DARWIN INITIATIVE CALL FOR FUNDING APPLICATIONS FOR SCOPING (FORMERLY PRE PROJECT) AND FELLOWSHIP (FORMERLY SCHOLARSHIP) FUNDING SCHEMES 2006

The Darwin Initiative seeks to help safeguard the world's biodiversity by drawing on UK biodiversity expertise to work with local partners in countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources. Since it's launch at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the programme has already committed over £30 million to more than 300 biodiversity projects in nearly 100 countries.

A new phase of the Darwin Initiative was announced at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Phase II of the Initiative introduced three new schemes (Darwin Scholarships, Pre-project funding and Post-project funding) and an increase of £7 million in funding over three years. Phase II aims to build on the strengths of the scheme by:

* improving the collaboration with the host country/ies throughout the whole project;

* strengthening the links with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); and

* enhancing the legacy of Darwin projects.

In 2005 Defra contracted ECTF to conduct a review of these new schemes, to evaluate progress on them against their initial purpose and to assess areas of concern that have been raised. This review took into account responses to a consultation from the DI project community, the Darwin Advisory Committee and the Darwin Initiative Secretariat on the progress of these new schemes; and made recommendations regarding future implementation of the schemes. More details on this review are available on the Darwin website at www.darwin.gov.uk/applications/review.html

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is now inviting applications from British institutions and organisations for Scoping and Fellowship funding under Phase II of the Darwin Initiative to commence from July 2006. ECTF are managing the application process on Defra's behalf. The guidance notes for applicants and application forms are available on the Darwin website at http://www.darwin.gov.uk/applications . If you have difficulty accessing the information and forms please contact ECTF. The documents are also available in large print on request.

The closing date for applications is 10 March 2006. Please send the completed form by email to darwin-applications@ectf-ed.org.uk - ensuring that the proposed project title/Fellow's name is in the subject line of the email. Defra expects to announce the successful applicants towards the end of May 2006.
Further information on the Darwin Initiative, including lists of projects funded in previous rounds, can be found on our web site at www.darwin.gov.uk . There are also five published reports which are available from the Defra Secretariat (darwin@defra.gsi.gov.uk ).

Applications Manager
Website: www.darwin.gov.uk
Email: Darwin-Applications@ectf-ed.org.uk