The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have announced up to USD 7.5 million in new grants to support ecosystem-based adaptation projects worldwide, unveiled through the Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Fund at COP17 in Ulaanbaatar.

The funding aims to accelerate innovative and scalable nature-based solutions that strengthen climate resilience, restore ecosystems, and address the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.

The announcement marks a significant expansion of the Global EbA Fund, introducing its eighth call for small-size grants alongside its first-ever medium-size grants opportunity. The new medium-size grants will offer up to USD 500,000 per project for initiatives lasting up to 24 months, designed to help organizations overcome the barriers that often keep promising adaptation solutions from reaching a larger scale.

The medium-size grants will support innovative financing models for ecosystem-based adaptation, climate resilience in fragile and conflict-affected settings, and stronger links between climate, biodiversity, and land restoration policies. Eligible applicants include national and international NGOs, community-based and Indigenous Peoples' organizations, universities, research institutions, and private-sector bodies.

Applications for the small-size grants will be accepted from September 28 to October 26, 2026, while the medium-size call will run from October 12 to November 16, 2026. To date, the Global EbA Fund has supported 75 projects across 41 countries and nine ecosystem types.

Published Date:2026-08-25