Apply for Mountains ADAPT Small Grants 2026 – Up to US$30,000 for Community-Led Climate Resilience Projects in East Africa and the South Caucasus

Application Deadline: September 15, 2026

About the Grants

Community organizations and other eligible local organizations working with mountain communities in East Africa and the South Caucasus have the opportunity to apply for the Mountains ADAPT Small Grants Programme to enhance the resilience of mountain communities. This initiative, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to support locally led solutions that help mountain communities respond to the impacts of climate change while protecting ecosystems, strengthening livelihoods, and improving food security. UNEP describes the programme as a small grants initiative that provides up to US$30,000 per project for demand-driven, community-led adaptation solutions. The programme is particularly suited to organizations already working directly with mountain communities and having practical solutions to climate-related challenges through ecosystem-based and nature-based approaches.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is intended for local organizations working with mountain communities, rather than individual applicants.

Eligible applicants include:

• Registered local non-profit organizations or enterprises
• Civil society organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Youth organizations
• Women’s organizations

Organizations should:

• Be based in an eligible country in the East African Community or South Caucasus
• Be locally registered and able to provide supporting documentation
• Work with mountain communities
• Have activities connected to climate change adaptation or related community resilience work
• Have a solution addressing a climate-related challenge
• Aim to preserve, restore, or improve livelihoods, ecosystems, or food security

Grant Details

• Maximum Grant: Up to US$30,000 per project
• Purpose: Support the design and implementation of impactful solutions responding to climate change impacts affecting mountain communities
• Additional Support: Capacity development support, training, implementation support, learning and exchange opportunities with other grantees and mountain adaptation stakeholders
• Eligible Regions: East African Community (EAC) Partner States and South Caucasus countries

Eligible Countries

East African Community (EAC) Partner States:

• Burundi
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Uganda
• Tanzania

South Caucasus Countries:

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Georgia

Note: The eligibility requirement is based on the location and status of the applying organization, not on an individual’s nationality or ethnicity.

Project Focus Areas

The programme encourages solutions that address climate-related challenges while producing benefits for people and the natural environment:

• Nature-Based Solutions: Projects that use ecosystems and natural processes to help communities adapt to climate change, including ecosystem restoration, restoration of degraded landscapes, protection of natural resources, community-based conservation, and restoration of natural water systems.
• Climate-Smart Agriculture: Approaches that make agricultural systems more resilient to changing climate conditions, including climate-resilient agricultural practices, sustainable farming, climate-resilient crops, soil conservation, sustainable land management, and improved agricultural productivity.
• Water Management: Interventions to address water availability issues, including water harvesting, water retention, improved water management, community-based water conservation, and protection of water resources.
• Food Security: Projects that help communities maintain reliable access to food despite climate-related disruptions, including strengthening local food production, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable natural-resource management, and community livelihoods.
• Livelihood Improvement: Solutions that diversify or protect income sources while ensuring natural resources are not degraded, preserving, restoring, or improving livelihoods while strengthening ecosystem resilience.

What Makes a Strong Proposal

A strong proposal should demonstrate a clear connection between:

• Climate risk → Community need → Practical solution → Ecosystem protection → Improved resilience → Sustainable livelihoods

Applicants should clearly explain:

• What climate-related problem affects the target community
• Which mountain communities are affected
• What is causing or worsening the problem
• What solution is being proposed and why it is appropriate for the local context
• How the community will participate
• How the project will protect or restore ecosystems
• How the intervention will improve resilience
• How livelihoods or food security will benefit
• How the project will be implemented and results measured
• How the solution can continue beyond the grant period

Key Benefits

• Financial Support: Up to US$30,000 to implement proposed climate adaptation projects
• Capacity Development: Training support from UNEP and regional implementing partners
• Community Impact: Implement solutions directly within mountain communities
• Environmental Protection: Integrate ecosystem-based and nature-based approaches
• Livelihood Improvement: Help communities protect, restore, or improve livelihoods
• Food Security: Contribute to more resilient food systems
• Knowledge Exchange: Cross-sectoral learning and exchange among grantees

Examples of Relevant Project Concepts

• Climate-smart farming for mountain communities: Helping farmers adopt agricultural practices better suited to changing rainfall patterns and temperature changes
• Community water harvesting: Developing or strengthening community-level water harvesting and retention systems
• Ecosystem restoration: Restoring degraded mountain ecosystems while creating livelihood or environmental benefits
• Climate-resilient livelihoods: Diversifying household income while reducing pressure on natural resources
• Community food-security initiatives: Strengthening local food production and improving resilience to climate-related disruptions

How to Apply

Application Link: Click here to apply