Deadline Date: March 23, 2026
The United Nations Development Programme is seeking grant applications to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Georgia in adopting sustainable and resource-efficient business models while fostering innovation and competitiveness.
The main objectives of the Innovation Challenge Call include promoting innovation in SMEs’ sustainable consumption and production practices by supporting the design, piloting, and scaling of innovative methods, technologies, processes, and business practices that improve resource efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and strengthen operational sustainability; accelerating SMEs’ transition toward sustainable and resource-efficient business models by addressing challenges such as energy and material efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable packaging, and circular economy-oriented solutions; encouraging private sector–driven leadership in sustainability solutions by leveraging SMEs’ knowledge, innovation capacity, and experience to develop practical, scalable, and replicable solutions; generating knowledge and transferring practical insights, tools, and lessons learned from supported initiatives to guide other SMEs adopting sustainable practices; strengthening Georgia’s SME sustainability ecosystem by supporting initiatives with potential for replication, scale, and long-term impact; and enhancing SMEs’ export readiness and access to EU markets by aligning products, processes, and business practices with EU sustainability, quality, and compliance standards.
The Innovation Challenge Call provides selected applicants with co-financing of up to GEL 40,000 per approved project, with the cumulative co-financing for a single beneficiary under the IA2M project not exceeding GEL 100,000. Projects are expected to be implemented within eight months from the launch date.
Eligible applicants must be SMEs registered in Georgia, established at least one year prior to application, and producing goods on Georgian territory. At least 50% of ownership or management shares must be held by Georgian citizens or resident legal entities. Applicants’ annual revenue for 2025 must exceed GEL 100,000 but not exceed GEL 12 million, or cumulative revenue for 2023–2025 must exceed GEL 300,000 and not exceed GEL 36 million, verified through certified audit reports or official Revenue Service letters.
Applicants cannot represent entities directly or indirectly owned by the state, municipality, or JSC Partnership Fund. They must not be listed in the Register of Debtors, have ongoing insolvency proceedings, or have frozen or mortgaged immovable assets, except for mortgages registered with Georgian commercial banks. A fully completed application with accurate supporting documentation is required for consideration.
For more information, visit UNDP.
