Successful Grant Writing Wins $1 Million for Climate Adaptation
At Written Progress, we turn ambitious ideas into funded realities. One of our recent successes? Securing a $1 million grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) for the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT. This funding will support smallholder farmers in Uganda and Zambia — primarily women — who are on the front lines of climate change.
Here’s how our grant writing expertise made it happen.
The Organizations Behind the Grant
A strong grant proposal depends on more than funding a great idea. It has to show alignment between the project, the funder’s mission, and the implementing organization’s expertise. This $1 million grant came from GEF, a leading international funding body that supports environmental sustainability initiatives worldwide. GEF prioritizes projects that enhance climate resilience, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable development, making this proposal a strong fit.
The grant was awarded to the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), a research-for-development organization focused on food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience. With decades of experience working with smallholder farmers, the Alliance has developed science-backed strategies for improving productivity while mitigating climate risks.
This funding enables the Alliance to expand its climate adaptation work in Uganda and Zambia, where smallholder farmers, particularly women, face worsening climate variability. By equipping farmers with better access to climate data, tailored agricultural services, and financial tools, the project aligns seamlessly with GEF’s commitment to supporting communities on the front lines of climate change.
Our role at Written Progress was to bridge the gap between ambition and funding. We ensured that the proposal met GEF’s criteria and stood out as a high-impact, data-driven solution worthy of investment. With this grant secured, the Alliance can scale its efforts, providing direct benefits to farmers while setting a precedent for climate-smart agricultural investment in the region.
Successful Grant Writing: Defining the Problem with Precision
Every winning grant starts with a clear, well-supported problem statement. Vague, generic proposals don’t get funded. The application had to prove that the project addressed an urgent challenge with a viable, fundable solution.
Our research and interviews with stakeholders uncovered three major roadblocks for smallholder farmers:
- Limited Access to Climate Data: Farmers lacked reliable, location-specific climate information, making it difficult to plan for unpredictable weather and shifting growing seasons.
- Misaligned Services: Agro-advisories, financial products, and risk management tools weren’t designed for small-scale farmers, leaving them without the support they needed.
- Financial Barriers: Banks and microfinance institutions saw smallholder farming as too risky, restricting access to credit that could help farmers invest in resilience strategies.
This wasn’t simply a list of issues. It formed the foundation of a compelling proposal. Funders want solutions tied to real-world problems, backed by data and expert perspectives.
Writing a Proposal That Commands Attention
A strong grant proposal does more than check technical boxes. It makes the reader care. Our team, led by Isabelle Le Marois, built a narrative that wove together research, strategy, and impact.
Key elements of the proposal included:
- A Challenge Statement That Mattered: The opening made it clear why this work was urgent. It painted a picture of the risks smallholder farmers face and how climate change is pushing their livelihoods to the brink.
- A Theory of Change With Real-World Impact: The proposal outlined a step-by-step plan for how funding would directly help farmers overcome barriers, increase yields, and strengthen food security.
- A Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Built for Accountability: The grant detailed clear metrics for tracking progress, measuring impact, and ensuring transparency.
- Beyond Climate Adaptation: The application framed the project as more than an agricultural initiative. It highlighted ripple effects — boosting incomes, stabilizing communities, and improving long-term resilience.
This wasn’t a one-size-fits-all grant. Every section aligned with GEF’s funding priorities, making it impossible to ignore.
Collaboration That Strengthened the Proposal
Winning a competitive grant isn’t a solo effort. The strength of this proposal came from seamless coordination between researchers, agricultural specialists, finance experts, and grant writers. Each team brought essential knowledge that shaped a well-rounded, fundable project.
The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT provided on-the-ground expertise, ensuring the proposal reflected the realities of smallholder farmers in Uganda and Zambia. Their field teams shared insights from past agricultural interventions, helping refine the project’s design. By incorporating firsthand accounts of challenges and opportunities, the grant became more than a research-based proposal — it reflected lived experiences.
Financial specialists contributed by modeling funding pathways for long-term sustainability. Funders don’t just look at impact projections; they want to know how projects will continue beyond the initial grant period. By outlining scalable financing mechanisms, cost-sharing models, and potential revenue streams for farmers, the application demonstrated a clear plan for financial longevity.
