Applications Invited for the Restoration Returns Grants

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About the Organization

The G20 Global Land Initiative empowers civil society through a variety of activities. It offers restoration grants, supports citizen science, and ensures inclusive consultations with range of stakeholders.

G20 GLI is building capacity for lasting impact by connecting collaborative institutions, integrating environmental education into agriculture and forestry curricula, expanding access to knowledge through online learning, and training the next generation of restoration champions. The G20 Global Land Initiative engages the private sector through activities such as establishing a Restoration Industry Forum, hosting policy dialogues, and supporting green start-ups. To showcase best practice, G20 GLI engages in the following activities: sharing knowledge, showcasing best practices and fostering collaboration.

About the Grant

Formerly known as the Small Grants Award for Field-Level Restoration Projects, the award supports community-led ecosystem restoration initiatives that have a high return for people, their lands and livelihoods.

Projects from all countries in the world are eligible. The call is open to organizations of all sizes for activities at the community level.

For the inaugural round in 2024, the Initiative received 673 applications from over 100 countries, and received grants ranging from US$5,000 to US$15,000.

Ultimately, 39 projects working on diverse landscapes and restoration strategies received a total of US$395,000.

The Initiative is increasing the amount allocated to each awardee to US$17,000 in response both to the innovation of the projects and the overwhelming demand for support for land restoration at the grassroots level.

The Restoration Returns Award is part of G20 GLI’s strategy to restore 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 and reduce land degradation by 50 per cent by 2040.

Background:

During the Saudi Arabian presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20), the leaders of the G20 launched the Global Initiative for Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats (henceforth referred to as G20 Global Land Initiative). The G20 Global Land Initiative has a global ambition of 50% reduction in land degradation by 2040. To ensure the effective implementation of this goal, an Initiative Coordination Office was established at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. Moreover, the G20 Global Land Initiative is also leading the Land Challenge of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

The G20 Global Land Initiative is undertaking a series of activities around the world to promote land restoration at scale. These include sharing and showcasing best practices, working with the private sector to see restoration as a business opportunity, working with civil society to promote advocacy for land restoration, and working with global universities to build largescale capacity for restoration. As part of its activities, the G20 Global Land Initiative is interested in supporting selected field restoration projects undertaken by civil society organizations with a view to promote community action for land restoration. The estimated grant amount is USD 17,000.

Scope for Eligibility:

• Land restoration would mean improving land cover or land productivity and as such could involve reforestation, afforestation, sustainable agriculture, waste management avoiding land contamination, clean-up of contaminated land, avoiding waterlogging, rewetting of peatlands and improving soil quality.
• Ecosystem restoration work in any of the landscapes forests, grasslands, drylands, rangelands, croplands, peatlands, mangroves, soil, tundra and wetlands could be supported.
• The restoration work can take place anywhere in the world, not limited to G20 member countries. Priority consideration will be given to submissions of civil society organizations from developing and least developed countries.
• Both proposed and ongoing projects may be considered for support, though preference will be given to ongoing operations.
• The funds may be utilized for expanding the area of restoration, improving techniques, use of new technology, providing technical assistance, conducting capacity building programmes or documentation of lessons learnt and communication of progress. Funds may also be used for a combination of the above.
• Organizations must have an annual budget greater than USD 25,000 to be eligible. The funding should be used to upscale and elevate planned or ongoing efforts. Stand-alone projects solely depending on this grant will not be considered for support.
• Multi-year support can be considered based on demonstrated progress of implementation of the project.
• Organization must be accredited with UNCCD. If you are not yet accredited, please apply for UNCCD accreditation before you submit the Grant application. You can still apply to the grant if your accreditation is still in process. More information can be found here.
• Please note that only organizations are eligible for consideration, not individuals.

How to Apply

Applications will close on 15 September 2025.

For more detailed Application information for the Restoration Returns grant, visit: https://grih.info/grant-application-form/

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Livelihood Rural Development Others