Implementing Partnership Opportunity for ARA Members
Call Opens: 3 November 2025
Proposal Deadline: 21 November 2025 at 23:59 Bangkok/Indochina Time
Number of Grants: Three grants executed through member-led implementing partners in three regions
Region-Grant Amount-Currency (including NPAC):
Africa: GBP 130,000
Latin America and Caribbean: GBP 52,000
Asia-Pacific: GBP 52,000
Implementation Period: Maximum 6 months (upon contract signing) between January 2026 to 15 July 2026, followed by audit and final report by 15 August 2026.
IMPORTANT: Proposals will ONLY be accepted through the online submission platform: SUBMISSION LINK
Continue reading for more details on how to apply and send your questions to secretariat@adaptationresearchalliance.org with the subject ‘ARA Grant Question’ by 7 November 2025. Replies will be posted to the ARA website by 14 November 2025.
Eligibility Criteria for Implementing Partners
Applicants must comply with the basic eligibility criteria below to be considered by the review panel:
- The applying entity must be a member of the ARA.
- ARA Member organisations can apply individually or as a consortium with other members. The proposal lead organisation must be based in the region from which they are applying.
- The applicants must have prior experience managing funding from donors like FCDO, USAID, Sida etc.
- Applicants must be able to support a minimum of eight (8) EAPs in Africa. In the LAC and Asia regions, at least four (4) EAPs must be supported in each region. At least 30% of these must be women.
- Proposals must clearly demonstrate links to AR 7 WG II thematic areas.
- The proposal must demonstrate gender and social equity considerations.
- The grantees must be able to attend the virtual Kick-off Meet and Greet (February 2026) and the requested Tracking Learning and Sharing Engagements.
- Grantees must comply with FCDO’s Program Expenditure: Eligible Cost Guidance and SEI’s Financial Reporting Guidelines for Sub-grantees.The conditions set in these documents shall be applied to all steps of forwarded funds in a consistent manner.
- The lead organisation bank account must be able to receive funds from foreign accounts. The entity receiving the funds will be responsible for contracting and expenses.
- Proposals must be submitted in English.
- Rates for project staff must be competitive per country and/or region.
- Applicants must be able to operate with a non-project attributable cost rate of not more than 10% of the project's total cost.
Selection Criteria
Eligible applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Strong preference will be given to proposals led by organisations in the Global South and with South-South collaborations (meaning all participating organisations are within the Global South).
- Demonstrated understanding of IPCC AR7, WG II processes and Thematic Areas
- Strong understanding of challenges faced by EAPs in their region for engaging with global adaptation policy processes and platforms.
- Existing links with journals/publications of repute, as well as with senior scientists and researchers who can mentor EAPs.
- Experience in integrating gender equality, disability and social inclusion and a human rights-based approach into climate and environmental research and studies.
- Applicants who demonstrate a transparent, democratic and gender sensitive methodology for selecting EAPs in their region.
- Applications that demonstrate the following types of change resulting from their inputs will be highly favoured:
- Capability – Building writing, publishing, and analytical skills among Global South adaptation professionals.
- Credibility – Elevating grey and practitioner literature from the Global South to peer-reviewed standards.
- Connectivity – Linking Global South emerging professionals to global research networks, IPCC authors, and ARA mentors.
- Continuity – Establishing sustainable mentoring and publication ecosystems for long-term knowledge production within ARA, among ARA members, and the wider regional networks.
- Ability to complete implementation and reporting requirements in the given time frame.
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Technical Quality (40%)
- Clear understanding of grant objectives
- Methodological rigor and appropriateness in selection of EAPs (including integration of gender equality), facilitating mentoring and publication through journals
- Feasibility of the proposed approach
- Team Expertise (30%)
- Relevant experience and qualifications of management team
- Track record in advocacy through global platforms and processes like the IPCC
- Regional knowledge, networks, and connections with the targeted stakeholders of EAPs, mentors and journals
- Impact Potential (15%)
- Expected contribution to the grant objectives
- Policy relevance and uptake potential
- Stakeholder engagement strategy
- Sustainability of outcomes
- Financial Management Capacity, Budget and Timeline (15%)
- Demonstrated organisational financial management capacity for international grants’ compliance and reporting
- Cost-effectiveness
- Realistic timeline
- Clear budget justification
- Value for money
Note: It is permissible for the implementing partner to transfer funds onwards in the form of sub-grants, subcontracts, or consultancy agreements to other organizations (e.g., consortium partners or entities designated as EAPs or service providers), as well as to individuals designated as EAPs. Such onward arrangements shall be undertaken in accordance with the implementing partner’s own applicable rules and regulations, while also complying with SEI and FCDO financial guidelines.
The implementing partner may, where appropriate, provide honoraria to EAPs, provided that such payments are allowable under the implementing partner’s governing rules and regulations while also being consistent with SEI and FCDO’s financial requirements.
To support the granting decision, the ARA reserves the right to assess the track record of the applicants’ delivery and compliance with past grants, projects and contracts (if any) with ARA and SEI in which the applicants have been involved as one of the key actors.
How to Apply:
Submission Process:
- Download the Narrative and Budgets Application Forms
- Access the online platform: SUBMISSION LINK
- Create account & log in
- Complete application form
- Upload all required documents
- Submit before deadline of 21 November 2025
Important Notes
- Email submissions will NOT be accepted
- Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed
- Late submissions will NOT be considered
- Only one grant can be awarded to each lead organization.
- The lead organization will enter into a sub-grant agreement with SEI as the host of the ARA Secretariat.
- ARA reserves the right not to award the contract to the shortlisted organization that fails to meet expectations during the proposal refinement and due diligence processes.
Please complete all sections of the application within the specified word limits. Read the proposal and budget submission templates for further guidance on submitting your application. Applications must be submitted in English only.
Initial clarification questions can be sent to secretariat@adaptationresearchalliance.org with the subject ‘ARA Grant Question’ by 7 November 2025, after which responses to all questions will be published on our website by 14 November.
Tentative Timeline
Call Launch | 3-Nov-25 |
Clarification queries to be sent until: | 7-Nov-25 |
FAQ’s published on ARA website | 14-Nov-25 |
Proposal Deadline | 21-Nov-25 |
Proposal and budget review completed | 5-Dec |
Meeting with selected applicants by | 10-Dec-25 |
Final Refinement & Submission, Grant Contract Template Review, Due diligence by | 19-Dec-25 |
Contract signing by | 15-Jan-26 |
Project Start | Upon signing contract |
Project Completion | Maximum 7 months after signing contract |
Thank you for considering this funding opportunity. We look forward to receiving your proposal.
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