Calls by impact funders
When you are looking for grant funding, we are here to support you. We have first-hand knowledge of grant opportunities that match your case and we can build on a strong track record of successful proposals.
- Grants for private sector investment in developing countries usually cover only part of a project budget and require a substantial cash and/or in-kind contribution. In case of development banks, grants are often tied and subject to their provision of a loan.
- Grant programmes typically target innovative and scalable projects with a high potential payoff in terms of the programmes development goals. Grant programmes are generally organised as competitions that generally attract far more entries than can be funded.
- Grant funding is financially attractive but comes with strict performance, reporting and accountability conditions. We provide support to help you comply with these requirements.
Only a selection of grant programmes is presented on our website. Contact us for more information!
develoPPP Classic
Provides technical and financial support of up to €2 million to companies looking to expand their local operations in developing and emerging countries. Projects should foster a long-term business interest in the country, as well as provide sustainable developmental benefits for the local people.
Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)
Tailored for innovative enterprises in agribusiness and renewable energy sectors that struggle to access commercial funding. Focus: reducing rural poverty, promoting resilient communities, and job creation. Multiple funding windows are opened regularly.
Business Partnership Facility (BPF)
Provides financial support of between €50,000 and €200,000 to viable, entrepreneurial business initiatives that contribute to the realisation of the SDGs in developing countries. Proposed projects should be part of the ‘core business’ of at least one of the business partners involved.
Development Innovation Ventures (DIV)
Grant funding for innovators and researchers wanting to test new ideas, take strategic risks, build evidence of what works, and advance the best solutions. Grants of up to $1.5 million depending on stage and scale of project.
Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP)
Targets companies, start-ups and social enterprises that have innovative, early-stage, clean energy projects in the active development phase in Southern and Eastern Africa. Applicants can apply for grants of between €200,000-€1 million. New calls annually.
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA)
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) programme in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Mozambique, Uganda and Zambia aims to build markets for off-grid energy to bring access to clean, affordable off-grid energy. Regular country founding rounds open regularly.
Enterprise Zambia Challenge Fund
Aims at increasing the opportunities available to smallholder farmers in Zambia’s agricultural (including agro-forestry and aquaculture) value chains. The fund supports actions that enable SMEs and smallholder farmers to transition to greener and more sustainable agri-food systems, as well gender & youth focused opportunities and nutritionally sensitive value chains. No longer accepting applications.
Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)
Focuses on the socioeconomic development of commodity producers in developing countries. CFC offers financial support for SMEs, enterprises, cooperatives and institutions operating in the commodity sector. Eligible projects should contribute to poverty alleviation and other SGDs by investing in commodity value chains.
Water and Energy for Food (WE4F)
Provides financial support, technical assistance and investment facilitation to water and/or energy projects in agriculture (specifically the production of food). Projects should enhance smallholder farmers' climate resilience. Supported regions are Middle East and North Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Southern and Central Africa.
Global Innovation Fund (GIF)
Innovation fund that invests in the development, piloting and scaling of innovations aimed at improving the lives of the world’s poorest people. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with GIF providing financial assistance through grants, loans and equity investments ranging from $50,000-$15 million.
DOEN Foundation
DOEN provides support to small, innovative initiatives. More specifically, it provides financial support (through grants, loans and investment capital) to innovative enterprises and organisations during the first phases of development. Themes focused on by the foundation are regenerative economy, social inclusivity and/or creative society.
Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE)
Supports youth employment initiatives in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel & West Africa, as well as the Horn of Africa. Prospective projects should offer youth (especially young women) with employment opportunities that will improve their personal development, as well as provide them with a stable income, social protection and safe working conditions. Open to private sector, civil society and knowledge institutions. New country funding rounds open regularly.
Fund for Innovation in Development (FID)
FID aims to combat poverty and inequality. The fund particularly supports (but is not limited to) initiatives relating to education, health, gender equality and climate. Funds can be used for the prototyping, piloting and evaluation of emerging innovations at the first stages of their development. Grants up to €4 million.
Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO)
PREO focuses on financing innovative, locally-relevant Productive Uses of Energy (PUE) projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. PREO also provides technical assistance. Grants of up to £300,000. Regular new funding rounds open regularly.
Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD)
A climate resilience fund supporting climate adaption projects that benefit vulnerable communities and landscapes in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The fund targets the growth and development of early-stage initiatives, providing both access to finance as well as technical assistance.
Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF)
The Agri-Business Facility for Africa (ABF) is led by GiZ as a pan-African knowledge and advisory hub. Its objective is to improve performance and skills of rural MSMEs and their professional organisations. They fund innovative project ideas on becoming more climate resilient.