The Restoration Returns Grants Program is now accepting applications for its 2025 cycle, offering $17,000 in funding per project to support impactful, community-led ecosystem restoration efforts across the globe. The application deadline is 15 September 2025.
This initiative is part of the G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI), which aims to restore one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 and reduce land degradation by 50% by 2040. The Restoration Returns Grant, formerly known as the Small Grants Award, is designed to fund field-level projects that create measurable benefits for both people and nature.
Who Can Apply?
The grant is open to civil society organizations, Indigenous groups, and local communities worldwide, with particular preference given to applicants from developing and least developed countries. Eligible organizations must have an annual operating budget above $25,000 and must be accredited by the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). Individuals are not eligible to apply.
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What Projects Are Supported?
Projects must focus on improving land productivity or land cover and can include:
- Reforestation and afforestation
- Agroforestry and sustainable agriculture
- Peatland rewetting and wetlands recovery
- Grassland and mangrove restoration
- Soil improvement and waste management
- Pollution clean-up and waterlogging prevention
Both new proposals and ongoing projects are eligible, though preference is given to initiatives that are already in progress.
How Can the Grant Be Used?
The $17,000 grant can be used for:
- Expanding restoration sites
- Introducing innovative techniques or technology
- Providing technical support or training
- Sharing restoration lessons and results
- Or a combination of the above
Projects may also receive multi-year funding, depending on progress and impact.
In 2024, the first round of this grant received 673 applications from over 100 countries, resulting in 39 selected projects that collectively received $395,000 in funding. Due to overwhelming interest and demonstrated innovation, the grant amount has now increased to $17,000 per project.
The Restoration Returns Grant is a flagship effort under the G20 Global Land Initiative’s mission to scale up land restoration, build community capacity, and encourage long-term environmental sustainability. The program is coordinated through the UNCCD Initiative Coordination Office in Bonn, Germany.
Apply by 15 September 2025
For more information and to submit your application, visit the official grant page:
https://grih.info/grant-application-form/
