Large Grants (ILG Call 2025)

About this grant

The IKI Large Grants are a funding instrument of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the German Federal Government's key instrument for supporting international climate action and biodiversity conservation. The Large Grants combine the previous Thematic and Country calls and address current challenges in climate change mitigation, adaptation to the impacts of climate change, natural carbon sinks, and biodiversity conservation. Thematic and country priorities are derived from decisions under the UNFCCC and the CBD, and from the strategic objectives of the IKI strategy up to 2030, with country priorities coordinated closely with partner ministries in IKI priority countries. Funding per project ranges from 5 to 20 million euros, and projects may run for up to eight years. Funding may be bilateral, regional or global. Selection occurs annually and proceeds in two phases: an outline phase via an ideas competition, in which the ministries select one or two outlines per thematic priority, and a proposal phase, in which selected applicants submit detailed proposals. A preparation phase is recommended and its expenditures are eligible within the overall budget. Final funding decisions are made by the IKI Office at Zukunft - Umwelt - Gesellschaft gGmbH (ZUG) after review of the detailed proposal. The page describes the 2025 call as a closed call and notes an upcoming Large Grants Call 2026 that is in preparation, with the ideas competition details to be published separately.

Eligibility

Participation in the ideas competition is open to non-governmental organisations, universities and research institutions, international intergovernmental organisations and institutions such as development banks, United Nations organisations and programmes, implementing organisations of the Federal Republic of Germany, and commercial enterprises. Several organisations and or companies may apply as a consortium. Partner country governments and individuals cannot participate in the ideas competition. Eligibility for specific calls is further defined in each call's funding information.

How it's scored

Outlines are first checked against minimum requirements, then the most promising are shortlisted and reviewed in depth internally and externally by independent experts against the IKI selection criteria. The responsible ministries select outlines based on review results and available budget, with partner countries closely involved for country priorities. Proposals in phase two are reviewed by the IKI Office before a final funding decision. Detailed criteria are published as a PDF for each call; the page links to the 2025 selection criteria but their weightings are not stated in the text.

Key requirements

• ✓Projects must focus on climate action and/or biodiversity conservation in IKI partner countries
• ✓Applicants must be eligible entities operating in the Global South
• ✓Projects should demonstrate significant scale and impact potential aligned with IKI's strategic priorities

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does International Climate Initiative (IKI) offer?

Large Grants (ILG Call 2025) offers $5.5M – $22M.

Who can apply for Large Grants (ILG Call 2025)?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL-SOUTH; nonprofit, charity, local-authority, research-institution, university, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Climate adaptation funding helps communities, infrastructure and businesses prepare for heat, flooding, drought and sea level rise. Most of it is public and multilateral money, often targeted at vulnerable regions and delivered with local government. Calls usually ask for a climate risk assessment and evidence that local people shaped the plan.