The Nordic Climate Facility (NCF) is holding a call for proposals for "Innovative low-cost climate solutions with a focus on local business development in eligible developing countries." If you have a an innovative idea or solution to climate change that you are working on and live in one of the low-income countries listed, then this is your opportunity to apply for funding.

Grant financing of up to EUR 500 000 can be granted to partnerships between relevant Nordic (i.e. Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland) institutions, organisations, companies, authorities and qualified local Partners in low-income countries.

Countries eligible for the grant financing programme include:  Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam; Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua.

This and other "green" funding competitions offer an opportunity to low-income countries to jump-start green economies. The best thing about this call for proposals is that it offers innovators in these low-income countries an opportunity to partner with Nordic climate specialists for knowledge transfer. So your idea doesn't have to be fully-baked, just viable enough to peek the interest of specialists who would want to help your bring it to fruition. So you get the money and mentoring from experienced practitioners in the field.

So get you thinking caps on, cook up some great low-cost solutions to climate change and apply for a piece of the EUR 500,000. You never know, your idea just might be the one they are looking to fund. Good luck.