Biodiversity Financing Grant
In context
This call is open to non-profits, registered charities and community groups and 5 others. Funding is a grant. Coverage is read from the notice itself: any country. The funder accepts early-stage applicants.
The International Biodiversity Program funds initiatives to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by addressing direct drivers such as land/sea-use change, species overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and agriculture. Applicants including women, Indigenous Peoples, and organizations working on conservation can submit unsolicited proposals on a rolling basis.
About this grant
Canada's International Biodiversity Program is a $350 million funding initiative (2023-2026) designed to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15 in December 2022. The program addresses critical biodiversity loss, with global animal populations having declined by 69% since 1970, and aims to protect ecosystems that underpin key industries like agriculture, forestry, fishing, and tourism. The program recognizes that more than half of the global economy depends on nature and that biodiversity loss disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, women, and girls in developing countries. Canada supports biodiversity conservation through multiple mechanisms including climate finance with nature-based solutions (at least 20% of the $5.3 billion international climate finance commitment), contributions to the Global Environment Facility, and direct project funding. The program focuses on conserving, preserving, and restoring biodiversity while addressing key causes such as land- and sea-use changes, species overexploitation, invasive species, and pollution. It operates through two subprograms: the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund ($200 million) managed by the Global Environment Facility to support projects in developing countries, and Partnering for Nature which supports projects addressing biodiversity needs at local, regional, or global levels with gender equality considerations and alignment with Canada's international biodiversity finance priorities.
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Eligibility
The program primarily supports biodiversity projects in developing countries. The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund specifically prioritizes the most vulnerable regions including small island developing states and least developed countries, which receive 36% of available resources plus an additional 3% where capacity exists. Projects must address biodiversity needs at local, regional, or global levels and include gender equality considerations in their design and implementation. The program prioritizes projects led by or benefiting Indigenous Peoples and local communities, with up to 20% of Global Biodiversity Framework Fund resources supporting Indigenous-led and community-led projects. Canada works with Canadian, Indigenous, and international partners through various executing agencies listed in the project portfolio.
How it's scored
The program uses quality data and evidence to track progress and evaluate results. Projects are assessed based on alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Canada's international biodiversity finance priorities. Evaluation focuses on expected results including helping developing countries protect ecosystems and biodiversity, conserving and restoring land, water, and marine environments, promoting inclusive and sustainable use of natural resources, strengthening policies and planning, and supporting women, girls, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities in leading biodiversity efforts. The program tracks ultimate outcomes of improved health of biodiversity and key ecosystems, with programming areas including conservation areas protection, degraded areas restoration, threatened species protection, pollution reduction, sustainable use of natural resources, and tools for implementation.
Key requirements
- ✓Focus on reversing biodiversity loss and addressing direct drivers (land/sea-use change, species overexploitation, invasive alien species, pollution, agriculture)
- ✓Collaboration with women and Indigenous Peoples
- ✓Submission via unsolicited proposal
- ✓Rolling basis acceptance
Recent past awardees
Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.
- Global Biodiversity Framework Fund · $200M
- PROBLUE: Global program for the blue economy · $5M
- Conserva Aves · $8M
- Supporting the protection of marine biodiversity within the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean · $6.7M
- Biodiversity & Livelihood Opportunities for Ethnic Minority Women (BLOOM) · $1.6M
- Building Resilient Communities through Marine Biodiversity Conservation in Madagascar · $1.5M
- Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) · $19.2M
- Restoring African Rangelands · $10M
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Biodiversity Financing deadline?
- This is a rolling call with no fixed deadline, so applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
- Who can apply for Biodiversity Financing?
- Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; nonprofit, charity, community-group, indigenous-community, social-enterprise, university, research-institution, local-authority. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.
About this sector
Biodiversity funding backs habitat restoration, species protection, protected areas and nature-positive business. It comes from environment agencies, multilateral nature funds and conservation philanthropy, often through competitive calls with defined regions. Applicants are usually asked for baseline surveys, local partners and indicators that show ecological change.
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