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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 People & Skills: building capacity for UKOT nationals and/or long term residents
  

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 and other environmental crime products
  • Ensuring effective legal frameworks and deterrents 
  • Strengthening law enforcement 
  • Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT and wider environmental crime

 

Biodiversity Challenge Funds 2026 Expert Recruitment 

The Biodiversity Challenge Funds (BCFs) is the collective name for three of the UK Government's competitive grants, Darwin Initiative, Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund and Darwin Plus, aimed at conserving biodiversity and safeguarding the environment for local people. 

This recruitment is for Experts to join one of these two groups: the Darwin Expert Committee (DEC), and the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund Advisory Group (IWTAG). Please note that the Darwin Plus Advisory Group (DPAG) is not recruiting for new Experts this year. 

Each Expert Group is made up of independent experts including academics, practitioners, and NGO representatives, along with government officials, all with leadership experience, technical knowledge and experience of international biodiversity conservation and/or multidimensional poverty reduction programmes. 

Our aim is to ensure our Expert Groups are inclusive, diverse, and globally representative. 

Currently OPEN. The application deadline is 23:59 pm on Monday 23rd November 2026. Appointments will commence from 1 June 2027, with a three-year term, reviewed annually.

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

 

Status of application rounds

Darwin Initiative

Main Projects Stage 1 Concept Note: Currently CLOSED. 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 CLOSED. Deadline Wednesday1st July 2026.

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

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

 

IWT Challenge Fund

Evidence Projects: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 30 October 2023.

Main Projects Stage 1: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 23rd November 2026.

Main Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only. Deadline Monday 5th April 2027.

Extra Projects Stage 1: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 23rd November 2026.

Extra Projects Stage 2: Currently CLOSED. Access by invitation only. Deadline Monday 5th April 2027.

 

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

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

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

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

Local Projects: Currently OPEN. Deadline Monday 23rd November 2026.

Strategic Projects: Currently CLOSED. 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