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2027 RISK Award​​​​​​​​​​​​​​



​​​​​​​Call for applications

The 2027 RISK Award is looking for project proposals under the topic "Climate resilience for informal settlements". The 2027 RISK Award reflects a combined approach from three major UN frameworks, namely the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change 2015. We invite non-profit organisations to apply with their projects on this topic.

About the RISK Award
The risks posed by population development, environmental and climate change are increasing. Complex technical systems and vulnerable infrastructurs are additional risk factors. The RISK Award partners recognise the need to address this development. The RISK Award has been set up to help improve risk reduction and disaster management by providing financial support to projects dedicated to these issues.


Award endowment - Funding
The RISK Award is endowed with 100,000 €. This means that we can contribute to your project with a maximum of 100,000 €. However, we also understand that there are many initiatives that are larger. In this case, please write in your application what the volume of your overall project is and where the other required financial resources will come from. 


Guidelines for Application
Dates and deadlines:

  • 01 June 2026: Announcement of the 2027 RISK Award topic
  • 01 June - 31 July 2026 (12:00 CET): Application phase I
  • 01 August - 30 September 2026: Review phase I
  • 01 October - 30 November 2026 (12:00 CET): Application phase II (by invitation only)
  • 01 December 2026 - 31 March 2027: Review phase II
  • April 2027: Individual notification of application status
  • May/June 2027: 2027 RISK Award ceremony (tbc)

Content guidelines:
  • The proposal must address the specific annual RISK Award topic.
  • The project must be non-profit. Business development is not possible to be supported by the RISK Award.
  • The proposed project must include an implementation part (action), a proposal solely based on research is not sufficient.
  • The risks must be related to climate change and natural hazards.
  • Risks solely due to social turmoil, war, chemical disasters, and/or political crises are not in the scope of the RISK Award.
  • We appreciate people centred approaches and community-based initiatives.
  • We welcome multi‑stakeholder initiatives, but for the RISK Award application we require a clearly designated focal‑point organisation.


Who can apply:

  • Non-profit organisations (Local entities or international organisations with a regional or local office in the project region).
  • Project must be based in a middle income or low income country according to world bank classification (--> more).
  • The RISK Award is given to institutions or organisations. Individuals cannot be considered. 


Phase I

  • This phase is open to all legitimate organisations.
  • The application must be submitted in English.
  • The proposed project must align with the annual theme of the RISK Award.
  • The online form must be completed in full.
  • The concept template (Word form) must be downloaded, fully completed, and uploaded again as a PDF.
  • The Word form will be available in the online system once you have registered as applicant.
  • All relevant information must be submitted in the system by the deadline. Late submissions or additions cannot be considered.
  • Applicants will be informed no later than two months after the end of Phase I. The best submissions will receive an invitation to submit a full application in Phase II.
  • Unfortunately, applicants not selected in Phase I cannot be considered further.


Phase II

  • Phase II is only open to organisations selected from Phase I that have received a formal invitation to continue their application.
  • The online form for Phase II must be completed in full.
  • The following four forms (Word documents) must each be fully completed and uploaded as PDFs:
    (1) Detailed Description, (2) Detailed Milestone Plan, (3) Detailed Impact Framework, (4) Detailed Budget.
  • The 4 Word forms will be available in the application portal for those organsations which will be invited to continue after they passed Phase I.
  • Organisations will be informed about the final status of their application no later than May 2027. Unfortunately, we cannot provide interim updates.
  • We will evaluate the proposals according to 5 indicators: (1) Potential for impact, (2) Equity, (3) Scalability, (4) Viability and Sustainability, (5) Institutional capacity.
  • Try to highlight how your project contributes to these 5 indicators and consider that when structuring your proposal text.


How to apply

Application process:

  1. Click on "Login" and create a new user account by choosing "New user? Click here".
  2. Click on "Submissions" in the navigation bar and on "Add new submission" to upload your application.
  3. Click on "Save & submit" once your application is complete; as long as the application phase is running, you will be able to alter it afterwards.
  4. If you wish to continue at a later stage, just click on "Save and submit later".