16/08/2017

The Darwin Initiative, a British government grants scheme aimed at helping protect biodiversity and the natural environment worldwide, announced that it is now accepting applications for this round’s projects. The deadline for project proposals is 12 September 2017. Selected projects will be notified in May 2018, and are expected to commence on 01 July 2018.

The Darwin Initiative supports projects that help countries rich in biodiversity but economically challenged meet their objectives and obligations under international biodiversity-related agreements; specifically, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. A recent example of a project that facilitates the implementation of the International Treaty, as well as the CBD and it’s Nagoya Protocol, is the ‘Safeguarding Mesoamerican crop wild relatives’  project, a collaborative partnership between government agencies, local communities, universities and NGOs on the in situ and ex situ conservation of wild crop relatives in Mesoamerica.

There are specific eligibility requirements to qualify for the Darwin Initiative’s grants scheme, including the applicants’ countries, experience in managing similar projects in developing countries and demonstrable financial stability and audited accounts. There is no specific minimum or maximum level of funding, although the total funds available per round are limited.

Projects chosen for funding under Round 24 of the Darwin Initiative are expected to address threats to biodiversity, including climate change, over-exploitation, invasive species and habitat degradation and loss. The project proposals will be reviewed by the Darwin Expert Committee, who make recommendations on the applications to UK ministers. The Expert Committee is currently chaired by Professor Stephen Blackmore and comprises experts from government, academia, science and the private sector.

Full application procedures can be found on the official website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/darwin-initiative-funding-schemes-and-how-to-apply

Detailed guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/633432/R24-darwin-guidance.pdf

More information on the Darwin Initiative’s Call for Proposals under Round 24 can be found at: http://mailchi.mp/ltsi/darwin-initiative-round-24-and-darwin-plus-round-6-now-open-for-applications?e=7916d27965