Call summary :

The Climate Justice Impact Fund for Africa (CJIFA) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2025 Community Empowerment Grant Program, designed to foster inclusive, locally led climate action across the African continent. This initiative empowers grassroots and community-based organizations to spearhead innovative, practical solutions to climate challenges while advancing environmental justice, equity, and sustainable development.

Through this program, CJIFA seeks to catalyze transformative, community-driven responses to climate change—bridging the gap between global ambitions and local realities.

A. Small Grant Scheme – Purpose & Vision

The Small Grant Scheme aims to support high-impact, market-driven, and community-focused climate finance initiatives across Africa. Recognizing the unique strengths and adaptive capacities of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), this scheme invests in locally owned responses that maximize impact even with limited resources.

B. Core Objectives

- Expand Climate Dialogue
- Strengthen and widen national conversations around climate change, with an emphasis on the unique challenges and solutions emerging from African communities.
- Enhance Accountability
- Empower community-based organizations to advocate for improved service delivery, social justice, and climate accountability—grounded in economic, social, and cultural rights.
- Empower Marginalized Groups
- Support the participation of structurally excluded and underrepresented communities—including women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities- in shaping climate solutions and advocating for human rights.

C. Geographic Scope

Grants are available to organizations based in eligible African countries. The Fund prioritizes applications from groups working directly with communities most affected by climate change and systemic injustice.

D. Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants include:

- Registered CBOs, CSOs, and NGOs working on climate justice and community resilience
- Organizations led by or working closely with marginalized or vulnerable groups
- Entities able to demonstrate a track record of grassroots engagement and impact

Applicants must meet the minimum operational and financial management standards outlined in the full guidelines.

E. Ineligible Applications

Applications will not be considered if:

- They are submitted by individuals (not organizations)
- They lack a clear climate justice or community empowerment focus
- They are submitted without proper registration or legal status
- The organization is based outside the African continent

F. Thematic Focus Areas

CJIFA prioritizes proposals aligned with the following themes:

- Climate adaptation and resilience at the community level
- Just energy transitions and access to renewable energy
- Sustainable livelihoods and food systems under climate stress
- Youth-led and women-led climate action
- Environmental governance, transparency, and advocacy
- Human rights and climate justice frameworks

G. Grant Details
- Grants range from USD 5,000 to 8,000 per organization.
- Funding Duration: Typically 6 to 12 months
- Support Includes: Financial assistance, capacity building, networking, and visibility

H. Evaluation Criteria

We evaluate eligible applications based on the following criteria:

- Innovative Initiatives: It supports creative and pioneering projects that bring about positive change in climate justice.
- Catalytic potential: Does the project contribute to climate mitigation and/ adaptation in developing economies?
- Is the project replicable and/ scalable?
- Mobilization: Does the project have the potential to mobilize governmental and private sector partners in collectively developing solutions, and pursue goals set by their sub-national governments, national development blueprints?
- Sustainability: Socio- cultural respect, community participation, political cohesion, economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability. Compliance with the nation’s sustainability goals.
- Inclusivity: Has the project included women, youth, people living with disabilities (PLWD), minority groups, and indigenous people.