Darwin Initiative: Innovation and Capability & Capacity Grant

We are now inviting applications to all four Darwin Initiative schemes:

• Extra
• Main
• Innovation
• Capability & Capacity

The timetable for Round 30 is:

Extra – Single Stage, with interview

• Call for Extra applications: currently open – deadline Monday 18^th September 2023
• Shortlisted applications will be invited to interview (remote): Monday 15^th – Friday 19^th January 2024

Main – Two Stage process

• Stage 1 (Main): currently open – deadline Monday 3^rd July 2023
• Stage 2 (Main): by invite only – deadline Monday 27^th November

Innovation and Capability & Capacity – Single Stage process

• Call for Innovation / Capability & Capacity applications: currently open – deadline Monday 23^rd October 2023

Results for Innovation and Capability & Capacity are expected by end of January 2024 at the earliest, and for Main and Extra they are expected by end of February 2024 at the earliest.

Successful projects are expected to start from 1^st April 2024. You should consider the best date to start your project to allow for start-up and recruitment, based on the expected notification of results.

Before applying, you should first read:

• Round 30 Guidance for applicants
• Finance Guidance
• Flexi-Grant Guidance
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Guidance
• Standard Indicator Guidance
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Risk Management Guidance
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Terms & Conditions
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Privacy Notice

Extra

Darwin Initiative Extra invites projects that are on a clear scaling pathway: building on good evidence from smaller projects to demonstrating the potential to scale further by completion and delivering strong results for biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction.

Darwin Initiative Extra will provide grants between £600,000 and £5,000,000 for projects lasting between 2 to 5 years maximum.

How to apply:

Once you have ready the guidance, complete the Darwin Initiative Extra Round 30 application form on the Flexi-Grant application portal. For drafting purposes you may find the Darwin Initiative Extra Round 30 form useful.

If you invited to interview, you may be asked to provide clarifications on the feedback provided upon the review of your Stage 1 application.

The budget spreadsheet for Darwin Initiative Extra projects can be found below:

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget forms (grants over £100,000)

Additional materials that you will be required to complete as part of your application can be found below or downloaded from within Flexi-Grant.

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Workplan Template
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Stage 2/ Single Stage logframe
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Risk Framework Template

Main

Darwin Initiative Main invites applications for environmental projects between £100,000 and £600,000 for projects lasting 1 to 3 years maximum.

How to apply:

Once you have ready the guidance, complete the Darwin Initiative Main Round 30 Stage 1 application form on the Flexi-Grant application portal. For drafting purposes you may find the Darwin Initiative Main Round 30 Stage 1 form useful.

If you invited to Stage 2, you will be asked to complete the Stage 2 application form on the Flexi-Grant portal. For drafting purposes, you may find the Darwin Initiative Main Round 30 Stage 2 application form useful.

The budget spreadsheet for Darwin Initiative Main projects can be found below:

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget forms (grants over £100,000)

Additional materials that you will be required to complete as part of your application can be found below or downloaded from within Flexi-Grant. Please note there are different requirements for Stage 1 and Stage 2 – read the guidance for more information.

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Workplan Template
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Stage 1 logframe template
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Stage 2/ Single Stage logframe

Innovation

Darwin Initiative Innovation is aimed at projects intending to test a novel approach that if proven could scale to deliver results for biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction.

Darwin Initiative Innovation will provide grants between £10,000 to £200,000 for projects lasting between 1 to 2 years maximum.

How to apply:

Once you have ready the guidance, complete the Darwin Initiative Innovation Round 30 application form on the Flexi-Grant application portal. For drafting purposes you may find the Darwin Initiative Innovation Round 30 form useful.

The budget spreadsheet for Darwin Initiative Innovation projects can be found below:

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget forms (grants over £100,000)
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget forms (grants under £100,000)

Additional materials that you will be required to complete as part of your application can be found below or downloaded from within Flexi-Grant.

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Workplan Template
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Stage 2/ Single Stage logframe

Capability & Capacity

Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity invites projects that focus on developing the capability and capacity of national and local organisation to efficiently deliver effective and successful biodiversity conservation – poverty reduction projects.

Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity will provide grants between £50,000 – £200,000 between for projects lasting 1 to 2 years maximum.

How to apply:

Once you have ready the guidance, complete the Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity Round 30 application form on the Flexi-Grant application portal. For drafting purposes you may find the Darwin Capability & Capacity Innovation Round 30 form useful.

The budget spreadsheet for Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity projects can be found below:

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget forms (grants over £100,000)
• Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget forms (grants under £100,000)

Additional materials that you will be required to complete as part of your application can be found below or downloaded from within Flexi-Grant.

• Biodiversity Challenge Funds Workplan Template

Contact Information

If you would like to contact us regarding an application, and you cant find the answer in the guidance documents, please contact the Darwin Initiative Administration Team:

• General application queries: BCF-Darwin@niras.com
• For queries specific to using the Flexi-Grant system: BCF-Flexigrant@niras.com