IKI Small Grants 2027

About this opportunity

German government grant of €60,000–€200,000 for African organisations working on climate and biodiversity through nature-based solutions. You must have been trading for three years with annual revenue between €60,000–€500,000.

Who can apply

• Not-for-profit organisations or private companies pursuing non-profit objectives
• Organisations based in ODA-eligible developing countries
• Organisations that have been operative for at least three years
• Organisations with average annual revenue of €60,000–€500,000 over the past three years
• Organisations with dedicated accounting staff, documented accounting principles, and software-based accounting systems
• Organisations implementing projects on local, sub-national or national level only

Not eligible

• Government organisations (ministries, municipalities, public universities)
• Branches of organisations based in non-ODA countries
• Consortia and applications proposing to forward funds between partner organisations
• Individuals, natural persons, one-person organisations

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Full eligibility wording from the listing

Open to local organisations in ODA-eligible developing countries. Initial eligibility screening by 8 January 2027; full proposals invited by 16 March 2027. Must address climate change or biodiversity through nature-based approaches.

Documents you will need

• Organisation registration documents proving three years of operation
• Financial records showing average annual revenue for the past three years
• Project proposal with details of the project idea, timeline and budget (submitted only if eligibility confirmed)
• Evidence of accounting systems and internal/external control mechanisms
• Proof of ODA-eligible country status for the organisation's base

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How to apply, step by step

1. Register your organisation and submit eligibility information by 8 January 2027 through the application portal
2. Wait for the IKI Small Grants team to assess your eligibility against the criteria (confirmation by 2 February 2027)
3. If eligible, you will receive an email inviting you to submit a full project proposal with budget details
4. Prepare and submit your project proposal by 16 March 2027, ensuring the project aligns with nature-based solutions and one of the four IKI funding areas
5. Check that your requested funding is between €60,000–€200,000 and does not exceed your organisation's average annual revenue

How applications are selected

What reviewers look for

• The call is explicitly focused on nature-based solutions: ecosystem restoration, ecosystem-based adaptation, sustainable management of natural areas, or ecosystem-based mitigation will score higher than technology-only approaches
• Projects must address one or more of four areas: greenhouse gas mitigation, climate adaptation, natural carbon sink conservation (especially forests), or biodiversity conservation
• Your budget must not exceed what your organisation earned on average per year over the last three years; if your annual revenue is €80,000, your maximum grant request is €80,000
• Single-country, local or sub-national projects only; do not propose work across multiple countries
• IKI requires organisations to have formal accounting systems and staff; if you use spreadsheets or informal record-keeping, strengthen this before applying

Frequently asked questions

Guide written from the official programme page on 13 November 2026. Funders change their rules, so confirm the details on the official page before you apply.

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