Call for Proposals: Waste Reduction and Circular Economy Development Grants Programme

EU and UNDP are advancing circular economy solutions in Georgia through inclusive and effective EPR systems

April 3, 2026

UNDP, under the EU-funded Joint Programme “Green, Inclusive and Circular Economy: Waste Reduction and Recycling for Citizens’ Health”, is pleased to announce a Call for Proposals to support the effective implementation of inclusive and equitable extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes in Georgia.

The programme aims to establish EPR waste management systems that are aligned with EU standards and promote a circular economy approach. To achieve this, the programme will work in close cooperation with non-public operational actors, including producer responsibility organisations (PROs) and civil society organisations (CSOs/NGOs), to strengthen implementation capacities, broaden access to financing, and foster partnerships across the EPR value chain to generate tangible, on-the-ground impact.

The Goal of the Call

The Call for Proposals seeks to support eligible PROs and CSOs/NGOs in implementing practical, measurable initiatives that reduce, reuse, recover, and/or recycle waste across at least one of the seven targeted EPR waste streams:

used portable batteries and accumulators
used lead-acid batteries
waste oils
waste electrical and electronic equipment
packaging
end-of-life tyres
end-of-life vehicles

Priority will be given to initiatives that contribute to reducing waste generation, strengthening source-separated collection systems, and/or expanding pre-treatment and recycling capacities, thereby reducing landfill disposal and increasing resource recovery, with an emphasis on tangible impact.

The grant programme will primarily finance capital investments in infrastructure, equipment, and technologies, while also supporting operational improvements and the introduction of innovative service models, provided these are directly linked to strengthening waste management systems (collection, storage, transportation, treatment, recycling, and/or recovery).

Applications are welcome from organisations with diverse operational profiles, including those whose comparative advantage lies in community engagement, system optimisation, behavioural interventions, partnership models, or service innovation, provided that proposed actions demonstrate clear, measurable contributions to EPR waste reduction, collection, and/or recycling outcomes. Importantly, the proposed project must clearly demonstrate how it contributes to relevant waste stream(s) in line with at least one of the 4R principles (reduce, reuse, recycle, or recovery).

The project team will provide technical and advisory support, as well as monitoring, to selected grantees to ensure effective implementation and the achievement of intended objectives.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants must:

Be a producer responsibility organisation (PRO) or a non-governmental non-profit organisation registered in Georgia, and provide the organisation's registration certificate (extract from the National Public Registry) and statute
Have at least two years of experience working on waste management and circular economy development
Demonstrate readiness to commit to co-financing of at least 10 per cent of project costs, either in cash or in-kind

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically to: circulareconomy.ge@undp.org
“Waste Reduction and Circular Economy Development Grants Programme” must be indicated in the subject line
Applications must be submitted in PDF (signed and stamped) and Word formats
Detailed information about the Call for Proposals, along with the application form, can be found in the enclosed documents
Deadline for submission: 1 May 2026, 18:00 (Tbilisi time)