Mountains ADAPT Small Grants
Resilient Mountains: Mountains ADAPT Small Grants
A UNEP-led initiative strengthening the resilience of mountain communities and ecosystems across the South Caucasus through inclusive, locally driven, nature-based solutions.
About the project
Resilient Mountains — Empowering People, Sustaining Ecosystems, and Scaling Nature-based Solutions and Innovation into Policy and Advocacy for Mountain Landscapes — is a UNEP-led initiative aimed at enhancing the resilience of mountain socio-ecological systems to climate change and other stressors through integrated, inclusive and scalable nature-based solutions.
The project incorporates the second phases of the Adaptation at Altitude (A@A) and Mountains ADAPT components. In the South Caucasus it supports Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, with a particular focus on strengthening regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, climate adaptation action and access to adaptation financing.
The current implementation plan, under a Special Service/Funding Agreement (SSFA) between UNEP and the Caucasus Network for Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions (Sustainable Caucasus), centres on three interconnected areas.
Background
Mountain communities and ecosystems are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and other environmental pressures. In response, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is advancing Resilient Mountains to enhance the capacity of mountain communities and ecosystems to respond through practical, inclusive and adaptable solutions.
The project brings together the second phases of two complementary initiatives: Adaptation at Altitude (A@A), funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Mountains ADAPT, supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry (BMLUK). A@A focuses on generating and sharing knowledge on climate change and adaptation in mountain regions and strengthening links between science, policy and decision-making — its second phase runs until February 2028, with UNEP leading regional work in the South Caucasus.
Mountains ADAPT complements this policy-oriented work by supporting practical, locally driven adaptation. Through a Small Grants Funding Scheme (SGFS), it enables small and local organizations to develop and implement innovative, needs-based solutions that strengthen the resilience of mountain communities and ecosystems. As the Secretariat of the Scientific Network for the Caucasus Mountain Region, Sustainable Caucasus provides the regional platform for this work.
Three interconnected areas of work
Regional Adaptation Dialogue (RADISC)
Developing and implementing a Regional Adaptation Dialogue in the South Caucasus as a platform for regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and science–policy linkages on climate adaptation.
Small Grants Funding Scheme (SGFS)
Promoting and implementing the Mountains ADAPT Small Grants Funding Scheme across Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to enable concrete, locally driven mountain adaptation action.
Capacity Building & Peer Learning
Providing targeted support to selected small-grants beneficiaries — strengthening their plans, capacities, sustainability and connections with relevant policies.
Apply for a Mountains ADAPT small grant
Local and small organizations across the South Caucasus are invited to submit proposals by 15 September 2026.