COLANSA Fund for Healthy Food Environments in Latin America 2026: Grants of up to US$130,000

Applications are open for the COLANSA Fund for Healthy Food Environments in Latin America 2026, a funding opportunity supporting organisations working to improve nutrition, public health and food policy across the region. The fund is administered by COLANSA, the Latin American and Caribbean Nutrition and Health Community of Practice, which brings together professionals, civil society organisations and academic institutions committed to healthier, more sustainable, equitable and inclusive food systems.

The 2026 funding call supports two types of projects: applied research on public policies affecting food environments and policy advocacy initiatives that use existing evidence to encourage the adoption, implementation or enforcement of effective policies. A total of four projects will receive funding, with up to two awards in each category.

About the COLANSA Fund

COLANSA is a regional community of practice focused on improving nutrition and public health through stronger food systems and effective public policies. Its work brings together civil society organisations, researchers, academics and other professionals interested in addressing challenges affecting food environments across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The COLANSA Fund seeks to support organisations that can contribute to healthier food environments through research and advocacy. It recognises that improving public health requires more than individual dietary choices. It also requires policies that make nutritious food more accessible, regulate the marketing of unhealthy products and create conditions that support healthier eating habits.

Through the 2026 call, COLANSA aims to strengthen the evidence base for public policy and support organisations capable of influencing how food policies are designed, adopted and implemented.

Priority Areas

The 2026 call identifies four priority areas for projects seeking to improve food environments.

1. Front of Package Food Labelling

Projects may examine or promote policies that help consumers identify the nutritional quality of packaged foods. This can include research on labelling effectiveness, policy design, implementation and public understanding of nutritional information.

2. Fiscal Measures

This area covers public policies that use taxation and other fiscal instruments to influence food environments and encourage healthier consumption patterns.

3. Regulation of Food and Beverage Advertising

Projects may address policies regulating the marketing and advertising of food and beverages, particularly where promotional practices influence children's diets and public health.

4. Access to Healthy Food

This area focuses on policies and interventions that improve access to nutritious and affordable food. It may include issues related to food security, school feeding, food systems, rural and urban agriculture and the availability of healthy food.

Proposals must connect with at least one of these four priority areas.

Benefits of the COLANSA Fund

Successful organisations will receive financial and professional support to implement projects that contribute to healthier food environments.

Key benefits include:

• Research funding: Eligible research institutions can receive up to US$130,000 net per selected project.
• Advocacy funding: Eligible civil society organisations can receive up to US$100,000 net per selected project.
• Project implementation support: Selected organisations can implement their approved projects over a period of up to 18 months.
• Policy impact: Funded initiatives can contribute evidence and practical recommendations to national food policy discussions.
• Regional visibility: Organisations will have an opportunity to strengthen their contribution to food systems, nutrition and public health work across Latin America.
• Institutional development: Funding can help organisations strengthen their research, advocacy and policy engagement activities.

The funding amounts are net amounts intended for the selected organisations to implement their projects.

Eligibility Requirements

The fund is open to legally established organisations operating in one of the following 14 eligible countries:

1. Argentina
2. Bolivia
3. Chile
4. Costa Rica
5. Ecuador
6. El Salvador
7. Guatemala
8. Honduras
9. Panama
10. Paraguay
11. Peru
12. Dominican Republic
13. Uruguay
14. Venezuela

Eligible applicants include:

• Local civil society organisations.
• Community based organisations.
• Research centres.
• Academic institutions.

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Be legally established in one of the 14 eligible countries.
• Have operated as a formally registered legal entity for at least six months.
• Demonstrate through public documentation that the organisation operates in the eligible country.
• Have an institutional mission aligned with healthy food systems and sustainable, equitable and inclusive food environments.
• Demonstrate relevant experience in food environments or related areas.
• Be able to implement the proposed project independently in one country.

Membership in COLANSA is not compulsory. However, organisations that are members of COLANSA cannot be part of its Board of Directors if they wish to apply.

Individuals cannot apply independently. Commercial businesses and informal groups that do not meet the legal eligibility requirements are also not eligible.

Can One Organisation Apply to Both Categories?

Organisations may submit one proposal per funding category if they meet the specific requirements for both.

However, applying to both categories is intended for exceptional cases. An organisation must demonstrate that it has the capacity and experience to conduct rigorous research as well as policy advocacy. It must also have separate technical teams for the two projects, with independent objectives, budgets and implementation arrangements.

For example, an academic research centre with an established advocacy programme may qualify for both categories. A civil society organisation with advocacy experience but no demonstrated research capacity would not qualify for the research category.

How to Apply

Eligible organisations should prepare their proposals using the official documents provided by COLANSA.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official COLANSA funding page: Read the 2026 call announcement and review the eligibility requirements, funding categories and priority areas.
2. Choose the appropriate funding category: Decide whether your organisation is better suited to the applied research category or the policy advocacy category.
3. Download the relevant terms of reference: Obtain the official terms of reference for your selected category, together with the application guide and budget template.
4. Develop your project proposal: Prepare a national level project that addresses at least one of the four priority areas. Clearly explain the problem, objectives, proposed activities, expected results and potential policy contribution.
5. Prepare the required institutional documents: Complete the relevant application materials, budget information and institutional conflict of interest declaration in accordance with the official instructions.
6. Review the eligibility requirements: Confirm that your organisation meets the legal registration, operational history, institutional mission and experience requirements.
7. Submit the application: Complete the official online application form and submit all requested documents before the deadline.