Earth. Energy. Equity.

Supporting Community-Led Action for Climate and Environmental Justice

Facilitated by Oilwatch International, in partnership with the Global Green Grants Fund (GGF)

Oilwatch International invites grassroots organizations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, youth groups, women-led organizations, and social movements to apply for small grants supporting community-driven action to defend territories, resist fossil fuel expansion, and advance just, community-centred energy futures. For over three decades, Oilwatch has partnered with frontline communities across the Global South to halt fossil fuel extraction, strengthen peoples’ sovereignty, and advocate for an equitable transition beyond fossil fuels. This programme places Earth, Energy, and Equity at the centre of transformative, locally led action.

GRANT AMOUNT

Up to USD $5,000

PROJECT  DURATION

6–9 months

Thematic Call Areas

Proposals must address one or more of the following five thematic areas, each rooted in Oilwatch’s core mission of keeping fossil fuels in the ground and building just alternatives:

1. Defending the Earth

Protecting ecosystems and territories from extractive industries.

Examples: resistance to oil/gas/coal expansion; forest, mangrove and wetland protection; community pollution monitoring; biodiversity conservation; legal/policy advocacy; campaigns against destructive projects.

2. Energy Justice and Energy Democracy

People-centred renewable energy that replaces fossil fuels while respecting community rights.

Examples: community-owned renewable energy; energy literacy; just-transition dialogues; women’s leadership in energy access; youth-led decentralized energy innovation; policy advocacy.

3. Equity and Climate Justice

Advancing fairness, inclusion, and community rights in climate action.

Examples: Indigenous territorial rights; gender justice in environmental governance; youth climate leadership; climate reparations advocacy; protection of environmental defenders; community participation in decision-making.

4. Keeping Fossil Fuels in the Ground

Direct support for Oilwatch’s long-standing campaign against new fossil fuel extraction.

Examples: campaigns against new oil and gas projects; community mobilization; research supporting fossil-fuel phase-out; documentation of extraction impacts; advocacy for non-proliferation.

5. Restoring Communities and Ecosystems

Ecological restoration and community resilience.

Examples: restoration of degraded ecosystems; community-led reforestation with native species; wetland restoration; sustainable livelihoods; agroecology; traditional ecological knowledge.

Alignment with Oilwatch Principles

All proposals must clearly demonstrate alignment with Oilwatch’s guiding principles:

Keeping fossil fuels in the groundEnvironmental and climate justiceRespect for Indigenous Peoples’ rightsCommunity self-determinationEnergy democracy

Gender equity and social inclusionEcological integritySolidarity among frontline communitiesOpposition to false climate solutions, green colonialism, and extractivismRespect for human rights and the rights of nature

Not eligible: proposals promoting fossil gas, carbon offsets or carbon trading, large-scale geoengineering, industrial biofuels, or other false climate solutions will not be considered.

Who Can Apply

Applications are welcome from grassroots, Indigenous Peoples’, community-based, women’s, and youth-led organizations, environmental justice groups, small civil society organizations, social movements, and local advocacy networks that are active members or partners of Oilwatch and fully support the network’s objectives. Preference is given to organizations working directly with frontline communities affected by oil, gas, coal, mining, or other extractive industries. Funds are disbursed directly by GGF; all other processes are facilitated by Oilwatch.

Proposal Template

The Proposal Template should be organized into sections and will be scored based on the Proposal sections and their respective ratings as decided by the review team.

Sections Content:         

• 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

Proposal Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

The grants will be highly competitive and the best proposals that meet Oilwatch criteria will be funded by the Global Green Grants Fund (GGF).  Please note that all disbursement of funds for all those eligible for the funds will be done by GGF directly but all other processes will be facilitated by Oilwatch. 

Reviewers will prioritize proposals that: deliver cost-efficient, measurable activities responding to clearly identified community needs; advance Oilwatch’s cross-cutting priorities  halting fossil fuel extraction, promoting renewable/alternative energy, building resilient environmental and climate-justice movements; respond to emergencies driven by fossil fuel exploration/exploitation or climate impacts; and are evidence-based, drawing on lessons learned with demonstrated implementation capacity.

Deadline and Submission

Send completed applications to your regional hub, with ‘GGF Application’ in the subject line:

Applications must reach the officers no later than Friday, November 13, 2026, 23:59 hrs GMT. 

• Africa: grants@oilwatch.africa
• South East Asia: clengjulve@agham.org
• Latin America: owla.ggf@gmail.com