Mountains ADAPT Small Grants 2026: Up to $30,000 for NGOs Working With Mountain Communities

Status: closing imminently. Applications for this call close September 15, 2026.

UNEP’s Mountains ADAPT initiative is accepting proposals for its 2026 small grants, offering up to USD 30,000 to registered NGOs working with mountain communities in East African Community countries and the South Caucasus. The call funds nature-based climate adaptation projects. Applications close September 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time, through UNEP’s online portal.

At a glance

Who’s eligible

The call is open only to formally registered civil society organizations, not individuals. According to UNEP’s official criteria, applicants must be locally based NGOs operating in an East African Community country (Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, or Uganda) or in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, or Georgia), with demonstrated prior experience working directly with mountain communities. UNEP states a preference for grassroots, community-based, youth-led, or women-focused organizations. Applicants need an official registration certificate and an organizational bank account; personal accounts don’t qualify.

This is a regionally restricted call. It sits outside Impact DOTS’ core MENA coverage, but it’s directly relevant to readers running or partnering with NGOs in the East African Community, one of the regions Impact DOTS tracks under its Sub-Saharan Africa remit.

What you get

Selected projects receive up to USD 30,000 each. UNEP plans to fund up to 15 projects across both regions combined. Eligible costs include staff salaries, equipment, materials, training, and operational expenses; funds cannot be used for direct payments to government officials. Co-funding isn’t required, but applications that bring in additional funding are viewed favorably. Grantees also get capacity-building support during a 12-month implementation window starting in the fourth quarter of 2026.

How to apply

Applications go through UNEP’s online form, available in English, Armenian, Azerbaijani, French, Georgian, and Kiswahili:

1. Complete the Mountains ADAPT application form before the deadline.
2. Have your organization’s official registration certificate ready to reference.
3. If selected, be prepared to submit banking details and identification documents.

Questions can go directly to UNEP at unep-mountainsadapt@un.org.

Key dates

• Application deadline: September 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. local time
• Selection: a regional Selection Committee reviews proposals against a published evaluation matrix; UNEP has not disclosed a results date
• Implementation: 12 months, starting Q4 2026
• Reporting: selected grantees submit mid-term and final narrative and financial reports

FAQ

Is Mountains ADAPT open to NGOs outside East Africa and the South Caucasus?
No. Eligibility is limited to the eight named East African Community countries and the three South Caucasus countries. Organizations elsewhere, including across MENA, don’t qualify for this call.

Can an individual apply for a Mountains ADAPT grant?
No. Only formally registered NGOs with an official registration certificate and an organizational bank account can apply.

Is co-funding required?
No. UNEP doesn’t require matching funds, though proposals that include co-funding are considered favorably.

What can the grant money be used for?
Staff salaries, equipment, materials, training, and operational costs tied to the project. Funds cannot go toward direct payments to government officials.

What happens after I submit an application?
A regional Selection Committee reviews proposals using UNEP’s evaluation matrix. Selected organizations receive capacity-building support ahead of a 12-month implementation period starting in Q4 2026.

More opportunities like this: 2026 Women Entrepreneur Grants in Africa and Tara’s Circle 2026: €100,000 for Women-Led Impact Ventures Worldwide.

Source: UNEP, Mountains ADAPT 2026 Call for Proposals.