The programme has a key focus on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, specifically gender equality.

"Esports can be a powerful force for good," said GEF executive director for strategy and impact Thanos Karagrounas.

"We are committed to creating a safe, healthy, and inclusive esports ecosystem, supporting innovative projects that contribute to the UN SDGs, leveraging the power of gaming and esports for positive social impact."

It is being operated by the GEF's Esports for Development (E4D), which is run in partnership with Yunus Sports Hub.

The GEF hopes that the initiative will help contribute to E4D's commitment to a safe, healthy, and inclusive esports ecosystem.  

"We believe that esports can be and is a powerful tool to promote gender equality and want to identify, nurture, and scale projects that are already making this happen," said Yoan Noguier, co-founder and managing director of Yunus Sports Hub.

"Combining funding with the principles of social business, we believe we can help accelerate the contribution of the global esports community and industry to major social issues and the UN SDGs."

E4D has called on individuals and organisations to submit proposals for campaigns that will help to contribute to its vision of "creating a more equitable and inclusive world".