Companies, SMEs, co-operatives and other project leaders working in the fields of climate and nature can now apply for funding of at least $300,000. The Government of Luxembourg and the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) are launching a call for projects to form the first cohort of Rio Changemakers, a global, science-led platform based on artificial intelligence. The selected projects will contribute to the development of this tool ahead of its planned launch at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in November in Antalya, Turkey.
Local projects seeking investors
Rio Changemakers aims to connect investors, financial institutions and businesses with local projects focused on climate, biodiversity, and terrestrial and marine landscapes. Applications are open to initiatives seeking at least $300,000 in funding, whilst locally managed investment funds with at least $1 million can also join the platform. Eligible projects include biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, regenerative agriculture, forests, sustainable land use, freshwater, marine areas, blue carbon and other climate and nature-based solutions.
A platform developed in collaboration with its first users
The selected projects will be among the first to use Rio Changemakers. Their participation will help to improve the onboarding process, better define the information required from project leaders, and refine how they are matched with investors and funding opportunities. “We want to build this platform with the projects, not simply for them. This is so that credible solutions driven by local communities are easier to find, understand and connect to funding opportunities,” says GLF Director Kamal Prawiranegara.
Applications are open until 22 August
Applications led by women and young people are encouraged, as are those led by indigenous peoples and local communities, or developed in collaboration with them. Priority will be given to projects based in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Applications will be considered as they are received, with a priority deadline of 22 August 2026. Successful projects will benefit from visibility amongst investors and funders from this early stage of the platform’s development.
