Funding Friday
Hi everyone,
I hope you’re doing okay. The past few weeks have been tough, and I know many of you are feeling the strain of funding uncertainty. At Glean, we’ve had to make some difficult decisions in our Cambodia office. But like so many of you, we’re pushing forward, adapting, and doing what we can to keep our work going.
This week’s funding roundup includes opportunities focused on youth employment, climate resilience, conservation, and local initiatives. Whether you're looking for research grants, innovation challenges, or small-scale community funding, I hope there’s something here that can help you or your organization take the next step.
As always, if you come across funding opportunities or insights that could support others, feel free to share. We’re all in this together.
Take care, and see you next week.
Jesse
Global
🚀 Global Innovation Challenge to Accelerate Youth Employability
📝 The Citi Foundation is inviting proposals for its Global Innovation Challenge aimed at accelerating youth employability. This initiative seeks innovative solutions to enhance employment opportunities for low-income youth, primarily aged 15 to 24. Proposed projects may include technical and vocational training programs, entrepreneurship initiatives, and efforts to integrate financial education into workforce development.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovative Training Approaches: How can technical and vocational training programs be tailored to meet the evolving demands of the global job market, ensuring low-income youth acquire relevant skills?
Youth-Led Entrepreneurship: What support systems are essential to foster youth-led enterprises that not only provide self-employment but also contribute to job creation within communities?
Financial Literacy Integration: In what ways can financial education be seamlessly incorporated into existing workforce development programs to empower youth with essential financial management skills?
🔗 Global Innovation Challenge to Accelerate Youth Employability
💧 UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science
📝 The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) has officially launched its 6th cycle, inviting innovative research and technology proposals aimed at advancing rain enhancement, particularly in arid regions. This initiative seeks to address global water security challenges by fostering international collaboration and supporting cutting-edge research in the field of rain enhancement.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Innovative Rain Enhancement Techniques: How can emerging technologies and scientific advancements be harnessed to develop effective rain enhancement methods in arid regions?
Global Water Security: In what ways can international research collaborations contribute to sustainable solutions for water scarcity issues exacerbated by climate change?
Ethical and Environmental Considerations: What are the potential environmental impacts of rain enhancement technologies, and how can they be mitigated to ensure ecological balance?
🔗 UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) 2025
Asia Pacific
🏭 Research Grant Scheme- Malaysia
📝 The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) is inviting applications for its Research Grant Scheme. This initiative aims to support research projects that assist the Malaysian palm oil industry in conserving biodiversity, the environment, and wildlife. The research should be closely related to the palm oil industry in Malaysia and align with specific research domains and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Conservation Efforts: How can research contribute to sustainable practices in the Malaysian palm oil industry to better conserve biodiversity and the environment?
Alignment with SDGs: In what ways can proposed research projects address SDGs related to climate action, life below water, and life on land within the context of palm oil production?
Impact on Industry: What innovative approaches can researchers develop to positively impact the sustainability and biodiversity of Malaysia's palm oil industry?
🔗 Research Grant Scheme (Malaysia)
📈 Katalpa Fund Program in Mongolia and Belgium
📝 The Katalpa Fund is currently accepting submissions for its grant program, aiming to support non-profit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered in Mongolia and Belgium. The fund focuses on projects that align with its objectives, fostering development and community engagement in these regions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Cross-Cultural Collaboration: How can NGOs in Mongolia and Belgium collaborate to address common challenges and share best practices?
Sustainable Development Initiatives: What innovative approaches can organizations implement to promote sustainable development within their local communities?
Enhancing NGO Impact: In what ways can small to medium-sized grants catalyze significant change in underrepresented sectors?
🔗 Katalpa Fund Program in Mongolia and Belgium
👩🎤 Gender & Creativity: Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity and Artistic Freedom Program- Indonesia
📝 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) invites sealed proposals for professional services under the "Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity and Artistic Freedom" program. This initiative seeks a qualified technical partner to enhance awareness and understanding of gendered working conditions within Indonesia's creative industries. The selected partner will support efforts to improve existing regulations through a participatory approach.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Gender Dynamics in Creative Industries: How do gendered working conditions impact creativity and artistic freedom in Indonesia's creative sectors?
