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Applications now open for Darwin Initiative!

We are thrilled to announce that applications for Darwin Initiative Round 32 are now open.

The aim of the Darwin Initiative is to support communities to find just, scalable, and sustainable ways to conserve and restore nature while growing their economies and reducing poverty. Darwin Initiative grants enable real impact on the ground. Since 1993, the Darwin Initiative has invested over £289 million in more than 1,370 projects. These grants have empowered communities to more sustainably manage millions of hectares of precious natural habitats. These landscapes, from ancient forests and vital peatlands to rich ocean ecosystems, shelter endangered wildlife, lock away carbon, and help secure the food we all depend on. Darwin Initiative grants have also enabled more than 100,000 people to improve their resilience to natural disasters and climate change, including communities in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Putting these numbers into context, one current Darwin Initiative project in Indonesia is enabling large-scale conservation across West Papua’s globally important land- and seascapes. Communities and authorities now manage over 1.3 million hectares of biodiverse forests and fisheries more effectively and have achieved UNESCO designation of a 12.6-million-hectare Biosphere Reserve – boosting the global profile of Indonesia’s biodiversity and embedding nature into regional planning and development. 

Strengthening the programme: Key updates for Round 32

We want projects to really focus on moving from direct service delivery to strengthening the systems – institutions, markets and governance – that sustain impact at scale. In order to maximise the impact on biodiversity conservation and focus grantees to enable better coordination, cumulative impact, and sustainability, Round 32 of the Darwin Initiative has introduced the following key updates:  

• This year there is an increased geographic prioritisation, and we are focusing on 13 biodiversity hotspots across 35 countries – we’re looking for applications that influence the key drivers of biodiversity loss within these hotspots. By focusing effort in fewer, highest-priority places, it will support better coordination and greater cumulative impact and reduce the risk of spreading effort too thinly to influence large-scale and lasting change.
• To reduce the burden on applicants, Extra and Main Stage 1 will now be a shorter concept note which summarises the proposed project, presenting the key idea, purpose, and approach. Proposals with the highest potential impact will be invited to apply for Stage 2.
• Defra will fund future research and development grants through the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC), so to avoid duplication, the Darwin Initiative Innovation scheme will no longer accept new applications. This will also ensure more funding is available for new projects via the three remaining schemes – Extra, Main, and Capability & Capacity.
• To encourage strong, strategic proposals, ensure a fair and balanced application process, and help to localise leadership by encouraging local affiliates of international networks to lead projects, organisations are limited to lead on one application per scheme. Organisations may appear on an unlimited number of applications as partners.

Round 32 funding update webinar

We are hosting a webinar to provide an update on the Darwin Initiative, outlining what has changed in Round 32, why these changes have been introduced, and what they mean in practice. There will also be an opportunity for participants to ask questions and engage in discussion.

Please note: this session will focus on programme updates and will not cover detailed guidance on the application process or application forms. For any queries about the application process, please refer to the Round 32 Guidance for applicants which can be found on the Apply page of the Darwin Initiative website.

Webinar registration details:

• Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
• Time: 12pm – 1pm (UK time / GMT+1)
• Register: Click here to register

A recording of the webinar and a copy of the presentation slides will be added to the Workshops and Webinars page under Resources on our website.

Closing dates for Round 32 applications are as follows:

• Darwin Initiative Main
  • Stage 1Deadline: Monday 20^th July 2026
  • Stage 2 (by invite only)Deadline: Monday 30^th November 2026
• Darwin Initiative Extra
  • Stage 1 Deadline: Wednesday 1^st July 2026
  • Stage 2 (by invite only)Deadline: Monday 2^nd November 2026
• Darwin Initiative Capability & Capacity
  • Single Stage Deadline: Monday 31^st August 2026

Further information on the eligibility criteria, schemes, guidance documents, and the scoring criteria can be found on each scheme’s application page under the Apply page.

Make sure to read the application guidance for the scheme you want to apply for. The comprehensive guidance documents provide all the information about what is required for a successful application and how you should apply – there have been some significant updates to the guidance this round, so it is important to read this, even if you are familiar with the Darwin Initiative.

If you would like to see examples of application forms and reports from funded projects, head to the Projects section on our website where you can search through projects by funding round, scheme, country, institution, biomes and ecosystems, as well as by Project Leader.

Good luck to all applicants - we can’t wait to see your submissions!