Call for proposals for innovations across the Global South now open

We are launching an Innovation Challenge call to support bold, locally led solutions that strengthen resilience, protect ecosystems, and create sustainable opportunities for communities.

Theme: Agriculture, nutrition and food security, Cities and urban resilience, Disaster risk reduction, Information and technology

We are now living in a climate changed world. Events like pandemics, extreme weather, financial crises, conflict, geopolitical instability, and synchronised food shocks are increasingly interconnected, amplifying their impacts across sectors and geographies. These events have a disproportionate impact on communities in the Global South, communities that are already on the frontlines of shocks and stresses. This creates a risk landscape where uncertainty is the norm, not the exception, requiring solutions that can evolve over time. The need for agile, transformative, and locally grounded innovations has never been greater.

We are excited to announce the launch of a call for proposals for innovations. We are looking for transformative resilience solutions across three thematic Challenges. We encourage bold and transformative ideas that promote resilience, preserve ecosystems, and create sustainable economic opportunities for communities.

This call for proposals has been developed with support from Trafigura Foundation, Shockwave Foundation, and Munich Re Foundation. Additionally, we are working in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the SEACAR alliance on the call.

About the thematic challenges Across all three challenges, we are accepting proposals from both non- and for-profit organisations, local entrepreneurs, and innovators. Both experienced implementers as well as emerging entrepreneurs implementing are encouraged to apply. All three thematic challenges prioritise locally led innovations that build the resilience of women and youth (>50% of people supported should be women or youth).

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

1.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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

What winners will receive: 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).

Challenge Guidelines Before applying, please read the guidelines carefully. The guidelines include more detailed information about the Innovation Challenge call for proposals, eligibility criteria, and examples of the types of solutions we are looking for.

Read the Guidelines here: Link

How to apply We have one consolidated and simple form to apply for these three challenges and we accept and encourage proposals that align with more than one challenge. To apply, complete this submittable form and submit it before the deadline. Please make sure you read and respond to all the questions, and that you understand the eligibility and assessment criteria. We are only accepting applications submitted in English via submittable and will not accept emailed applications. We will accept only one proposal from an organisation, an organisation can be a partner in other proposals.

Apply via submittable here: Link

Timeline: 1 May 2026: The call for proposals opens

13 May at 15:00 CEST: Webinar for potential applicants. Register here: Link

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

If you have any questions please contact: challenge@globalresiliencepartnership.org