Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund

Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund: Round 8

The objective of the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund is to provide scalable, repeatable and innovative solutions to reduce pressure on wildlife from illegal trade and, in doing so, reduce poverty in developing countries. The IWT Challenge Fund seeks to achieve this through support to projects that address one, or more, of the following themes:

1. Reducing demand for IWT products
2. Ensuring effective legal frameworks and deterrents
3. Strengthening law enforcement
4. Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT

In supporting the IWT Challenge Fund’s objectives all projects are expected to enhance the capability and capacity of national and local stakeholders and develop the evidence-base and best practice for successful IWT interventions.

How to Apply

Applicants will need to apply online for Round 8 of the IWT Challenge Fund through the Flexi-Grant application portal. Please note that under Round 8, the fund is now looking to support projects between £20,000 – £1,500,000.

Before applying, you should first read:

• Round 8: IWT Challenge Fund Guidance
• 2021-2022 Finance Guidance
• Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Guidance
• Biodiversity Funds Risk Management Guidance
• Flexi-Grant User Guide
• Privacy Notice
• Round 8: IWT Challenge Fund Terms and Conditions

Once you have read the guidance, please complete the Stage 1 online application form on the Flexi-Grant application portal.

For drafting purposes, you may find the IWT Challenge Fund Round 8: Stage 1 application form (for drafting only) useful.

If you are invited to Stage 2, you will be asked to complete the Stage 2 application form on the Flexi-Grant portal. For drafting purposes, you may find the IWT Challenge Fund Round 8: Stage 2 application form (for drafting only) useful.

There are two different budget templates for projects requesting over and under £100k from the IWT Challenge Fund budget:

• Budget form for projects under £100,000
• Budget form for projects over £100,000

All other relevant templates you will be required to complete as part of your application can be found below or downloaded from within Flexi-Grant.

• Round 8: implementation timetable template
• Round 8: Stage 1 logical framework template
• Round 8: Stage 2 logical framework template
• Biodiversity Funds Risk Framework Template

When to apply

There is a two-stage application process for IWT Challenge Fund projects. The timetable for Round 8 is set out below:

• call for Stage 1 applications: Friday 1 October 2021
• deadline for Stage 1 applications: Monday 22 November 2021
• expected outcome of Stage 1 and notification of applicants invited to Stage 2: early February 2022
• deadline for Stage 2 applications (by invitation only): Tuesday 22 March 2022
• expected notification of successful projects: end of May 2022 at the earliest
• expected start date for successful projects: 1 June 2022

Who can apply

Please refer to the application guidance for the list of countries and organisations eligible for the scheme.