Our role at Written Progress was to bring all these elements together into a clear, compelling document. We ensured that technical details translated into a persuasive case for investment, balancing expert analysis with an engaging narrative that aligned with GEF’s mission. Strong collaboration made the difference, turning a complex, multi-stakeholder initiative into a proposal that secured $1 million in funding.
Every Detail Counts in Grant Writing
Winning grants aren’t just about good ideas. They’re about precision. Funders reject applications that don’t follow guidelines, exceed word limits, or fail to meet formatting requirements. We left nothing to chance.
Our process included:
- Meticulous compliance with submission criteria
- Strategic language that resonated with GEF’s mission
- Seamless integration of supporting data and case studies
The result? A polished, fundable proposal that stood out in a competitive pool.
From Initial Idea to Funded Proposal: Our Development Process
Securing a major grant like this one isn’t just about writing — it’s about structuring a process that sets up the proposal for success long before the first draft is written. Our approach included:
Stakeholder Collaboration
We held working sessions with agronomists, financial experts, and local leaders to shape a proposal that reflected on-the-ground realities.
Fundability Review
Before drafting, we assessed how well the project aligned with GEF’s funding criteria, refining the approach to maximize competitiveness.
Iterative Drafting Process
Each version of the proposal was strengthened through expert feedback, ensuring clarity, impact, and compliance.
This structured process gave the proposal a competitive edge, making it both compelling and fundable.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Project Matters
While climate adaptation was the core focus, this project has long-term benefits that extend beyond the immediate goals:
- Empowering Farmers with Information: Access to climate data allows farmers to make informed decisions, reducing risk and increasing productivity.
- Strengthening Food Security: When smallholder farmers thrive, communities gain stable food sources, reducing vulnerability to shortages.
- Scaling Sustainable Practices: The project lays the groundwork for widespread adoption of climate-smart agriculture, ensuring long-term resilience.
Funders want to see sustainability. They need confidence that the impact won’t disappear once the grant period ends. This project met that standard.
What Makes Our Grant Writing Successful?
A $1 million award doesn’t happen by accident. At Written Progress, we bring:
Proven Expertise
We’ve secured over $40 million for sustainability initiatives, refining what works in competitive grant writing.
Custom Strategy
Every proposal is tailored to align with funder priorities and showcase our clients’ strengths.
End-to-End Support
From stakeholder interviews to final submission, we manage the process so clients can focus on their mission.
One of our most effective tools is the Custom Grant Writing Template — a document we build for each client that captures their mission, goals, and strategic priorities. This ensures consistency across applications and makes the grant writing process faster, smoother, and more effective.
Here’s how we approach every grant:
- Developing the Grant Writing Template – A master document outlining core messaging, organizational strengths, and reusable content for future applications.
- Building a Detailed Narrative – Integrating research, key data points, and compelling storytelling.
- Crafting the Full Proposal – Writing in a way that engages reviewers, highlights impact, and strengthens the case for funding.
- Final Review and Submission – Formatting, proofreading, and checking compliance to ensure the proposal is flawless.
This process is why our grant applications don’t just compete — they win.
Real-World Impact of a Winning Grant
We bring years of experience to our writeshops, ensuring sessions are tailored to the unique needs of each team. Here’s why clients trust us:
- Smallholder farmers in Uganda and Zambia will have the tools and knowledge to adapt to climate challenges.
- Financial institutions will see climate-smart agriculture as a viable investment, opening up credit access for farmers.
- Regional food security will strengthen as farms become more resilient to climate shocks.
This is the power of successful grant writing: turning high-stakes challenges into funded, scalable solutions.
Measuring Success Beyond the Grant Award
Winning the grant was just the beginning. Measuring long-term impact ensures that the project delivers on its promises. Key evaluation measures include:
- Adoption Rates of Climate-Smart Practices: Tracking how many farmers implement the tools and strategies provided.
- Improvement in Crop Yields and Income Levels: Monitoring economic gains resulting from increased resilience.
- Sustained Financial Access: Assessing whether financial institutions continue to support smallholder farmers beyond the grant period.
Funders want to see sustainability. They need confidence that the impact won’t disappear once the grant period ends. This project met that standard.
Ready to Secure Your Next Grant?
At Written Progress, we specialize in grant writing that gets results. Whether your project focuses on climate adaptation, sustainability, or community development, we have the expertise to bring your vision to life.
Let’s turn your next funding opportunity into a success. Contact us today to learn more about our grant writing services and how we can help you win competitive funding.