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Welcome to the Biodiversity Challenge Funds Home Page

This online application portal is for UK Government funded Biodiversity Challenge Funds the Darwin Initiative, Darwin Plus and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. From this page, access your account to begin an application or continue working on an existing application – see the panels at the bottom of this page. You can only work on an application when the fund is open.

The Darwin Initiative

The Darwin Initiative supports developing countries to conserve biodiversity and reduce poverty. The Darwin Initiative provides grants for projects working to help developing countries meet their objectives under:

  • the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
  • the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
  • the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
  • the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
  • the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
  • the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)


Darwin Plus

The aim of Darwin Plus is to help deliver long-term strategic outcomes for the natural environment in the UK Overseas Territories (OTs).  

Biodiversity in the OTs is globally significant, with the OTs boasting some of the world’s most delicate and complex ecosystems, and habitats containing many endemic species. It is estimated that the OTs contain an estimated 90% of the biodiversity found within the UK and the Territories combined. 

The fund achieves its objectives by supporting:

  • Darwin Plus Main: projects focused on environment issues in the UKOTs
  • Darwin Plus Local: a light-touch grant scheme for smaller-scale projects
  • Darwin Plus Strategic: for large-scaled projects, driving transformative change
  • Darwin Plus Fellowships: to support knowledge building for OT nationals that will contribute to achieving Darwin Plus objectives 
  

The IWT Challenge Fund

The UK Government is committed to helping to end the global scourge of the illegal wildlife trade.

As well as the devastating consequences for biodiversity and the environment, the illegal wildlife trade is a serious criminal industry worth billions of pounds, which damages local communities and undermines sustainable development in some of the world’s poorest countries.

The objective of the IWT Challenge Fund is to tackle the illegal wildlife trade of both fauna and flora and in doing so, to contribute to sustainable development in developing countries, through projects which address one, or more, of the following themes:

  • Reducing demand for IWT products
  • Ensuring effective legal frameworks
  • Strengthening law enforcement
  • Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT


Status of application rounds


Darwin Initiative

Main Projects Stage 1: Currently CLOSED. 

Main Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only.

Extra Projects: Currently CLOSED.

Innovation Projects: Currently CLOSED.

Capability & Capacity Projects: Currently CLOSED.


IWT Challenge Fund

Main Projects Stage 1: Currently CLOSED.

Main Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only. 

Evidence Projects: Currently CLOSED.

Extra Projects: Currently CLOSED.


Darwin Plus (restricted to work in the UK Overseas Territories)

Main Projects Stage 1: Currently OPEN. Closing date: Monday 3 June 2024

Main Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only. Closing date: Monday 7 October 2024

People & Skills (previously Fellowships): OPEN. Closing date: Monday 23 September 2024

Local Projects: Currently OPEN. Closing date: Monday 24 June 2024

Strategic Projects: Currently OPEN. Closing date: Monday 29 July 2024

 

There is specific Flexi-Grant guidance available. For all queries specifically related to the use of the Flexi-Grant system, please email: BCF-Flexigrant@niras.com