About this opportunity
Oilwatch has spent more than three decades working with frontline communities to stop fossil fuel extraction, and its 2026 small grants programme is built on a simple premise: the people living above the oil, gas, coal and minerals should hold the money that defends their own territory. Facilitated by Oilwatch International in partnership with the Global Green Grants Fund, the call runs under the theme Earth, Energy, Equity, and offers up to USD 5,000 for projects lasting 6 to 9 months.
The five thematic areas are where the programme gets concrete. Defending the Earth covers resistance to oil, gas and coal expansion, forest, mangrove and wetland protection, community pollution monitoring and legal or policy advocacy. Energy justice and energy democracy covers community owned renewable energy, energy literacy, just transition dialogue, women's leadership in energy access and youth led decentralised energy innovation. Equity and climate justice covers Indigenous territorial rights, gender justice in environmental governance, protection of environmental defenders and climate reparations advocacy. Keeping fossil fuels in the ground funds campaigns against new oil and gas projects. Restoring communities and ecosystems funds reforestation with native species, wetland restoration, agroecology and traditional ecological knowledge.
Two conditions decide whether an application can move. You must be a grassroots, Indigenous Peoples, community based, women's or youth-led organisation, an environmental justice group, a small civil society organisation, a social movement or a local advocacy network that is an active member or partner of Oilwatch and fully supports its objectives. And your proposal must be built on the Oilwatch Proposal Template in four sections, basic data, project description, context and policy environment, and implementation, sustainability and budget, because the review team scores it section by section. Proposals promoting fossil gas, carbon offsets or trading, large scale geoengineering or industrial biofuels will not be considered at all.
The mechanics are quick once the template is done. Send the completed application to the Africa hub at grants@oilwatch.africa with GGF Application in the subject line, and it must reach the officers no later than Friday 13 November 2026, 23:59 hrs GMT. Funds are paid directly by the Global Green Grants Fund, and preference goes to organisations already working with communities affected by oil, gas, coal, mining and other extractive industries.
What you receive
- Up to USD 5,000 in funding for community driven action
- A 6 to 9 month project window matched to the work rather than a reporting cycle
- Direct disbursement from the Global Green Grants Fund, with Oilwatch facilitating the rest of the process
- Standing inside a network that has worked with frontline communities for over three decades
- Support for defending territories, resisting fossil fuel expansion and building community centred energy futures
Who can apply
- You are a grassroots, Indigenous Peoples, community based, women's or youth-led organisation, an environmental justice group, a small civil society organisation, a social movement or a local advocacy network
- You are an active member or partner of Oilwatch and you fully support the network's objectives
- Your proposal addresses one or more of the five thematic call areas: defending the Earth, energy justice and energy democracy, equity and climate justice, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, and restoring communities and ecosystems
- Your proposal clearly aligns with Oilwatch's guiding principles, including keeping fossil fuels in the ground, respect for Indigenous Peoples' rights, community self-determination, energy democracy, gender equity and ecological integrity
- Preference goes to organisations working directly with frontline communities affected by oil, gas, coal, mining or other extractive industries
Who should not apply
- Proposals promoting fossil gas, carbon offsets or carbon trading, large scale geoengineering, industrial biofuels or other false climate solutions will not be considered
- Organisations that are not active members or partners of Oilwatch
- Proposals that oppose any of Oilwatch's stated principles, including solidarity among frontline communities and opposition to green colonialism and extractivism
- Applications that reach the regional officers after Friday 13 November 2026, 23:59 hrs GMT
Documents to prepare
- A completed proposal built on the Oilwatch Proposal Template
- Section 1 Basic Data
- Section 2 Project Description
- Section 3 Context and Policy Environment for the Proposed Project
- Section 4 Project Implementation, Sustainability and Budget
How to apply
- Read the full call on the Oilwatch page, https://www.oilwatch.org/2026-08-12/small-grants-programme-2026/, and pick the thematic area or areas your work sits in.
- Build your proposal on the Oilwatch Proposal Template, organised into the four sections the page lists, since the review team scores it section by section.
- Confirm your standing as an active member or partner of Oilwatch before you write, because that is a stated condition.
- Email the completed application to the Africa hub at grants@oilwatch.africa with GGF Application in the subject line.
- Make sure it reaches the officers no later than Friday 13 November 2026, 23:59 hrs GMT.
Selection process
- Proposals are scored on the Proposal Template sections and their respective ratings as decided by the review team
- Reviewers prioritise cost efficient, measurable activities that respond to clearly identified community needs
- Priority also goes to work that advances Oilwatch's cross cutting priorities: halting fossil fuel extraction, promoting renewable and alternative energy, and building resilient environmental and climate justice movements
- Responses to emergencies driven by fossil fuel exploration or exploitation, or by climate impacts, are prioritised
- Evidence based proposals that draw on lessons learned and show demonstrated implementation capacity score highest
- The grants are highly competitive and the best proposals meeting Oilwatch criteria are funded by the Global Green Grants Fund
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
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- ISDAO 9th Regional Call for Proposals for West Africa
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Questions applicants ask
Does Oilwatch hold the money?
No. Funds are disbursed directly by the Global Green Grants Fund. All other processes, including the call, the review and the facilitation, are handled by Oilwatch.
How long can the project run?
The programme funds projects with a duration of 6 to 9 months.
Do we have to be an Oilwatch member?
Applications are welcome from organisations that are active members or partners of Oilwatch and that fully support the network's objectives, so that relationship is a condition rather than a bonus.
What will not be funded?
Proposals promoting fossil gas, carbon offsets or carbon trading, large scale geoengineering, industrial biofuels or other false climate solutions will not be considered.
Where does an African applicant send the form?
To the Africa hub at grants@oilwatch.africa, with GGF Application in the subject line. Applications must reach the officers no later than Friday 13 November 2026, 23:59 hrs GMT.
Important disclaimer
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