Darwin Plus People & Skills Funding Programme (Round 13)

Deadline Date

September 23, 2024

Donor Name

Darwin Initiative

Grant Size

$100,000 to $500,000

Darwin Plus People & Skills Funding Programme (Round 13)

Applications are now open for the Darwin Plus People & Skills Funding Programme. This programme aims to build capacity through training, education, and professional development opportunities for UKOT nationals, long-term residents, or those with a long-term relationship with an OT.

Objectives of Darwin Plus:

• Biodiversity: Improving and conserving biodiversity, and reversing biodiversity loss and degradation.
• Climate Change: Responding to, mitigating, and adapting to climate change and its effects on the environment and communities.
• Environmental Quality: Improving the condition and protection of the natural environment.
• Capability and Capacity Building: Enhancing capacity within UKOTs to support environmental goals in the short and long term.

Potential Activities:

• Relevant academic qualifications, such as:
  • Undergraduate and foundation degrees
  • Masters’ degrees
  • Associate degrees
  • Online and remote degrees
• Professional development opportunities, including:
  • Training placements and internships
  • Travel to and attendance at conferences and workshops
  • Funding for trainers to deliver training programmes
  • Remote or online learning
  • Territory to Territory skill shares and exchanges
  • Targeted training courses
  • On-the-ground fieldwork training and courses

Ineligible Activities:

• Activities that are part of UKOT government’s core functions (e.g., full-time staff salaries or routine management activities)
• Long-term research
• Ongoing maintenance of habitats or protection of species
• Work focusing on built heritage

Eligibility Criteria:

• Support is available for individuals or groups. Beneficiaries can be nationals, long-term residents (minimum 5 years), or those with a long-term relationship with the Territory.
• Applications must be made by a Lead Organisation, not an individual, which will manage the grant, its finances, reporting, and governance.
• The Project Leader should work closely with or supervise the beneficiaries. The Project Leader and Lead Organisation can be based anywhere, but in-territory organisations are encouraged.
• There is no limit on the number of applications a Lead Organisation can submit, but internal co-ordination is encouraged. Defra may consider the number of applications from a single organisation in their decision-making process.
• Russian organisations are ineligible due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

For more information, visit Darwin Plus.