The Eco-Innovation Challenge is a flagship initiative under the Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA) GEF Regional Project, implemented by the World Bank and UNOPS. This global competition seeks innovative solutions to tackle four key pollution issues affecting the Black Sea: agricultural/livestock runoff , municipal wastewater, chemical/industrial pollution, and marine litter.
The Black Sea is one of Europe’s most polluted seas, with eutrophication from land-based nutrient runoff , chemical/industrial pollution, and marine litter being primary drivers of environmental degradation. This pollution severely impacts the region’s environment, human health, and vital economic sectors like tourism and fisheries. To address these transboundary challenges, the World Bank, in cooperation with UNOPS, is implementing the Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA): a GEF regional project.
A core initiative of this project is the Eco-Innovation Challenge (EIC), a global competition designed to identify, finance, and promote innovative solutions specifically targeting the region’s most critical pollution issues: the impact of agricultural and livestock runoff ; the impact of undertreated municipal wastewater; the impact of chemical or industrial pollution (including non-hazardous war-related pollution); and the impact of marine litter (including non-hazardous war-related marine litter).
Awards:-
Eligible innovators from World Bank-recognized countries can apply under two windows:
● BBSEA Focus Country Window (Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye) for ready-to-implement solutions (grants of USD 50,000–300,000)
● Greater Black Sea Window for early-stage ideas (technical assistance worth up to USD 20,000)
Deadline:- 14-11-2025
