15/07/2016

The Darwin Initiative has opened the call for project proposals under its Round 23 and invited organizations to submit project proposal on biodiversity conservation in developing countries by 10 August 2016. The Darwin Initiative is a grants scheme of the Government of the United Kingdom that helps to protect biodiversity and the natural environment in developing countries through locally based projects worldwide. The Initiative funds projects that help countries rich in biodiversity but with limited financial resources to meet their objectives under a number of biodiversity conventions, including those of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). Applicant organizations must have experience of managing similar projects in developing countries and be able to demonstrate financial stability and provide audited accounts. In addition to that, the proposed project leader must have suitable qualifications or at least 10 years’ experience working on similar projects in developing countries. Level of funding: There is no specific minimum or maximum level for the main round of projects. The funding pot is, however, limited. In previous rounds, awards have ranged from £80,000 to £310,000 for a three-year project. For Round 23, the minimum project length is one year and the maximum is four years. Project activities: Darwin-funded projects usually aim to help preserve biodiversity and support the work of the local community that lives alongside it. Most projects will include one or more of:

• building environmental knowledge
• capacity building
• research
• implementing international biodiversity agreements, including the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)

Key dates: There is a two-stage application process. The timetable is set out below:

• Wednesday 10 August 2016 - deadline for Stage 1 applications
• Early November 2016 - expected outcome of Stage 1 and notification of applicants invited to Stage 2
• Monday 5 December 2016 – deadline for Stage 2 applications
• By March 2017 - expected notification of successful projects
• From 1 April 2017 – expected start date for successful projects

More information: To find out more about the round and the application process visit the Darwin Initiative website at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/darwin-initiative-applying-for-main-project-funding