DEFRA: Darwin Plus - Main 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 Main
Darwin Plus Main is intended for environmental projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs), offering grants between £50,000 and £1 million, for projects lasting between 6 months and 3 years.
s. Preference will be given to projects implementing existing identified environmental solutions on the ground (i.e. action orientated). Research and scoping work in projects must be clearly justified, explaining how any new research will be applied to drive meaningful environmental outcomes on the ground. As much as possible, applicants should draw on existing findings from other contexts.
Who can apply
Darwin Plus funding 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)2 • 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)
Requirements
Applications must be made by the Lead Organisation, not an individual, agreeing to the Terms and Conditions including managing the grant, its finances, reporting and governance.
The Project Leader is the individual with the necessary authority, capability and capacity, and a full understanding of their role and associated obligations to take responsibility for delivering value for money, managing risk and financial controls whilst fulfilling the terms and conditions of the grant.
The Project Leader and Lead Organisation can be based in any country, though they strongly encourage projects to be led by an in-territory organisation.
See Guidance for further notes.
Specifications
Awards for Darwin Plus Main projects are between £50,000 and £1,000,000.
The overall funding pot in any given year is, however, limited, and depends on previous Darwin Plus commitments.
The average project award last year was just over £365,000, averaging around £120,000 a year. Project budgets should preferably show an even spread over the funding period and as a general rule should not be front-loaded, as this restricts the number of new projects that can be awarded in any year.
The minimum length of a project is 6 months and the maximum length is 3 years.
Applicants for Round 13 of Darwin Plus Main:
- should plan to start on or after 1 April 2025. You cannot start earlier.
- must ensure their budget commitments end by 31 March 2028.
Please note: The UK Government has committed to make £10 million available for Darwin Plus each year until March 2025.