Call for Expressions of Interest for IKI Small Grants Programme
Inviting local innovators to drive solutions against invasive plants and restore biodiversity
SouthSouthNorth (SSN) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the IKI Small Grants Programme: Conserving Biological Diversity in South Africa through Sustainable Management of Invasive Plants.
This call invites locally rooted organisations and enterprises to participate in an innovative funding programme to tackle one of South Africa’s most persistent environmental challenges: the long-term management of invasive alien plant species. The programme is being implemented in the Hessequa Municipality, Western Cape, within the Cape Limestone Fynbos ecosystem, a globally unique and highly threatened biodiversity hotspot.
Addressing a longstanding challenge in landscape restoration
Invasive alien plants are a major driver of biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and wildfire risk in South Africa amid a changing climate. While clearing activities are widely recognised as essential, they are too often implemented as one-off interventions, lacking the coordination, financial sustainability, and follow-up maintenance required to achieve lasting outcomes.
The IKI Small Grants Programme addresses this gap by supporting sustained clearing and maintenance, biomass beneficiation, and ecosystem restoration, while strengthening the local enterprises and organisations that deliver this work on the ground. Through this approach, the programme seeks to demonstrate viable, scalable models for long-term landscape management that deliver both environmental and socioeconomic benefits.
This reflection unfolds against a backdrop of global complexity. As political consensus on climate action fractured and collaboration pathways became more uncertain, SSN’s four impact areas (resilient social and ecological systems, fair and accessible climate finance, strengthened capabilities, and inclusive multi-level governance) remained not only guiding anchors but increasingly urgent priorities.
An innovative, two-stage application approach
The Call for Expressions of Interest is the first stage of a two‑step application process designed to remain accessible while supporting learning and innovation.
At the EOI stage, applicants submit a short narrative, an indicative budget, and basic organisational information, allowing a wide range of actors — including smaller or emerging organisations — to put forward ideas without developing a full proposal upfront. Ideas do not need to be fully developed at the EOI stage.
Shortlisted applicants then participate in a sandbox phase, a collaborative and non‑competitive process that supports the refinement of ideas, the exploration of operational and financial feasibility, and the identification of collaboration and capacity‑development needs.
Who can apply for grant funding
Funding through the IKI Small Grants Programme is available through two pathways:
- Subgrantees: Local nonprofit organisations that act as aggregators (coordinating invasive alien plant clearing and maintenance across multiple sites, work closely with landowners, and contract or support SMME service providers.)
- Micrograntees: Registered small, medium and microenterprises (SMMEs), cooperatives, or nonprofit organisations engaged in biomass beneficiation, fynbos restoration/rewilding activities or ecosystem-based livelihoods.
The programme places a strong emphasis on collaboration, innovation and inclusion, and actively encourages applications from women-led, youth-led, and historically marginalised groups within the target landscape.
Supporting sustainability, innovation and livelihoods
Beyond grant funding, selected participants will benefit from capacity development support, technical assistance, and participation in a broader ecosystem of actors working across clearing, biomass value addition, restoration and landscape coordination. Through this, the programme aims to improve cost effectiveness, strengthen value chain opportunities, and support local livelihoods linked to biodiversity restoration.
How to apply
Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to review the full Call for Expressions of Interest and supporting documents, and to submit their application before the closing date.
Key Links
Information Session
On the 26th of April, we held an information session for organisations interested in applying. The session provided a brief overview of SSN’s programme aims, the call, grant categories, the two‑stage application process (EOI and sandbox), eligibility and assessment considerations, and was followed by a Q&A.
Access the recording and presentation below:
