The SPARK Grants 2026 opportunity is inviting applications from youth-led, women-led, Indigenous-led, and community-based organizations working to improve sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and rights (SRMNCAH).
Launched by the WHO/IBP Network, SPARK stands for Shifting Power through Action and Reciprocal Knowledge Exchange. The programme aims to put communities at the centre of SRMNCAH work by supporting organizations that use WHO guidelines and tools in innovative, locally grounded ways.
Rather than simply implementing a predetermined programme, SPARK seeks to learn from community organizations about how they adapt evidence-based guidance, develop innovative approaches, involve communities in decision-making, and shift power towards the people they serve.
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | SPARK Grants 2026 |
| Full Name | Shifting Power through Action and Reciprocal Knowledge Exchange |
| Organizer | WHO/IBP Network |
| Grant Type | Community-Based Organization Grant |
| Funding | Up to US$20,000 |
| Number of Grants | 5–10 |
| Grant Duration | One year |
| Geographic Reach | Six WHO regions |
| Target Organizations | Youth-led, women-led, Indigenous-led and community-based organizations |
| Minimum Operating Period | At least 2 years |
| Initial Application | Concept note of no more than 500 words |
| Application Languages | English, French or Spanish |
| Application Deadline | 9 October 2026 |
About the Opportunity
SPARK is a grant programme designed to strengthen the role of communities in sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and rights.
The WHO/IBP Network is particularly interested in organizations that are already using WHO guidelines, tools, or products and are adapting them to their local context.
The programme places strong emphasis on community leadership and power shifting. This means communities should have meaningful involvement in the design, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed work, rather than only participating as recipients of services.
What Does the Grant Offer?
Selected organizations can receive up to US$20,000 in direct and flexible grant funding for a one-year project.
The WHO/IBP Network also offers grantees:
- Technical support
- Access to relevant WHO SRMNCAH guidelines and tools
- Connections to IBP global Communities of Practice
- Opportunities for peer learning and knowledge exchange
- Opportunities to document and showcase their work to a global SRMNCAH audience
The Communities of Practice include areas such as WHO guidelines, adolescent health, women's health, and power shifting.
What Types of Projects Are They Looking For?
SPARK is looking for locally grounded approaches that demonstrate how evidence-based WHO guidance can be adapted and applied in real community settings.
Areas of particular interest include:
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights
- Maternal health
- Climate and health
- Workforce, livelihoods and poverty reduction
- Education
- Faith-based initiatives
- Community-led health approaches
- Other approaches that integrate SRMNCAH into sectors beyond traditional health programming
Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed work meaningfully involves community members in design, decision-making, and evaluation.
Who Should Apply?
The opportunity is particularly relevant for:
- Youth-led organizations
- Women-led organizations
- Indigenous-led organizations
- Community-based organizations
- Organizations working directly with the communities they serve
- Organizations with at least two years of operational experience
- Organizations that have previously implemented a WHO guideline, tool, or product
The WHO/IBP Network states that priority will be given to organizations that are new to WHO/IBP Network funding mechanisms and that demonstrate strong community accountability and leadership.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the official call, including:
- Being a youth-led, women-led, Indigenous-led, or community-based organization
- Working directly with the populations or communities being served
- Having operated for at least two years
- Having previous implementation experience using at least one relevant WHO guideline, tool, or product
- Demonstrating meaningful community leadership and accountability
- Having an approach relevant to SRMNCAH and the focus areas identified in the call
The programme aims to support organizations across all six WHO regions: the African Region, Region of the Americas, South-East Asia Region, European Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, and Western Pacific Region.
Required Documents and Information
The first stage requires an initial concept note of no more than 500 words.
The concept note should include:
- Organizational overview
- How long the organization has been operating
- The communities the organization works with
- Previous implementation experience
- Experience with WHO guidelines, tools, or products
- Leadership structure
- Proposed activity
- WHO guideline or tool that will be used or adapted
- Sector or area of integration
- Power-shifting approach
- Proposed budget of up to US$20,000
- Implementation timeline and key milestones
- Documentation and learning plan
Shortlisted applicants may later be asked to provide a more formal proposal, including financial statements, a letter of support, and information required under WHO requirements for working with non-state actors.
How to Apply
Follow these steps:
- Review the official SPARK Grants 2026 call.
- Confirm that your organization meets the eligibility requirements.
- Identify the WHO guideline, tool, or product your organization has previously used or plans to adapt.
- Develop a clear concept showing how the proposed work will address an SRMNCAH issue.
- Explain how community members will participate in design, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation.
- Prepare a concept note of no more than 500 words.
- Prepare a proposed budget of up to US$20,000.
- Submit the application through the official application form.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
Applications may be submitted in English, French, or Spanish.
How to Increase Your Chances
A strong application should clearly demonstrate:
- A genuine connection with the community being served
- Previous practical experience using WHO guidance, tools, or products
- A clear explanation of what has been learned from local communities
- Meaningful community participation in decision-making
- A practical approach to shifting power towards communities
- A clear connection between the proposed activities and SRMNCAH
- A realistic budget and implementation timeline
- How the organization will document and share lessons learned
The proposal should focus on what the organization has learned and how local knowledge can improve the application of evidence-based guidance in real-world settings.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is:
9 October 2026
Applicants should submit their concept note through the official application system before the deadline.
Ready to Apply?
If your organization is youth-led, women-led, Indigenous-led, or community-based and has experience working directly with communities on sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, or adolescent health and rights, the SPARK Grants may provide an opportunity to develop and demonstrate a locally grounded approach.
APPLY NOW
