Global Resilience Partnership Innovation Challenge 2026 (Up to $50,000 Grant Funding)

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Applications are open for Global Resilience Partnership Innovation Challenge 2026. The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) has launched a call for proposals to support bold, locally led innovations across the Global South. This initiative seeks transformative solutions that strengthen resilience, protect ecosystems, and create sustainable opportunities for communities facing complex challenges.

The Innovation Challenge is designed to address the interconnected crises of the 21st century, including climate change, pandemics, extreme weather events, financial shocks, conflict, and food insecurity. These global pressures disproportionately affect communities in the Global South, creating a landscape where uncertainty is the norm and innovative, adaptable solutions are critical.

Global Resilience Partnership Innovation Challenge Thematic Areas

They are looking for transformative resilience solutions across three thematic Challenges. They encourage bold and transformative ideas that promote resilience, preserve ecosystems, and create sustainable economic opportunities for communities.

All three thematic challenges are open to ODA-eligible countries in the Global South:

The Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Rural Challenge identifies and scales innovative nature-positive solutions that deliver both ecological and livelihood benefits. While we are taking RAIN global, dedicated funding has been earmarked for East African countries.
The Resilience Innovation in Informality through Scaling Entrepreneurship (RISE) Urban Challenge identifies and scales practical, locally led solutions from grassroots groups, urban start-ups, and/or social enterprises that address the realities of living and working in informal urban environments.
The Technology for Evolving Challenges in Humanitarian Contexts (TECH)4Resilience Challenge identifies applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can enhance or optimise the delivery and provision of humanitarian preparedness and response programmes, enabling faster, more targeted, and anticipatory action. We have earmarked funding for TECH4Nature solutions, with a particular interest in solutions from South East Asia.

Benefits

The Challenge winners will receive a programme of tailored mentoring, communications and MEL support and will be connected to potential partners and/or investors.
In addition to this there will be funding support up to US$50,000 for winning projects to further develop and scale their solutions.
This will be awarded at the end of 2026 after the initial mentoring period and a virtual Leadership Academy, to be used for implementation for 12 months (January to December 2027).

Eligibility Criteria for Global Resilience Partnership Innovation Challenge

To be eligible an application must meet the following criteria:

The Challenge is open to both non-profit and for-profit registered organisations.
Geographical eligibility: Be located in countries eligible for Official Development Assistance as defined by the OECD-DAC).
The team has proven experience or potential to implement resilience solutions.
Gender, equity and human rights considerations are included.
The solution does no harm (i.e., has no negative impacts on communities or nature).

What are Eligible Countries?

Projects targeting Global South countries eligible for Official Development Assistance as defined by the OECD-DAC) are eligible. Exclusions apply for entities and individuals on international sanctions lists including the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
We have earmarked a portion of RAIN funding for East African countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda.
We have also earmarked funding for TECH4Nature solutions, with a particular interest in solutions for SEACAR target countries in South East Asia: Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
We solicit Nature-based Solutions in informal urban contexts, with no specific country preference. We have an interest in for-profit solutions for the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Timeline:

1 May 2026: The call for proposals opens
13 May at 15:00 CEST: Webinar for potential applicants. Register here
22 May 2026 at 23:59 hrs GMT: Deadline for submissions. The Challenge will close at this time and we will not be able to accept submissions past the deadline.
End of June 2026: Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be contacted
June – mid-September 2026: Successful applicants will be provided support to further develop their projects during
6-9 July 2026: Virtual Leadership Academy
November 2026: Winners will be announced at COP31
2026 and 2027: Mentoring, communications and MEL support
Q1 of 2027: Induction Workshop for winners

How To Apply for Global Resilience Partnership Innovation Challenge

They have one consolidated and simple form to apply for these three challenges and they accept and encourage proposals that align with more than one challenge.
To apply, complete this submittable form and submit it before the deadline.

Click Here to Apply

Click Here for more details

Application Deadline: 22 May 2026 at 23:59 hrs GMT