Apply now: The IKI Medium Grants Call 2026 is open!
Project ideas wanted on “green skills for the climate transition” and the conservation of marine ecosystems
Through the IKI Medium Grants, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) specifically supports civil society organisations, academic institutions and non-profit enterprises. The aim is to support innovative contributions to global climate action and biodiversity conservation.
This year, the thematic focus includes the development of green skills for climate action and the protection of marine ecosystems:
Local climate action – success through green skills
How can climate action, social inclusion and local economic development be brought together? For this year’s mitigation focus, we are looking for projects that address these issues – for example, through renewable energy, sustainable agriculture or low-emission construction methods.
Communities in the Global South are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change. At the same time, local climate action offers opportunities to create new sources of income, actively engage local people and strengthen regional economies. This creates benefits for both people and the climate.
A particular focus is on green skills: vocational training and skills development should open up new employment and income opportunities for local communities, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen social inclusion. We are looking for innovative approaches that effectively combine climate action with sustainable local development.
Future-proof coasts – strengthening marine ecosystems through practical, digital solutions
Coastal communities are important partners in protecting and restoring biodiversity. Simple digital solutions can enable them to document changes in their natural environment themselves and feed their findings directly into conservation measures and local decision-making processes.
For the biodiversity focus, we are looking for innovative ideas that actively involve local communities, equip them with digital tools and thereby strengthen nature conservation at the local level.
Die IKI Medium Grants 2026 auf einen Blick
All information on the application process, funding eligibility requirements and how to apply with your project concept can be found here:
Making an impact: the IKI Medium Grants in action
Seit 2020 fördern die IKI Medium Grants Projekte, die konkrete Lösungen für Klima- und Biodiversitätsschutz entwickeln und umsetzen.
Since 2020, the IKI Medium Grants have supported projects that develop and implement practical solutions for climate action and biodiversity conservation.
For example, in Ghana, 17 locally manufactured electric cargo bikes have collectively travelled more than 65,000 kilometres, avoiding over five tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The pilot project has since grown into a fleet of more than 300 electric bikes and generated over 400 green jobs.
In Kiribati, households are once again growing their own fruit and vegetables despite challenging environmental conditions, thanks to raised beds, aquaponics and biochar. Many households have continued growing their own produce independently after the project ended. This has helped them become more resilient to the impacts of climate change while reducing their dependence on food imports.
In rural Tanzania, demonstration plots for agroforestry have been established in eight villages, alongside tree nurseries and training opportunities. These initiatives enable farmers to test and share tree-based and cropping systems suited to local conditions in practice.
Find out more about the IKI Medium Grants projects
About IKI Medium Grants
Together with the IKI Large Grants and IKI Small Grants, the IKI Medium Grants form part of the International Climate Initiative’s competitive funding programme, IKI Compete.
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