The Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC), a UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme, has launched the Third Research Grant Competition (RGC3).

Funding Organization: Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC)

Research Scope:

• Theme 1: Using biodiversity to improve the climate resilience of agricultural, food and bioeconomy value chains. Transforming agrifood systems at scale to incorporate nature-based solutions that build biodiversity back into production landscapes to boost climate resilience and reduce poverty (open to all GCBC focus regions).
• Theme 2: Biodiversity hotspots in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Building sustainable businesses from nature to adapt to climate change, protect biodiversity and tackle poverty (focused on SIDS).

Eligibility:

• Geographic focus:
• Any proposed offer must be from, or include as a Partner in a consortium, an Organisation from an ODA-eligible country in the target geographic areas. A UK-based Partner or a presence in the UK is not essential. Thailand is an ODA-eligible country.
• GCBC will accept applications for projects with activities in ODA eligible countries in Latin America (including Central America), the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South-east Asia and the Pacific and Small Island Developing States.
• Delivery Partner/Organisation eligibility:
• Applications are encouraged from many different types of potential Delivery Partners, both local and international, including, but not limited to: non-government organisations, civil society organisations, multilateral organisations, social development organisations, academic institutions, and private sector partners.
• Funding can also be awarded to parastatal organisations if the proposed activities are not receiving funding from other governments. UN bodies are eligible under the same terms and conditions as other applicants.
• Applicants must not be under any debarment or exclusion due to professional or fiduciary malpractice.
• Any proposed activities must be eligible for ODA funding (the primary purpose being to promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries).
• Any proposed offer from a consortium should be headed by a single Lead Delivery Partner. Prospective Lead Delivery Partners will lead and submit applications on behalf of all members of their consortium.
• The GCBC encourages applications from the Lead Delivery Partners/Organisations based in the target ODA-eligible country. New and equitable partnerships involving local project Partners are also encouraged.
• Private sector Partners may be consortia members, but are ineligible to receive grant funds for profit, or act as consortia Lead Delivery Partners.
• PhD Students are not eligible for funding under this grant competition.

Maximum Award: Up to £1 million for 12-36 months duration. 

Application Process: The third RGC is a two-stage process:

• Stage 1: Applicants for this stage must submit a written concept note outlining their proposed project. Successful applicants will be invited to proceed to Stage 2
• Stage 2: Applicants for this stage must submit a full project proposal, consisting of both commercial and narrative documents, along with responding to RGC compliance requirements

Applications must be submitted on the GCBC E-Platform.

Application Deadline: The deadline for concept note is 16 March 2025 at 23:00 hrs, UTC.

Further Information:  https://www.gcbc.org.uk/grants/