IKI Large Grants Call 2025 and Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), Berlin

The IKI Large Grants Call 2025 is a major funding initiative launched by the German Federal Government to support large-scale, transformative projects addressing the global climate crisis and biodiversity loss. This call combines the previous thematic and country-specific funding windows into a single, high-impact competition. Specifically, it seeks project outlines that drive systemic change and foster long-term resilience in developing and emerging countries. Consequently, selected consortia will work closely with national governments to align their efforts with international climate and biodiversity agreements like the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Program Highlights

Feature	Details
Funding Volume	EUR 12 million to 20 million per project
Project Duration	Up to 8 years
Application Deadline	17 February 2026, 14:00 (CET)
Consortium Requirement	At least two or more organizations
Local Action Rule	At least 50% of funding must be implemented by local organizations

Thematic and Country Priorities

The 2025 call features 11 distinct priorities. Each project outline must focus on only one priority to ensure a tailored and impactful approach.

Country Priorities (Bilateral Focus)

These priorities are developed in close cooperation with the respective partner ministries and focus on specific national goals:

• Mexico: Strengthening electricity storage for renewable energy integration and electrification of end uses.
• India: Building resilience of forests, ecosystems, and biodiversity against climate risks through National Adaptation Plan (NAP) strategies.
• South Africa: Climate-smart conservation and restoration of grassland landscapes and associated wetland ecosystems.

Thematic Priorities (Global, Regional, or Bilateral Focus)

• Electricity Grids: Storage systems as game changers for the energy transition.
• Urban Bioenergy: Scalable solutions for sustainable methane reduction in urban value chains.
• Decarbonisation: Transitioning emission-intensive sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa or South and Southeast Asia.
• Coastal Resilience: Strengthening climate resilience for coastal cities in South and Southeast Asia.
• Integrated Bioeconomy: Enhancing climate protection and biodiversity through bioeconomy approaches.
• Financial Mobilization: Scaling financial resources for the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
• Alien Species Management: Prevention, early detection, and rapid response to invasive species.
• Scaling Successful Approaches: * 11a: Mitigation-focused approaches (Energy, Mobility, Urban Development).
  • 11b: Adaptation-focused approaches (NAP and Ecosystem-based Adaptation).

Eligibility and Consortium Structure

Participation is open to a wide range of German and international implementing organizations. However, the lead organization must demonstrate significant experience in international cooperation.

• Eligible Organizations: NGOs, universities, research institutions, international intergovernmental organizations (e.g., development banks), UN programs, and private sector companies.
• Lead Organization Experience: At least 5 years of experience in thematically relevant project implementation in ODA-eligible countries.
• The 50% Rule: To empower local stakeholders, a minimum of 50% of the total budget must be implemented by actors classified as “local organizations.”

Selection Criteria

The IKI selection process is rigorous and follows a two-phase procedure (Outline Phase and Proposal Phase). Key evaluation criteria include:

• Ambition and Transformation: Does the project aim for systemic and permanent behavioral change?
• Technical Quality: Is the proposed results chain plausible and based on a sound Theory of Change?
• Local Ownership: Does the project tie into national political frameworks and priorities?
• Gender Justice: Are there specific measures to counteract unequal gender roles and promote equity?
• Safeguards: Comprehensive management of environmental and social risks.

Registration and Submission

Item	Details
Submission Portal	IKI Online Platform
Documents Required	Outline form, project concept (PDF, max 8 pages), organizational chart, and references.
Letter of Endorsement	Mandatory for bilateral projects in thematic priorities 4–11.
Support	iki-office@z-u-g.org

Key Highlights

The IKI Large Grants Call 2025 emphasizes “systemic change” over individual actions. This means projects should not only implement technical solutions but also work on policy frameworks, institutional capacity building, and mobilizing private sector investment. Additionally, the long project duration of up to eight years allows for deeper engagement and more sustainable outcomes compared to standard short-term grants.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the “Local Action” 50% rule?

This rule ensures that a significant portion of the funding is managed by local NGOs or institutions in the partner countries, rather than being entirely absorbed by international lead partners.

Can my organization lead a consortium if we are based outside of Germany?

Yes. Both German and international organizations are welcome to act as lead partners, provided they meet the technical and turnover requirements.

Are private companies eligible to receive funding?

Yes, private companies and trade associations can participate as consortium partners or lead organizations, provided the project is non-profit in nature.

Is a letter of endorsement from the partner government always required?

For country priorities (1–3), endorsement is part of the selection process. For thematic priorities (4–11) focusing on a single country, a letter of endorsement must be submitted with the outline.

What happens after the outline is selected?

If your outline is successful in the first phase, you will be invited to submit a detailed project proposal in the second phase, which includes a funded preparation phase of up to nine months.