About this opportunity
UNESCO has opened the fourth global call for initiatives under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, the ten year programme from 2024 to 2033 that asks science and innovation to serve inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth. The call invites the global scientific community and partners across sectors to put forward proposals with measurable, high quality and transformative impact, and submissions stay open until 15 November 2026.
This round gives particular weight to actionable scientific knowledge, meaning research that speaks to a defined sustainable development challenge and connects to a credible pathway towards decisions, implementation, uptake, adaptation or measurable impact. A proposal can take many forms, from science based solutions designed with or for identifiable users, to decision support tools, data products, platforms and models, evidence informed policy support, demonstration projects tested in real world settings, capacity building activities and open, accessible knowledge products.
Endorsed initiatives join the Decade's growing portfolio of recognised actions and gain visibility within a global network that links science to policy and society. Across all priority areas, UNESCO gives preference to proposals that involve end users and knowledge holders from the design stage, address equity and gender considerations, and offer a believable route for testing, uptake, replication or scaling.
What you receive
- Official endorsement as an initiative of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development.
- Inclusion in the Decade's portfolio of endorsed initiatives, with visibility across UNESCO's global science for development network.
- A recognised platform to connect science to policy, practice and community action for sustainable development.
Who can apply
- Open worldwide with no country restriction, and African institutions, researchers and partners are expressly welcome under the Decade's Priority Africa focus.
- Aimed at the global scientific community and partners across sectors, including universities, research institutes, organisations and networks that can lead an initiative.
- Proposals may come from any scientific field relevant to sustainable development, including natural, health, social, human and applied sciences and, where relevant, Indigenous and local knowledge systems.
Who should not apply
- This is a call for endorsed initiatives rather than a cash grant, so no funding amount is attached to selection.
Documents to prepare
- The completed online proposal submission form.
- A proposal prepared after reading the concept note and the criteria and procedure for the call.
How to apply
- Read the concept note and the criteria and procedure for the fourth call on the official UNESCO Science Decade page.
- Prepare a proposal that shows how it will produce, translate or apply actionable scientific knowledge through one or more of the listed pathways.
- Open the official submission form and complete your proposal before 15 November 2026.
Selection process
- Proposals are assessed against the criteria set out in the concept note for the call.
- Priority is given to initiatives with a clear science to action pathway that contribute to the expected outcomes of the Decade.
- Higher weight is placed on proposals that involve end users and knowledge holders from the design stage, address equity and gender, and provide a credible pathway for testing, uptake, adaptation, replication or scaling.
Sources and verification
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