Sustainability Accelerator Microgrants 2024
This initiative provides £1000 grants to crowdsource and catalyze innovative ideas to reach a sustainable future.
Colorful plastic shapes of what will become electric tricycle cabs. Photo: Lucas Schifres/Getty Images.
Microgrants: A call to action
The next decade will be crucial for the future of the planet and we need to define and deliver a blueprint today for how to build a fairer and more sustainable tomorrow.
In the face of this challenge, the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator is looking for innovative and engaging ideas that accelerate innovative policy solutions for a fair and sustainable future – for the environment and for people.
We would like to empower and bring together the thought leaders and changemakers of tomorrow who will have a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future.
Everyone can submit their idea, whether you’re an activist, changemaker, policymaker, disruptor or member of the public, we want to hear from you.
Grants of £1,000 are available for innovative and creative people to transform their ideas for sustainability solutions into reality.
The microgrants will provide a springboard for novel ideas to solve sustainability challenges. Your idea should lead to a tangible output or process that could be implemented in different geographies and contexts. This could be a digital tool, a physical product, an event, or even work to shape or influence a policy idea. You need to demonstrate how it could help to:
- Solve an existing sustainability issue, preferably in a way that could be implemented by policymakers worldwide.
- Accelerate progress towards international sustainability targets.
Ideas should also demonstrate their resonance based on a combination of relevance (how important it is) and reach (how scalable it is across a range of geographic contexts).
Eligibility
This is a unique opportunity for individuals and groups to bring to life their idea for an innovative sustainability solution. Whether you use it to get a project off the ground, or scale-up an existing one, we hope the grant enables you to turn your thoughts into action.
You must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You do not need to be a Chatham House member to apply!
- We welcome applications from all backgrounds and geographies.
- Applicants must be based in the country where the initiative will take place.
- Applicants can submit their idea as an individual or a group.
- If applying in a partnership, at least one of the applicants must be based in the country where the initiative will take place.
- If applying in a partnership, there must be one primary applicant who will receive the grant funding and will hold overall responsibility for the initiative.
- Applications from registered businesses or companies will not be accepted. Applicants must be applying as individuals or group of individuals or from charitable/community organizations.
- Applicants must be 18+ at the time of application.
- All applications and reporting should be completed in English.
How to apply
You can apply by completing a short application form answering the questions below, which you can access here. Applications must be submitted by 15 April 2024.
- What is your idea in 50 words?
- Please outline your idea in more detail (1,500 words)
- How does your idea accelerate a fair and sustainable future? (200 words)
- What is novel or innovative about your approach? (200 words)
- How will your idea resonate? What is its relevance and reach? (200 words)
- Please set out how you would allocate the funds and your project timeline. (200 words)
- How will you measure the impact of your project? (200 words)
Submissions will be considered by an internal selection panel consisting of Chatham House. This is an experimental funding scheme. We welcome feedback on any aspect of the microgrant initiative.
Should you have further questions please refer to the FAQs below or contact us at sustainabilityaccelerator@chathamhouse.org.