REACT Grant 2026: Funding Opportunity for Women-Led Organisations Advancing Climate Peacebuilding in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC ·Led Organisations Advancing Climate Peacebuilding in Uganda, Rwanda and DRC

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation has opened applications for the REsearch and ACTion (REACT) for women’s participation in environmental peacebuilding and climate change prevention (REACT) programme, a new funding opportunity supporting civil society organisations working to strengthen women’s participation in climate action, peacebuilding and gender-responsive policies.

The call for proposals is open from 3 August 2026 to 28 August 2026 and invites eligible organisations in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to apply for partnership funding.

Through REACT, selected organisations will receive support to implement projects that promote climate resilience, human security and sustainable peace in conflict-affected communities between January 2027 and December 2028.

About the REACT Programme

REACT is a three-year programme running from 2026 to 2028, led by The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation with support from the Austrian Development Agency.

The initiative focuses on strengthening the role of women in addressing the interconnected challenges of:

• Climate change
• Environmental degradation
• Conflict vulnerability
• Human security
• Gender inequality
• Peacebuilding processes

The programme recognises that women in conflict-affected regions often experience disproportionate impacts from climate change while remaining underrepresented in decision-making spaces related to environmental policies and peace processes.

REACT aims to change this by supporting women’s rights organisations and community-based actors to influence policies and develop locally driven solutions.

Funding Opportunity Overview

Kvinna till Kvinna plans to select up to two partner organisations in each country to implement REACT activities.

Eligible organisations from:

• Uganda
• Rwanda
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

can submit proposals under one of two available funding areas or combine both.

Funding Lot 1: Advocacy and Policy Influence

The first funding stream supports women’s rights and climate justice organisations working to influence decision-making processes.

Projects under this category should focus on strengthening advocacy efforts around:

• Women, Peace and Security (WPS) policies
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• Gender-responsive climate policies
• Local and national decision-making processes
• Regional and international climate discussions

Through this funding lot, organisations will help ensure that women’s voices are represented in climate governance and peacebuilding frameworks.

Funding Lot 2: Grassroots Climate and Peace Initiatives

The second funding stream supports community-based approaches that improve resilience among women and vulnerable communities affected by climate change and conflict.

Projects should promote:

• Gender-transformative solutions
• Community resilience strategies
• Local climate adaptation initiatives
• Women’s participation in environmental protection
• Peacebuilding at grassroots level

The funding aims to support practical solutions developed with communities facing climate and conflict-related challenges.

Who Can Apply?

The REACT call is open to legally registered civil society organisations operating in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC.

Eligible applicants include:

• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• Community-based organisations (CBOs)
• Associations
• Networks

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be legally registered with valid documentation
• Operate independently from political parties and religious institutions
• Have documented financial management systems
• Demonstrate experience promoting gender equality, women’s rights or women’s empowerment
• Have expertise relevant to the selected funding area
• Work in, or have experience in, conflict and climate-affected regions

Preferred Organisations

While not mandatory, REACT particularly encourages applications from organisations that demonstrate:

• Women-led leadership structures
• Strong experience in women, peace and security programming
• Expertise in gender-transformative approaches
• Experience in climate justice and environmental peacebuilding
• Work supporting persons with disabilities
• Engagement with indigenous and marginalised communities
• Experience in coalition building and cross-sector partnerships

Women-led organisations are especially encouraged to apply.

Organisations Not Eligible

The following applicants will not be considered:

• International NGOs (INGOs)
• Consultancy firms
• Consortiums

Only eligible local civil society organisations from the target countries can apply.

Application Timeline

The REACT application process will follow several stages:

3–28 August 2026: Call for Proposals Opens

Applicants submit shortened proposals for initial review and screening.

September 2026: Shortlisting

Selected organisations will be notified for the next stage, while unsuccessful applicants will be informed by the end of September or early October.

October 2026: Organisational Assessments

Shortlisted organisations will undergo organisational capacity assessments.

November 2026: Invitation for Full Proposals

Successful applicants will be invited to submit detailed proposals.

November–December 2026: Proposal Review

Full applications will be evaluated.

December 2026–January 2027: Final Selection and Partnership Agreements

Selected organisations will complete agreements and onboarding before project implementation begins.

Why This Funding Opportunity Matters

Climate change and conflict increasingly affect communities across East and Central Africa, with women often facing heightened risks due to existing social and economic inequalities.

The REACT programme provides an important opportunity for local organisations to strengthen women’s leadership in:

• Climate adaptation
• Environmental protection
• Peacebuilding
• Policy advocacy
• Community resilience

By supporting locally led initiatives, the programme seeks to create long-term solutions that address both climate vulnerability and conflict challenges.

How to Apply

Interested organisations can apply by downloading the relevant application templates and proposal guidelines for their country:

• Rwanda
• Uganda
• Democratic Republic of the Congo

Applicants must complete the required application form and submit their proposal before the deadline.

Organisations are encouraged to carefully review the full proposal guidelines, including available grant amounts and application requirements, before submission.

The deadline for applications is 28 August 2026.

About The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation works with more than 100 partner organisations in conflict-affected areas worldwide to strengthen women’s influence, rights and participation in peace processes.

Through partnerships with local women’s rights organisations, the foundation supports efforts to build sustainable peace and promote gender equality.

LEARN MORE HERE

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding