Are you a youth developing climate solutions and need funding? Then this is for you.
The Global Youth Climate Action Fund (GYCAF) is the first of its kind climate fund that targets youth-led organizations and networks seeking funding for their projects and businesses.
The Global Youth Climate Action Fund (GYCAF) offers a wide range of climate financing solutions for young people to enable them to take effective action on climate change.
Microgrants Funding Focus
Grants will be given to solutions that address the following:
Sustainable Agriculture: Smart agriculture to ensure food sustainability.
Clean Energy: Powering communities in need of light and energy.
Oceans: Protecting marine life and mitigating climate catastrophes.
Capacity Building: Empowering youth with entrepreneurship skills.
Green Stewardship: Protecting biodiversity and influencing behavioral change.
Technology and Innovation: Breakthroughs that solve climate-related problems.
Eligibility Criteria
- Youth-led organization (80% majority-owned; the definition of youth adopted is under 30 years of age)
- Strong motivation on creating change or an impact in the community through grassroots activism
- Conducting grassroots activism in their community
- Seeking grants to kick-start or support already existing initiatives
- Clear environment and socio-economic impacts of the project/initiative
- A clear idea of how to use the funds and why this grant will be useful to create more value and impact for the project
- Demonstrates well-planned project, with well-developed strategy, timeline, budgeting, and team management
Selection Criteria
Goal Alignment: The goal must align with GYCAF vision of realizing youth projects in sustainability
Functionality and Relevance: Must understand the audience and relevance of the project to the intended audience; Must determine how the project addresses a problem that is not currently or sufficiently being addressed
Financial Planning: Have great financial awareness with a clear idea of the project finances to be sustainable (including a clear budget/needs table); Have a clear understanding of how the team plans to meet the financial needs of the project; Must understand long-term financial implications of the project (if relevant)
Team: Must be motivated and committed to the project; Must demonstrate cohesion and excellent group dynamics with a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities
Implementability: Must demonstrate clear impact with a focus on the community; Have a clear timeline for implementation of the project; Must understand the key barriers to the successful deployment of the project and how the team plans on overcoming them
Selection Team
The Global Youth Climate Action Fund (GYCAF) selection team will be made up of a diverse cohort of experienced youth leaders from around the world with different regional expertise, experience, and perspective, which will help the fund make the most impact and select projects that will make a meaningful difference.
Because the GYCAF strongly believes in involving young people in the decision-making process, it has set up a Youth Fund Committee to actively participate in the grant selection process for the year 2022.
The selection committee is made up of representatives from the five regions: Africa, North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Each region has committee members and alternate committee members that will serve similar functions within their respective roles.
Grant Size
Depending on the grantee’s application, successful applicants will be awarded grants between USD 500 – USD 1,000.
Responsibilities and Timeline
Each team is requested to submit their applications by February 11th, 2022.
You may be requested to submit additional documentation if the selection committee sees fit. Failure to submit additional information may result in your project receiving less/no funding, so please make sure you regularly check your communication channels to ensure no requests are missed.
The Global Youth Climate Action Fund (GYCAF) team will review submissions and announce the results by March 7th, 2022. Teams that will receive funding shall be personally notified of the outcome.
If your application is successful, you will need to fill out another form that details how you would like to receive the grant. You will have 7 working days to fill out the form from the day you receive it. Failure to submit the form will disqualify your project from receiving the funds.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis if there are more funds to be distributed until the funds run out.
After nine months, successful applicants will be required to submit additional documentation that details the use of the funds and the impact or progress of the project. This information will be used for the performance review of the fund by the GYCAF team. No personal information will be shared without prior consent from the applicant.
Application process
Applicants will go through simple application processes to communicate to the team their climate finance needs.
A youth fund board comprising qualified regional board members will help guide and realign the needs to those of the respective regions and forward the applications for funding approval.
If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].
Interested? apply here.