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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

 

The IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group Chair Recruitment

We are currently recruiting for a Chair for the IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group (IWTAG). The successful candidate will act as a champion for the IWT Challenge Fund. Alongside Defra and other government ministers, the IWTAG Chair will represent and promote the IWT Challenge Fund and its interests at the most senior levels and across all sectors including public, business, academic, and non-governmental.

The IWTAG Chair will be responsible for chairing all meetings of the IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group, to ensure due process is followed and decisions are taken independently, honestly, objectively, and impartially - enabling Defra to award funding to the highest quality projects. Where necessary, they will make the final decisions if members are unable to reach consensus on any aspects of the assessment process.

Additional responsibilities include supporting the recruitment and retention of members, providing strategic advice on the IWT Challenge Fund aims, priorities, and further development. Where possible they will attend, chair, or speak at IWT Challenge Fund events, including workshops and webinars.

Applications close at 23:59 (UK time) on Monday 8 June 2026, and the appointment will commence from September 2026, with a three-year term, reviewed annually, and with the option of a second term by mutual agreement.

Please refer to the IWTAG Chair Recruitment Pack for guidance and information on this recruitment.

Please note that will be sharing further information on the launch of new funding rounds in due course. Please follow our BCFs social media accounts and sign up to our mailing list to ensure you see any updates as soon as they are shared. Click here to sign up: IWT Challenge Fund Mailing List

 

Status of application rounds

Darwin Initiative

Main Projects Stage 1 Concept Note: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 20th July 2026.

Main Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only. Deadline Monday 30th November 2026.

Extra Projects Stage 1 Concept Note: Currently OPEN. Deadline Wednesday1st July 2026.

Extra Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only. Deadline Monday 2nd November 2026.

Capability & Capacity Projects: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 31st August 2026.

 

IWT Challenge Fund

Evidence Projects: Currently CLOSED.

Main Projects Stage 1: Currently CLOSED.

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

Extra Projects Stage 1: Currently CLOSED.

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

IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group Chair Recruitment: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 8 June 2026.

 

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

Main Projects Stage 1: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 15th June 2026.

Main Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only. Deadline Monday 21st September 2026.

People & Skills (previously Fellowships): OPEN. Deadline Monday 7th September 2026.

Local Projects: Currently OPEN. Deadline Thursday 25th June 2026.

Strategic Projects: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 14th September 2026.

 

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