Mountains ADAPT

Project title:

Small grants for community resilience in East Africa and the South Caucasus

The Mountains ADAPT small grants project empowers local mountain communities by offering funding of up to US$30,000 for needs-based and community-led adaptation solutions. The project supports inclusive ecosystem-based approaches that respond to climate change impacts in mountains and help communities protect their natural environment and improve livelihoods.

Description:

Mountain areas worldwide are particularly affected by the negative impacts of climate change, faced for instance with disproportionate temperature rises, loss of snow and ice cover, erratic rainfall, and worsening natural hazards. Risk is often increased through structural challenges such as remoteness and lack of investment. More knowledge on climate change impacts and resilient development can be found in the 2022 IPCC Cross-chapter Paper on Mountains.

Adaptation and resilience action in mountains is urgently needed, with more investments required – for more information on adaptation funding read the UNEP Adaptation Gap Report. Activities at the local community level are key in implementing national and regional policies, and achieving global climate goals.

Mountains ADAPT: Funding local solutions for nature and people

Small grants are an effective tool to respond to local needs, strengthen capacities – especially those of women, youth and other groups – reduce transaction costs and lead to sustainable outcomes. The Mountains ADAPT scheme aims to support local NGOs and CBOs in designing and implementing impactful projects to address climate change effects. 

Projects should empower local communities, respond to identified climate risks and impacts, be coherent with relevant (sub)national policies and plans, and integrate Nature-based Solutions as a core approach. Activities may include solutions such as restoring ecosystems, water harvesting and retention, climate-smart agriculture, and more. 

The next call for applications opens in the second quarter of 2026.

Successful applicants will receive capacity development and training support from UNEP and regional implementing partners. Cross-sectoral learning and exchange among grantees and other mountain adaptation stakeholders form an integral part of the Mountains ADAPT project.

The Mountains ADAPT scheme was pilot tested in the countries of the EAC and South Caucasus in 2025. See a few highlights and examples below. 

Media & Resources:

• Mountains ADAPT: Solutions from East Africa
• Mountains ADAPT: Solutions from the South Caucasus
• Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal
• Video: Mountains ADAPT
• IPCC Cross-Chapter Paper 5: Mountains – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
• Eight ways Asia is using nature to adapt to the climate crisis
• Case Studies for the Adaptation Gap Report 2023

Contact:

unep-mountainsadapt@un.org