 months.
• Build on existing work rather than being an entirely standalone initiative.
• Demonstrate how results will continue after Fund support ends.
• Partner with local institutions and organisations.
• Demonstrate relevant experience in the proposed area of work.
• Incorporate local communities, Indigenous Knowledge and gender perspectives.
• Be led by legally recognised entities.
• Meet the Fund’s due-diligence requirements.

Social and Environmental Considerations

The Global EbA Fund places significant importance on ensuring that climate adaptation projects are socially inclusive and environmentally responsible.

Proposals should therefore incorporate:

• Gender responsiveness
• Meaningful local participation
• Respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights
• Environmental and social safeguards
• Equitable benefit-sharing
• Prevention of maladaptation
• Use of local, Indigenous and traditional knowledge where appropriate

Applicants should clearly identify the communities and groups that will benefit from the project and explain how those groups will participate in the initiative.

The evaluation framework also specifically considers the involvement of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and other marginalised groups. Where Indigenous Peoples may be affected, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is expected to be upheld.

Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

The Fund is not simply looking for projects that produce short-term outputs during the grant period.

Applicants must demonstrate how their work will remain viable after the funding period.

A strong proposal should therefore explain:

• How local ownership will be established.
• How institutions will continue the work.
• How project results can be replicated.
• How successful approaches can be scaled.
• How knowledge and capacities will be retained.
• How the initiative connects to relevant national and global policies.
• How partnerships will continue after the project ends.
• How additional financing can be mobilised.

The Fund specifically evaluates sustainability, including replication, upscaling and links with national and global policies such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

Learn More and Apply HERE

Global EbA Fund Medium-Size Grants 2026

Alongside the Small-Size Grants, the Global EbA Fund has opened a Medium-Size Grants Call for Proposals.

This track provides larger funding for collaborative and innovative initiatives focused on strategic scaling and global influence.

Medium-Size Grant Amount

Each Medium-Size Grant can provide up to US$500,000.

Projects can run for up to 24 months.

Medium-Size Grants Deadline

Applications will be accepted through the online platform from:

12 October to 16 November 2026

The application deadline is 16 November 2026.

The Medium-Size Grants call was officially launched on 24 August 2026.

Click HERE to download the Medium-size Call for Proposals Document.

Medium-Size Grants General Track: Strategic Scaling and Global Influence

The Medium-Size Grants General Track is aimed at proposals that demonstrate collaborative and innovative approaches to advancing Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

The focus is on projects that can address systemic barriers to scalability while contributing to broader learning and policy dialogue.

Projects that strengthen enabling environments and integrate EbA into national frameworks are particularly relevant.

The call identifies three priority themes.

1. Innovative Finance Solutions for EbA

This theme focuses on partnerships with private-sector actors, financiers, innovators, adaptation practitioners and local champions to unlock private capital and blended finance for Ecosystem-based Adaptation.

The underlying objective is to help EbA evolve beyond small-scale or subsistence-level activities and develop business models that are commercially viable, scalable and capable of creating incentives for conservation.

Applicants working in this area should demonstrate how their proposed approach can help overcome financing barriers and make EbA more attractive to investors and other financing partners.

2. EbA for Human Development and Security

This theme explores the connection between climate resilience, human development and security, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Projects should identify specific policy, regulatory, financial or awareness barriers that prevent investment in EbA in high-risk areas.

The Fund is interested in preventive and community-designed interventions that can:

• Protect vulnerable populations.
• Reduce exposure to climate-related risks.
• Strengthen resilience.
• Reduce natural-resource-related tensions.
• Strengthen social cohesion.
• Connect adaptation with humanitarian action.
• Support development and peacebuilding objectives.

Strong proposals should establish a measurable pathway showing how targeted EbA investment can contribute to reducing climate-induced fragility.

3. People-Nature-Climate-Land Synergies

The third theme focuses on strengthening connections between climate change, biodiversity, sustainable land management and disaster risk reduction.

The Fund invites proposals led by organisations that actively collaborate with national governments to strengthen operational links between the UNFCCC, Convention on Biological Diversity, UNCCD, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and other relevant international environmental commitments.

The objective is to connect existing commitments, actors, tools and financing opportunities so countries and communities can reduce duplication and use integrated interventions to achieve multiple environmental and development outcomes.

Who Can Apply for the Global EbA Fund Grants?

The Global EbA Fund is designed primarily for organisations, not individual applicants.

Eligible organisation types include:

1. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
2. International non-governmental organisations (INGOs)
3. Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)
4. Community-based organisations (CBOs)
5. Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations
6. Universities and other academic institutions
7. Research institutes and think tanks
8. Private-sector companies, subject to the Fund’s conditions
9. Consortia of organisations collaborating to create greater impact around EbA

Government entities can participate in consortia, provided that they do not receive funding from the Global EbA Fund. A consortium application must clearly identify its lead organisation, which becomes the responsible contract party if the proposal is successful.

The same broad organisational eligibility structure applies to the Medium-Size Grants.

Learn More and Apply HERE

Local Partnerships and the Role of Local Organisations

One of the important features of the Global EbA Fund is its emphasis on local ownership.

