The Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa and Natural Justice is pleased to announce a new call for applications for litigation funding to support short-term environmental, climate and human rights litigation in Mozambique, Kenya, Namibia and South Africa.
The funding is intended to provide timely legal support for litigation that seeks to protect environmental rights, natural resources, land rights, communities’ heritage and culture, indigenous rights in relation to the environment, particularly where legal action may contribute to broader accountability, precedent-setting or systemic change.
- Who can apply?
Applications are invited from:
Legal practitioners, Legal non-profits, Law clinics and Law firms or teams undertaking relevant environmental litigation in Mozambique, Kenya, Namibia and South Africa on behalf of individuals or communities experiencing or likely to experience environmental rights infringements or environmental harm, or who are seeking to assert their environmental, heritage, cultural or community rights.
Funding has been envisioned for matters that have either been initiated or are occurring within the 2026 year period.
- Application period
The call closes on the 30 September 2026.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible and to ensure that all required information and supporting documentation is provided before the closing date.
- What can the funding support?
See attached document covering what will and will not be funded.
Funding may be considered for litigation addressing issues including, but not limited to:
- Environmental and climate justice;
- Mining and extractive projects;
- Fossil fuel developments;
- Environmental impact assessment and regulatory compliance;
- Water pollution and access to water;
- Land and community rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples;
- Protection of biodiversity and protected areas;
- Access to environmental information and public participation;
- Corporate or state accountability for environmental harm; and
The fund is intended primarily to support urgent or active litigation needs and will not support long-term programme costs or general organisational activities.
- Funding available
Applicants may request funding of up to USD 5,000, subject to the nature and needs of the case, the available funding and the assessment of the application.
Funding decisions will take into account:
- The legal and strategic significance of the matter;
- The potential impact on affected communities or the public interest;
- The urgency of the litigation;
- The likelihood that funding will make a meaningful contribution to the case;
- The proposed use of funds and reasonableness of the budget; and
- The applicant’s capacity to undertake the proposed litigation.
- How to Apply
Applicants should complete and submit the Litigation Fund Application Form together with all required supporting documentation.
As part of the application, applicants must:
- Complete the Application Form in full;
- Upload a detailed cost/budget form setting out the anticipated litigation-related expenditure;
- Ensure that the cost/budget form is completed using the template provided with this call; and
- Provide any additional supporting documentation requested as part of the application or due diligence process.
The cost/budget template is below and must be completed and submitted together with the application.
Applicants should note that submission of an application does not guarantee funding. All applications will be subject to the Fund’s applicable assessment, due diligence and approval processes, and funding decisions will be made at the Fund’s discretion and subject to the availability of funds.
Additional information and supporting documents may be requested and interviews with the legal team conducted.
Only applications that meet the eligibility requirements and provide sufficient information and supporting documentation will be considered for funding. All applications will be verified.
For any inquiries kindly contact nomasango@naturaljustice.org
