DEFRA: Darwin Plus - Local Projects

Overview

What is Darwin Plus Programme

Darwin Plus (also known as The Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund) is a UK government grants scheme that helps deliver long-term strategic outcomes for the unique biodiversity, the natural environment and improving resilience to climate change within the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). It is one of the Biodiversity Challenge Funds, which also includes the Darwin Initiative and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, aimed at conserving biodiversity and safeguarding the environment for local people.

Most projects will include one or more of the following themes:

• Biodiversity: improving and conserving biodiversity, and slowing or reversing biodiversity loss and degradation;
• Climate change: responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities;
• Environmental quality: improving the condition and protection of the natural environment;
• Capability and capacity building: enhancing the capacity within UKOTs to support the environment in the short- and long-term.

Projects contribute to the delivery of existing commitments for individual Territories, such as those set out within the national biodiversity strategies, environmental action plans and roadmaps, or equivalent.

Darwin Plus Local

Darwin Plus Local funds projects that protect the unique biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change within the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs).

Darwin Plus Local supports small scale environmental projects exclusively in the UKOTs, with the aim of improving outcomes for biodiversity, building capacity in-territory and contributing to local economies.

Applications to Round 4 of Darwin Plus Local are now open.

The latest application Round opened on Monday 22nd April 2024.

Applications to Darwin Plus Local is a single stage process.

• Deadline for applications: Monday 24th June 2024.

This round of Darwin Plus Local provides grants of up to £50,000 for organisations, and £20,000 for individuals.

Darwin Plus Local Round 4:

• Projects must last up to 6-months.
• The expected start date for successful projects is from 1st October 2024.
• All funding must be spent by 31st March 2025.

Darwin Plus Local is open to applications for projects in all UKOTs. The fourteen UKOTs are:

• Anguilla • Bermuda • British Antarctic Territory (BAT) • British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) • British Virgin Islands (BVI) • Cayman Islands • Falkland Islands (FI)1 • Gibraltar • Montserrat • Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie & Oeno Islands • St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha • South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) • Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (on Cyprus) • Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI)

Eligible activities

Projects must contribute to measurable outcomes in at least one of the Darwin Plus themes noted in section 1.2 (biodiversity, climate change, environmental quality and capability and capacity building) with a clear focus on biodiversity and the natural environment.

A wide range of projects may be eligible for funding through Darwin Plus Local. Potential activities that may be eligible include, but are not limited to:

• Pilot projects to test a proven evidence-based or innovative new solution in a specific area or with a specific group, to measure results and learn lessons.
• Enhanced protection and restoration of priority species, habitats, and landscapes and sustainable management of natural resources and activities (such as tourism).
• Actions to combat and build capacity to tackle invasive alien species and improve biosecurity.
• Grassroots, community-based and locally led efforts to advance conservation action, build capacity and increase resilience or improve environmental quality. This could include peer to peer learning and sharing best practice among OTs and their partners.
• Policy work, which might include legal gap analysis or drafting and implementation of new legislation.
• Outreach and education, including to involve, build capacity and buy-in for conservation, and raise awareness among local people and diverse community groups.
• Actions to increase resilience of biodiversity to climate change and enhance sustainability.
• Enhanced data management and analysis with specific goals for embedding this to inform policy, management, and practice.
• Sustainable financing for conservation.

They encourage projects proposing to implement evidence-based proven solutions as well as innovative approaches. Capital costs are eligible if well justified in the application and provided the items purchased remain available for on-going work in the territory (please see Guidance).

Preference will be given to discrete projects implementing environmental solutions, action on the ground, or discrete work that aims to deliver a tangible change. Research, data management and scoping work in projects must be clearly justified, explaining how any new research will be applied to drive environmental outcomes on the ground. As much as possible, you should draw on existing work to provide evidence, where available, to support your application.

Size and Duration

Darwin Plus Local is open to applications from organisations for funding requests up to £50,000, and from individuals for funding requests up to £20,000.

Projects in this Round (Round 4) can last for a maximum of six months and should plan to begin activities from October 2024, and all projects must be completed by 31 March 2025. Applicants should design their projects to be completed within this timeframe. This measure is to ensure that all funds are spent within the 2024-25 financial year (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025). Applicants should budget according to the 2024-25 financial year. Budgets cannot be moved between financial years, except in very exceptional circumstances and change requests may not always be accepted. Applicants should take this into account when designing their projects

Requirements

Applications must be made by the Lead Organisation. This can be an organisation or an individual who agrees to the Terms and Conditions including managing the grant, its finances, reporting and governance. The Lead Organisation must be based in one of the UKOTs. Where a UKOT has no permanent population, the applicant must demonstrate their long-term meaningful connection to that territory.

See Guidance for further notes.