A national-level loan and grant programme designed to increase climate resilience and facilitate sustainable economic opportunities has been launched to the public. Known as the "Vilunveshi Grant Programme", the initiative was officially inaugurated on 23 June by Ali Shareef, the Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy.
Supported by the Asian Development Bank, the programme operates under the Enhancing Climate Resilience and Food Security Project's three national segments. Managed with SME Digital, it funds three categories: small grants for individuals, broader assistance for communities and small-to-medium enterprises, and specialised grants for institutional model projects.
The funding targets climate-adaptive agriculture, baseline food security, and digital or environmental innovations, aiming to increase agricultural productivity, expand economic benefits from heightened food volumes, and introduce novel product preparation and commercialisation methods. Officials said the objective is to eliminate financial barriers for innovative ideas, enhancing citizen autonomy and securing long-term sustainable development.
The first round is exclusive to individual small grants, SME Digital stated, with applications opening 23 July, via the SME portal located on the SME Digital website. Only 150 applicants may submit proposals, and 50 will be selected after rigorous evaluation, SME Digital said. The window closes when the 150-submission threshold is met or on 23 August. Ultimately, the programme intends to distribute grants to 300 distinct parties across various rollout phases, SME Digital noted.