Policy Reform through Participation: What strategies can effectively involve stakeholders in reshaping policies to foster equitable working environments in the arts?
Measuring Impact: How can the success of policy interventions aimed at improving gender equity in creative industries be assessed?
🔗 Gender & Creativity: Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity and Artistic Freedom Program (Indonesia)
🏔️ Ecosystem Profile Update for the Mountains of Central Asia Biodiversity Hotspot
📝 The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) is inviting applications to update the Ecosystem Profile for the Mountains of Central Asia Biodiversity Hotspot. This initiative aims to reassess and document the current biodiversity conditions, threats, and conservation priorities within the hotspot, guiding future investment and conservation actions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Biodiversity Assessment: How can updated ecosystem profiles influence conservation strategies and policy-making in biodiversity hotspots?
Community Engagement: In what ways can local communities be involved in the process of updating ecosystem profiles to ensure sustainable conservation efforts?
Data Integration: What methodologies can be employed to integrate traditional ecological knowledge with scientific research in ecosystem profiling?
🏛️ Heritage Research Grant- Singapore
📝 The National Heritage Board (NHB) of Singapore is inviting applications for the Heritage Research Grant (HRG). This grant aims to encourage researchers, endorsed by Singapore-based supporting institutions, to embark on heritage-related projects that document and preserve Singapore's heritage and its regional connections.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Preservation of Heritage: How can contemporary research methodologies be applied to document and preserve Singapore's tangible and intangible cultural heritage?
Community Engagement: In what ways can local communities be involved in heritage research to ensure the inclusivity and relevance of the findings?
Regional Connectivity: How does Singapore's heritage connect with the broader Southeast Asian region, and what are the implications of these connections?
🔗 Heritage Research Grant (Singapore)
🌱 Canada Fund for Local Initiatives- Malaysia
📝 The High Commission of Canada in Malaysia has announced its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) for the year 2025. This program is designed to support small-scale, high-impact projects in developing countries that align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas. The CFLI emphasizes projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners, aiming to foster positive bilateral relations between Canada and recipient countries by supporting local initiatives.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Empowering Local Communities: How can local organizations in Malaysia leverage CFLI funding to address community-specific challenges effectively?
Thematic Alignment: In what ways can proposed projects align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priorities to maximize impact and sustainability?
Bilateral Relations: How does the CFLI program enhance Canada-Malaysia relations through grassroots initiatives?
🔗 Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) – Malaysia (2025)
Africa
🌿 Canada Fund for Local Initiatives Program- The Gambia
📝 The High Commission of Canada accredited to The Gambia has announced its annual call for proposals for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Program. This program aims to support small-scale, high-impact projects that align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priority areas. It is directed at projects conceived and designed predominantly by local partners, with selections and approvals made by the relevant Canadian embassy or high commission.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Empowering Local Communities: How can small-scale funding initiatives like CFLI effectively empower local communities in The Gambia to address their unique challenges?
Thematic Priorities Alignment: In what ways can local organizations design projects that align with Global Affairs Canada’s thematic priorities to maximize impact?
Sustainable Development: How can CFLI-funded projects contribute to sustainable development and long-term positive change in The Gambia?
🔗 Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Program in The Gambia 2025
💡 Funding and Monitoring of Grants for ESS Organizations- Algeria
📝 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the second Innovation Challenge, targeting existing Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS) organizations in Algeria. This initiative aims to support innovative projects led by women and youth that address specific development challenges unmet by traditional solutions.
🤔 Thought-Provoking Questions and Insights
Empowering Women and Youth: How can fostering innovation within ESS organizations led by women and youth contribute to sustainable development in Algeria?
Addressing Development Gaps: What are some unconventional approaches that ESS organizations can implement to tackle persistent development issues in their communities?
Sustainable Impact: In what ways can the integration of social and economic objectives within ESS projects lead to long-term positive outcomes?
🔗 Innovation Challenge 2: Funding and Monitoring of Grants for ESS Organizations (Algeria)