Youth Acts for Climate

The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) in Ukraine has announced the call for proposals titled ‘Youth Acts for Climate’. The competition is organised under the framework of the ‘Eco-Impulse: Youth Restoring Communities’ project to engage young leaders in the green recovery of Ukraine.

Selected initiatives can receive up to UAH 200,000 for implementation. Funding is strictly allocated for purchases according to the initiative’s budget and does not provide direct cash microgrants to applicants. The application deadline is December 20, 2026.

What is funded

The competition funds youth initiatives designed to solve local climate challenges across two core areas: climate change mitigation and adaptation to climate impacts. Supported activities must deliver measurable environmental outcomes rather than general ecological events.

Under mitigation, projects can focus on energy-efficient solutions for public and youth spaces, energy consumption reduction, materials reuse, waste reduction with proven climate effects, and local low-carbon innovations. Adaptation initiatives may include creating green and shaded community spaces, rainwater harvesting systems, nature-based solutions against overheating and flooding, and natural area restoration.

Educational events, workshops, and information campaigns are eligible for funding only if they form an integral part of the initiative and directly contribute to the achievement of practical, tangible climate results.

Who can apply

Participation is open to youth teams, informal initiative groups, and non-governmental organisations that aim to implement climate-focused projects within Ukrainian communities.

The organisers specifically encourage applications submitted by youth from rural areas, small towns, war-affected communities, and groups with limited access to conventional funding opportunities.

Conditions and requirements

Each supported initiative has an execution period of up to 6 months. The maximum financial allocation per initiative is capped at UAH 200,000.

The mechanism does not involve direct microgrant transfers to applicant bank accounts. Instead, financial support is executed exclusively through direct procurement and purchasing of goods and services specified in the approved project budget.

Practical tip. Ensure your proposal clearly links every planned activity and budget item to measurable climate outcomes, such as reduced energy use or shaded surface area, since evaluators prioritise clear climate impact over general environmental awareness.

Selection criteria and evaluation

Submitted proposals are evaluated against their alignment with the competition’s climate mitigation and adaptation priorities. Evaluators assess the practical community benefits and clarity of expected deliverables.

The review process also examines the realism of the proposed timeline and budget, the demonstrated level of youth leadership, and the project’s capacity to maintain results sustainably after completion.

How to apply

Applicants must define a specific local climate problem, propose a realistic solution, draft an activity schedule with expected outputs, and complete a detailed project budget.

The application form and budget template must be submitted via email with the subject line format ‘Youth Acts for Climate – name of organization / team’. Applications must be delivered no later than December 20, 2026.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: sgpinfo.org.ua.