The Darwin Initiative has launched its Round 32 funding call, inviting organizations to submit proposals for biodiversity protection and sustainable economic development. This updated round prioritizes 13 global biodiversity hotspots and 35 priority countries, shifting the focus toward long-term systems change and increased local leadership to improve conservation outcomes.
What changes are being implemented for Round 32?
The Darwin Initiative announced several strategic updates for this funding round aimed at increasing impact and coordination. The programme will now implement increased geographic prioritization, focusing on 13 global biodiversity hotspots and 35 priority countries. According to the initiative, concentrating funding within these priority landscapes may improve collaboration among grantees and generate stronger cumulative results.
The programme is also shifting its emphasis from direct service delivery toward “systems change.” Applicants are encouraged to focus on strengthening the structures that support long-term impact, including environmental governance, institutional capacity, sustainable markets, community leadership, and policy frameworks. This approach seeks to create durable outcomes that can be scaled beyond individual project sites.
To reduce administrative burdens, the initiative has simplified the application process for the Main and Extra schemes. Stage 1 will now consist of shorter concept notes summarizing project objectives. Only proposals demonstrating the highest potential impact will be invited to proceed to Stage 2.
Additionally, the Darwin Initiative Innovation scheme has been discontinued and will no longer accept new applications. The programme stated that future biodiversity research and development funding will be provided through the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC). This move is intended to avoid duplication between funding mechanisms and increase resources for existing Darwin schemes.
How has the program influenced conservation efforts to date?
Since its establishment in 1993, the Darwin Initiative has invested more than £289 million in over 1,370 projects across developing countries and biodiversity-rich regions. These investments have supported the conservation of critical ecosystems, the management of millions of hectares of natural habitats, and the improvement of livelihoods for vulnerable communities.
The initiative reported that its grants have helped more than 100,000 people improve their resilience to climate change and natural disasters. The programme highlighted a project in Indonesia as an example of these long-term impacts. Through collaboration between local communities and government authorities, more than 1.3 million hectares of biodiverse forests and fisheries in West Papua are now managed more effectively.
This Indonesian project also contributed to the establishment of a 12.6-million-hectare UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which helped integrate conservation priorities into regional development planning.
What are the application deadlines for the remaining schemes?
Funding remains available through three specific streams. The Darwin Initiative has established the following deadlines for applicants:
- Darwin Initiative Extra: The Stage 1 deadline is July 1, 2026. The Stage 2 deadline (by invitation only) is November 2, 2026.
- Darwin Initiative Main: The Stage 1 deadline is July 20, 2026. The Stage 2 deadline (by invitation only) is November 30, 2026.
- Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity: The single-stage deadline is August 31, 2026.
New rules have also been introduced to strengthen local ownership. Under the updated guidelines, organizations may lead only one application per funding scheme, though they can participate as partners in an unlimited number of applications. The initiative is also encouraging local affiliates of international networks to take on leadership roles to ensure fairer competition and enhanced localization.
The shift toward systems-level change and specific geographic hotspots may result in more concentrated environmental gains. Furthermore, the transition of research funding to the GCBC could potentially allow for more resources to be directed toward conservation implementation projects within the three remaining Darwin schemes.
