The Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (ERCA) is accepting applications for the Japan Fund for Global Environment Grant Program.
The Japan Fund for Global Environment (JFGE) provides grant to Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)/Non-Profit Organization (NPO) engaged in environmental activities.
JFGE is a fund established based on contributions from both the government and the private sector, and uses investment income from the fund as well as operating expense subsidies from the government to subsidize and otherwise support environmental conservation activities conducted by private non-profit organizations (environmental NGOs and NPOs) in Japan as well as abroad.
Types of Grant Programs
Continuous-Project Grant
Support for activities started with the aim of taking root in the community to develop continually and become established as sustainable activities.
Grant Period: Up to 3 years (limited to one grant per organization)
Range of Grant Amount: 500,000 – 3,000,000 yen
General Grant
Support for organizations to improve their problem-solving skills, develop more effective activities, and further develop their organization.
Grant Period: Up to 3 years
Range of Grant Amount: 2,000,000 – 8,000,000 yen (Category A projects) 2,000,000 – 6,000,000 yen (Category B, C projects)
Front-Runner Grant
Support for Japanese environmental NGOs and NPOs to take the lead in creating new models and institutions for civil society.
Grant Period: In principle, 3 years (upon submission of a fiveyear activity plan at the time of request, grants may be awarded for up to five years, depending on progress and the results of a third-party evaluation)
Range of Grant Amount: 6,000,000 – 12,000,000 yen
Platform Grant
Support for Japanese environmental NGOs/NPOs to play a major role in solving specific environmental issues through cross sector collaboration and cooperation with other NGOs/NPOs.
Grant period: Up to 3 years
Range of Grant Amount: 2,000,000 – 8,000,000 yen
Special Grant
Support for the preparation and establishment of a foundation for activities that aim to solve integrated environmental, social, and economic issues in cooperation and collaboration with local governments, corporations, and various stakeholders, and that will play a central role in the creation of a regional circular and ecological sphere.
Grant period: Up to 2 years
Range of Grant Amount: 500,000 – 2,000,000 yen
Eligible Projects
Projects eligible for the JFGE Grant (hereinafter “Grant-eligible projects”) are those that contribute to human welfare through environmental conservation and securing a healthy and cultural life for all individuals. Grant-eligible projects are classified into the following categories:
Activities for environmental conservation implemented in developing regions by non-governmental organizations (not-for-profit organizations engaged in activities on their own initiative) with their primary offices in Japan, conducted in response to the needs of the local communities or non-governmental organizations in these areas, and that fall under any one of the following categories:
Implementing local afforestation projects, projects to support the protection and propagation of wildlife, projects to prevent pollution arising from daily activities or other similar projects, to be carried out in developing regions with the participation of the local communities.
Providing, through training or any other methods for local communities, the knowledge required for the implementation of local afforestation projects, projects to support the protection and propagation of wildlife, projects to prevent environmental pollution arising from daily activities or other similar projects, to be carried out by local residents in developing regions.
Conducting research or holding international conferences to promote such activities as described in items a and b above.
Activities for environmental conservation implemented in developing regions in response to the needs of local communities, and that are applicable to any one of the preceding items a, b or c, carried out by non-governmental organizations with their main offices in areas other than Japan.
Activities carried out by non-governmental organizations with their main offices in Japan for the purpose of promoting environmental conservation in Japan, and that fall under any of the categories described below:
Tree and grass planting projects, material collection projects for recycling resources and other projects that are significantly meaningful to or will be executed with the participation of a broad range of the Japanese population.
Raising awareness and dissemination of knowledge related to environmental conservation targeted at a broad range of the Japanese population.
Research activities aimed at the promotion of the activities listed in items a or b above.
Eligibility Criteria
Advanced Grant Search: Effortlessly locate funding opportunities - Get Premium at 80% off
Those eligible to receive grants are private organizations engaged in environmental conservation activities that fall into one of the following categories:
Corporations engaging in specified non-profit activities
Corporations engaging in specified non-profit activities established under the provisions of Article 10 of the Act on Promotion of Specified Non-profit Activities (Act No. 7 of 1998)
General incorporated associations, general incorporated foundations, public interest incorporated associations, public interest incorporated foundations
Private organizations
The organization has by-laws in place, corresponding to articles of incorporation or articles of contribution.
The organization has an established structure to make decisions for the organization and to execute the activities related to the request.
The organization has an accounting system in place, capable of accounting for and auditing itself.
The organization has an office functioning as the base of its activities.
Ineligibility Criteria
The following activities are not eligible for grants:
Activities carried out as part of the policy measures of a national administrative body of either Japan or the nation where the activities are to be implemented.
Activities carried out for the benefit of a specific business operator.
Activities for which the recovery of grant funds is anticipated through loans, financing, investments, or other means.
Activities deemed to be carried out for the purpose of political and/or religious propaganda.
Activities that will receive funding from sources other than the JFGE, such as through subsidies, grants, or commissioned funds (NGO grant aid, NGO project subsidies, JICA Grassroots Technical Cooperation, Children’s Dream Fund, Welfare and Medical Service Agency (WAM) subsidies, Regional Circular and Ecological Spheres Support System Development Project, etc.) from the government or from Japanese government bodies.