For country-level activities, the call information provided states that a consortium involving one or more local organisations is required, with at least 25% of the project budget allocated to local partners, subject to compliance with applicable standards and due-diligence requirements.

These partnerships should demonstrate:

• Capacity transfer
• Shared decision-making
• Long-term institutional strengthening
• Local ownership
• Knowledge transfer
• Sustainability
• Meaningful community participation

This requirement is particularly important for organisations applying from outside the country where project activities will take place.

What Makes a Strong Global EbA Fund Proposal?

The Fund’s evaluation criteria provide applicants with a useful indication of what reviewers will be looking for.

Ecosystem-Based Adaptation — 30%

The proposal must clearly demonstrate that it is an EbA intervention and explain how it will reduce vulnerability or increase the resilience of human communities to climate change.

Applicants should clearly identify:

• The main climate hazards.
• The climate risks involved.
• The affected communities.
• Ecosystem vulnerabilities.
• The ecosystem services involved.
• How the proposed intervention will reduce vulnerability.

The proposal should establish a convincing connection between ecosystem management and climate adaptation outcomes.

Innovative and Catalytic Contribution — 30%

Innovation and catalytic potential are also worth 30% of the evaluation.

The Fund wants interventions capable of producing systemic change.

Examples could include initiatives that:

• Influence policy.
• Address institutional capacity gaps.
• Develop new financing mechanisms.
• Improve governance.
• Strengthen investment readiness.
• Demonstrate approaches that can be replicated elsewhere.
• Test approaches in new contexts.

The key question is not simply whether the project is innovative, but whether it can help trigger broader transformation in how EbA is implemented or financed.

Sustainability — 20%

Sustainability accounts for 20% of the evaluation.

Applicants need to explain how activities and results will continue beyond the grant period, including opportunities for replication and upscaling.

Proposals should also demonstrate connections to relevant national and international policies and synergies with other initiatives.

Institutional Arrangements — 20%

Institutional arrangements account for another 20%.

The applicant organisation should have:

• An appropriate organisational structure.
• Adequate financial capacity.
• Strong internal controls.
• Qualified and dedicated staff.
• Relevant technical expertise.
• Previous experience implementing projects of similar scope and complexity.

This means applicants should not focus exclusively on the technical idea. They must also demonstrate that their organisation has the capacity to responsibly manage the proposed funding and deliver the project.

Theory of Change, Logical Framework and SMART Indicators

A strong application should have a clear and logical Theory of Change.

The Fund expects the results chain to demonstrate how proposed activities will lead to outputs and outcomes that create an enabling environment for reducing identified climate risks.

The project design should include:

• A logical and coherent results chain.
• Feasible activities.
• A realistic implementation timeline.
• SMART indicators.
• Appropriate data sources.
• Defined reporting intervals.
• A budget that corresponds logically with activities and timelines.

Applicants must also use the Global EbA Fund’s Core Indicator Framework.

At least three relevant indicators from the Core Indicator Framework must be incorporated into the project’s logical framework.

Existing Work Is Important

A key eligibility requirement is that the proposed project must be built on or based on existing work.

Applicants should therefore avoid presenting an entirely disconnected idea with no evidence of previous activity, experience or groundwork.

A stronger proposal can demonstrate:

• Previous pilot activities.
• Existing partnerships.
• Prior research.
• Community engagement.
• Existing institutional relationships.
• Previous data or evidence.
• Lessons learned.
• Existing projects that can be scaled or replicated.

This helps demonstrate that the proposed investment can move an existing concept toward greater impact rather than starting from zero.

Application Documents

Applicants should carefully prepare the required application package before the relevant submission window opens.

For the Small-Size Grants, the application package includes:

• Applicant Declaration
• Co-applicant Mandate
• Small-Size Grants Application Form
• Project Proposal Budget Template
• Due Diligence and Financial Capacity Questionnaire

The Fund specifically advises applicants to review the Grants Procedure Manual before developing and submitting their proposal.

The Medium-Size Grants application package similarly includes:

• Applicant Declaration
• Co-applicant Mandate
• Medium-Size Grants Application Form
• Project Proposal Budget Template
• Due Diligence and Financial Capacity Questionnaire

How to Apply for the Global EbA Fund Grants 2026

Applications must be submitted through the Global EbA Fund’s online platform.

Applicants should not simply complete the downloadable application form and assume that submitting the document itself constitutes an application.

The Fund explicitly states that the application form is intended for drafting purposes and that applications must ultimately be submitted through the online platform.

The Fund strongly recommends that applicants:

1. Download and review the relevant application materials.
2. Read the Grants Procedure Manual carefully.
3. Review the eligibility requirements.
4. Identify the appropriate Strategic Objective and Action Pillars.
5. Develop the project’s Theory of Change.
6. Develop the logical framework and SMART indicators.
7. Identify at least three relevant Core Indicators.
8. Establish the climate hazards and risks the project will address.
9. Demonstrate the project’s EbA approach.
10. Develop a realistic implementation plan.
11. Prepare the project budget.
12. Establish local partnerships where required.
13. Complete the required due-diligence documentation.
14. Draft the application offline.
15. Transfer the completed application to the online platform.
16. Submit before the applicable deadline.

