Fund - Climate and Care Initiative

The Climate & Care Initiative: apply now!

Supporting the intersection of climate and care in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Climate & Care Initiative, backed by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and led by a consortium including the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), Oxfam Canada, and Fundación Avina in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Care, seeks innovative practices that connect climate and care to promote equitable and sustainable development.

This fund is a call to action for those at the forefront of climate and care work to develop solutions and evidence on the importance of integrating these critical areas.

About this funding opportunity

Climate change and care work are deeply intertwined. Climate change increases the need for paid and unpaid care work, mostly done by women. It reduces access to natural resources like water and firewood, while mitigation activities such as waste management and biodiversity care also fall on unpaid female labor. This burden limits caregivers’ participation in climate decision-making and in green jobs that contribute to just transitions. By integrating climate and care action, we have the chance to build resilient, sustainable systems towards a just societies.

Whether you’re a grassroots organization, NGO, or movement in the Global South working in climate and care agendas, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference. We’re looking for projects that not only recognize the connection between climate and care, but actively work to transform it.

*To better understand this intersection, explore our theoretical framework.

Key information

Systemic transformation

We seek support projects that combine climate action and care work, advancing gender equity and sustainability.

Financial support

Up to $50,000 USD per project for innovative practices in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Please check the list of prioritized countries.

Global impact

We are looking for projects that generate evidence to influence policy and are interested in sharing and advocating for their agenda in international forums on climate and care.

The deadline to apply is November 23th, 2024

All you need to know

What we are looking for

Your project should:

Demonstrate a clear link between climate action (align with national and international climate strategies) and care work (align with the 5Rs for care).
Empower women, grassroots organizations and local communities to lead sustainable practices.
Foster a feminist just transition that prioritizes equity and sustainability.
Be led by a Global South organization and implemented in one of the prioritized countries.

Key Dates

Call for proposals opens: 21th of October, 2024
Informative sessions: October 30th and November 13th, 2024 – 2:00pm UTC
Submission deadline: 23th of November, 2024
Announcement of selected projects: 12th of December, 2024

Focus areas

The initiative will provide grants to support practices at the intersection of care and climate that contribute to improving the resilience and livelihoods of vulnerable communities, while fostering a just transition. The work should aim to address challenges such as:

Climate adaptation and care work: projects that enhance resilience to climate change by integrating care practices, particularly those led by women.
Community-centered climate actions: Support for local and indigenous movements engaged in environmental conservation and climate adaptation through care work.
Evidence generation and advocacy: projects that contribute to national and international dialogues on climate and care policies, highlighting the contributions of grassroots care initiatives to climate action.

Eligibility criteria

The Climate and Care fund is open to grassroots organizations, NGOs, and social movements based in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Eligible projects must meet the following criteria:

Climate-care nexus: the proposal must clearly address how the project links climate and care, showcasing contributions to both agendas.
Theory of change: the proposal should include a clear theory of change, with specific objectives, goals, and an action plan.
Experience: the lead organization must be based in the Global South, with a demonstrated track record in climate or care work.
Sustainability: the proposal must outline how the project will continue beyond the funding provided by the initiative.
Alignment with NDCs: projects must align with national climate strategies (NDCs) or other relevant climate policies.

Geographic focus

The initiative focuses on the following regions:

Latin America and the Caribbean:
América Latina y el Caribe | Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, México, Perú, Panamá, República Dominicana, Uruguay
Sub-Saharan Africa
África subsahariana | Cabo Verde, Costa de Marfil, Etiopía, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauricio, Namibia, Níger, Nigeria, Sierra Leon, Sudáfrica, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabue

Budget and duration of support

Each selected project can receive up to USD 60,000. The total available fund is USD 600,000, which will be awarded to between 10 to 20 projects. The duration of the grant can be up to 14 months, with concrete results expected by month 12.

Selection process

A consortium comprising Fundación Avina, UNRISD, and Oxfam Canada will oversee the selection process. The process includes an initial eligibility screening, followed by a detailed review by a selection committe. All projects will be notified about their results at the end of the selection process.