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Next funding round has launched!

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

Apply now for funding from the IWT Challenge Fund!

We are delighted to announce that applications for Round 12 of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund are now open.

The Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund forms part of the UK Government’s long-standing commitment to eradicate IWT. Since the fund launched in 2014, it has supported 187 projects to a value of over £68 million, working with local communities in over 69 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

The IWT Challenge Fund supports a wide array of projects working to protect wildlife and reduce poverty around the world. Funded projects are strengthening law enforcement, changing consumer behaviour, improving evidence, and developing sustainable livelihood opportunities in countries affected by wildlife crime.

From partnering with traditional health practitioners, traders, and harvesters in South Africa to reduce pressure on wild medicinal plants, to empowering communities near Ghana’s Mole National Park to protect wildlife and develop sustainable livelihoods.

From helping marginalised communities drive positive change in wildlife markets in Peru, to transforming how wildlife crime is detected and reported through collaboration between journalists, couriers, and government agencies in Indonesia. In Nepal, funded projects are connecting conservation with careers for young people in poaching-prone areas and supporting Indigenous leadership in pangolin conservation, while improved knowledge is helping address the illegal trade in Madagascar’s medicinal plants.

We are also excited to announce that, for the first time, the Evidence scheme will pilot support for evidence generation addressing a broader range of environmental crimes, recognising that crimes such as wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, fisheries crime, illegal mining, and waste crime can share common drivers, impacts, and links to organised criminal networks. Please review the full guidance document for full details.

Several key changes have been introduced for Round 12 of the IWT Challenge Fund:

  • The list of eligible countries has been substantively revised to focus funding where it can have the greatest impact.
  • The IWT Challenge Fund Evidence scheme has expanded beyond projects focused solely on IWT to consider applications addressing other types of environmental crime. The Main and Extra schemes remain primarily focused on IWT.
  • An Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy has been introduced.
  • Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion and Safeguarding requirements have been clarified.
  • Updated IWT Challenge Fund Standard Indicator Guidance has been published.
  • The approach to assessing how projects consider poverty reduction has been expanded.

Applicants should read and understand all guidance in full to ensure that they meet the Fund’s requirements, including the eligibility requirements, and submit the strongest possible application.

IWT Challenge Fund Round 12 funding update webinar

We are hosting a webinar to introduce applicants to the IWT Challenge Fund, outlining what has changed in Round 12, why these changes have been introduced, and what they mean in practice. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion. 

Webinar registration details: 

Please read the IWT Challenge Fund Round 12 application guidance before attending. The guidance is available on the Apply page of the website.

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 IWT Challenge Fund Round 12 applications are as follows:

Further information about the eligibility criteria, funding schemes, guidance documents, and assessment criteria is available on 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 IWT Challenge Fund.

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.

Thank you for your interest in the IWT Challenge Fund. We look forward to receiving your applications!