For the Small-Size Grants, the online submission link is expected to be shared on the Small-Size Grants webpage on 28 September 2026.

For the Medium-Size Grants, the online submission link is expected to be shared on the Medium-Size Grants webpage on 12 October 2026.

Global EbA Fund 2026: Important Deadlines at a Glance

Both calls were officially launched on 24 August 2026.

Small-Size vs Medium-Size Global EbA Fund Grants

Although both funding opportunities are part of the Global EbA Fund, applicants should carefully consider which track best matches the scale and ambition of their project.

Small-Size Grants

The Small-Size Grants provide up to US$250,000 and are particularly focused on catalytic interventions that overcome barriers to EbA uptake and scaling.

They are well suited to projects addressing issues such as:

• Institutional and technical capacity.
• Evidence and data gaps.
• Knowledge exchange.
• Investment readiness.
• Applied research.
• Innovative EbA technologies.
• Synergies with existing EbA and Nature-based Solution initiatives.

Medium-Size Grants

The Medium-Size Grants provide up to US$500,000 and have a stronger emphasis on strategic scaling and global influence.

The General Track highlights:

• Innovative finance for EbA.
• EbA for human development and security.
• People-nature-climate-land synergies.
• National policy integration.
• Global learning.
• Policy dialogue.
• Collaborative approaches to systemic scaling.

Both tracks require projects to qualify as EbA, demonstrate innovation and catalytic potential, work with local partners and show how project results can be sustained beyond the funding period.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The Global EbA Fund 2026 calls may be particularly relevant to organisations working at the intersection of:

• Climate change adaptation
• Ecosystem restoration
• Biodiversity conservation
• Nature-based Solutions
• Sustainable land management
• Water security
• Food security
• Climate finance
• Environmental governance
• Climate policy
• Community development
• Indigenous knowledge
• Applied environmental research
• Investment readiness
• Sustainable technologies
• Disaster risk reduction
• Human development and resilience

Organisations should, however, ensure that their proposal addresses the Fund’s specific emphasis on Ecosystem-based Adaptation and systemic barriers to its uptake, investment, scaling or mainstreaming rather than presenting a conventional conservation or development project without a clear EbA connection.

Important Tips for Applicants

Before applying, organisations should pay close attention to the following:

Make the climate-adaptation connection explicit

Do not assume that reviewers will automatically understand how an environmental project contributes to climate adaptation. Clearly identify the climate hazard, vulnerability and adaptation pathway.

Demonstrate systemic impact

The Fund is looking for projects capable of changing systems, institutions, policies, financing mechanisms, knowledge or capacity. Explain what barrier exists and how your project will help remove it.

Build on existing work

Use evidence from previous projects, research, partnerships, pilots and community engagement to demonstrate that the proposal is grounded in experience.

Prioritise local ownership

Meaningful participation from local organisations and communities should be integrated into project design rather than treated as an afterthought.

Make gender and social inclusion substantive

Explain how women, youth, Indigenous Peoples and marginalised groups will participate and benefit. Where relevant, incorporate gender-disaggregated information and Indigenous or traditional knowledge.

Think beyond the grant period

Explain who will maintain the results, how activities will be financed after the grant, how knowledge will be retained and how successful approaches could be replicated or scaled.

Prepare early

Because applications must be submitted online and involve several supporting documents, applicants should prepare their materials well before the submission window.

Read the Grants Procedure Manual

The Global EbA Fund strongly recommends reviewing the Grants Procedure Manual before developing a proposal.

Conclusion

The Global EbA Fund Grants 2026 present a significant funding opportunity for organisations seeking to strengthen climate resilience through Ecosystem-based Adaptation. With grants of up to US$250,000 under the Small-Size Grants track and up to US$500,000 under the Medium-Size Grants track, the calls are designed to support initiatives that can address the institutional, technical, financial, knowledge and governance barriers preventing EbA from being scaled.

The opportunity is particularly relevant to organisations working in ODA-eligible Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, although other ODA-eligible countries may also be considered when proposals demonstrate exceptional ambition and unique opportunities for scaling EbA.

Applicants should remember that the Fund is not simply seeking conventional environmental projects. Strong proposals should clearly demonstrate an Ecosystem-based Adaptation approach, a defined climate-risk pathway, innovative and catalytic potential, meaningful social inclusion, strong institutional arrangements, local partnerships and a credible plan for sustainability and replication.

For organisations preparing applications, early planning will be essential. The Small-Size Grants deadline is 26 October 2026, while the Medium-Size Grants deadline is 16 November 2026. Applicants should carefully review the relevant call documents, Grants Procedure Manual, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria and Core Indicator Framework before submitting their proposals.

Overall, the Global EbA Fund offers an opportunity not only to obtain project financing but also to help build the policies, institutions, partnerships, evidence, investment mechanisms and local capacities needed to make climate adaptation more sustainable and effective for both people and nature.

Official source: Global EbA Fund Small-Size Grants and Global EbA Fund Medium-Size Grants