Darwin Initiative

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Enriched UK · Found: 2026-03-10 13:30

UK government grants scheme funding biodiversity conservation projects in developing countries. Managed by Defra, supports marine conservation, coastal habitat restoration, and sustainable fisheries in ODA-eligible nations. Provides grants for projects that protect biodiversity and reduce poverty.

Source: https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/

Funding Details

Funder: Darwin Initiative (UK Government / Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Defra)
Funding Goal: Grants to conserve biodiversity and support communities that live alongside it through locally-led projects worldwide. Funds projects that deliver both biodiversity conservation and multidimensional poverty reduction in low and middle-income countries. Schemes include Extra (scaling-up proven projects), Main (evidence-based conservation projects), Innovation (testing novel approaches), and Capability & Capacity (building local organisational capacity).
Funding Amount: Extra: GBP 800,000–5,000,000 (2–5 years); Main: GBP 100,000–800,000 (1–5 years); Innovation: GBP 10,000–200,000 (1–2 years); Capability & Capacity: GBP 50,000–200,000 (1–2 years) (10.000 € – 5.000.000 €)
Deadline: 2026-09-01 (Fixed)
How to Apply: All current Round 31 schemes are closed. Round 32 expected to launch May 2026, with projects starting April 2027. Applications submitted via the Flexi-Grant portal at https://bcfs.flexigrant.com/. Contact: BCF-Darwin@niras.com for general queries; BCF-Flexigrant@niras.com for portal queries.
Target Region: Global — low and middle-income countries; projects worldwide
Contact: BCF-Darwin@niras.com (general application queries) | BCF-Flexigrant@niras.com (Flexi-Grant system queries)
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 09:28

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Project must take place in a low or middle-income country (see Round guidance for eligible country list)

Project Scope

Project must deliver both biodiversity conservation AND multidimensional poverty reduction outcomes
Must include Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations appropriate to project context
Must demonstrate potential for scaling and long-term legacy
Local and national partner capacity must be enhanced as part of the project

Required Documents

Project proposal, budget, MEL framework, and risk management plan required
Applications submitted via Flexi-Grant portal (https://bcfs.flexigrant.com/)

Constraints

Round 32 expected launch May 2026 — check website for specific eligibility and deadlines before applying
Different grant ceiling and duration limits apply per scheme (Extra, Main, Innovation, Capability & Capacity)

Summary

The Darwin Initiative is a well-established UK government grants scheme that has been operating for over 30 years. It funds biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction projects in low and middle-income countries, with a focus on locally-led approaches that deliver dual benefits for nature and communities. The programme offers four funding schemes: Extra (GBP 800k–5m for scaling proven projects), Main (GBP 100k–800k for evidence-based projects), Innovation (GBP 10k–200k for testing novel approaches), and Capability & Capacity (GBP 50k–200k for building organisational capacity). Projects span 1–5 years depending on the scheme. All Round 31 schemes are currently closed. Round 32 is expected to launch in May 2026, with selected projects beginning in April 2027. Applications are submitted through the Flexi-Grant portal administered by NIRAS. Projects must demonstrate how they will address both biodiversity outcomes and multidimensional poverty reduction, with attention to GESI and scalability. The Darwin Initiative funds a wide range of biodiversity topics — from marine and coastal ecosystems to forests, wildlife, and freshwater systems — in countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific.

Historical Context

The Darwin Initiative has been running for over 30 years. Round 31 awarded funding to 47 new projects (announced October 2025). Round 32 is expected to launch in May 2026 with projects starting April 2027. The scheme is administered by NIRAS on behalf of the UK government's Biodiversity Challenge Funds.

Why it was added

Core UK government international biodiversity fund with strong marine conservation and sustainable fisheries focus in developing countries

Sources

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