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Darwin Initiative
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The Darwin Initiative is the UK’s flagship international challenge fund for biodiversity conversation and poverty reduction, established at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Darwin Initiative is a grant scheme working on projects that aim to slow, halt, or reverse the rates of biodiversity loss and degradation, with associated reductions in multidimensional poverty. To date, the Darwin Initiative has awarded more than £195m to over 1,280 projects in 159 countries to enhance the capability and capacity of national and local stakeholders to deliver biodiversity conservation and multidimensional poverty reduction outcomes in low and middle-income countries. More information at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/the-darwin-initiative. This page contains information about Rounds 27 onwards. For information about Rounds 1 to 26, please see the Darwin Initiative website -https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/
Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is a widespread and lucrative criminal activity causing major global environmental and social harm. The IWT has been estimated to be worth up to £17 billion a year. Nearly 6,000 different species of fauna and flora are impacted, with almost every country in the world playing a role in the illicit trade. The UK government is committed to tackling illegal trade of wildlife products and is a long-standing leader in efforts to eradicate the IWT. Defra manages the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which is a competitive grants scheme with the objective of tackling IWT and, in doing so, contributing to sustainable development in developing countries. Projects funded under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund address one, or more, of the following themes: • Developing sustainable livelihoods to benefit people directly affected by IWT, • Strengthening law enforcement, • Ensuring effective legal frameworks, • Reducing demand for IWT products. By 2023 over £51 million has been committed to 157 projects since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2013. This page contains information about Rounds 7 onwards. For information about Rounds 1 to 6, please see the IWTCF website -https://iwt.challengefund.org.uk/
Global Programme on Sustainability
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
The programme supports sustainable economic growth that is both long-lasting and resilient to climate-related stressors. It does this through the integration of natural capital into decision making by governments, the private sector and financial institutions. The inability to value natural capital can undermine long-term growth and critically, the livelihoods of the poorest people dependent on ecosystems for their livelihoods. This programme directly addresses this challenge by (i) investing in data and research on natural capital; (ii) assisting countries to integrate this analysis into government policy making; and (iii) integrating this data and analysis into financial sector decision making.
Floating Instream Tidal and Solar (FITS) Power Plant - Nepal Pilot Project
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Harvesting hydrokinetic energy from running river water presents a highly attractive addition to the existing renewable energy sectors. Critically, and unlike most other renewables, this technology guarantees a predictable and consistent energy output which can contribute to the baseload power requirements of its energy off-takers. AEL has developed an innovative hybrid technology which couples run-of-river hydrokinetic generation with solar - the Floating Instream Tidal and Solar (FITS) power plant. FITS technology has been specifically optimized for river deployments, and is scalable to enable both energy access and utility scale power generation. This project will deliver the first fully developed FITS pilot, supplying constant renewable power to an off-grid community in rural Nepal. The electricity supplied will be used to provide lighting and cooking facilities to households in the community, and will additionally power water filtration and pumping equipment, providing access to clean water for drinking and water for agricultural industry.
Climate Action for a Resilient Asia
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
A Technical Assistance facility will build capacity of national and subnational governments and vulnerable communities to integrate climate resilience into government-wide policy and planning and also work with the private sector, banks and financial regulators to support the integration of climate-related risks into investment decisions. A portion of the programme budget will be earmarked for coordinated policy work and regional cooperation in specific sectors or themes which require a regional approach where we have existing successful regional partnerships which can be scaled up, and or there is demand from country offices for a multi-country approach. Enable management of the programme including monitoring and evaluation, research, knowledge dissemination, communication, advisory support to country offices if required.
The Evidence Fund - 300708
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Evidence Fund procures and manages research and evaluations that primarily benefit ODA eligible countries. Most research and evaluations paid for by the Evidence Fund are country-specific, and all respond to requests for evidence to inform programme or policy decisions. Primarily serving research requests from HMG’s Embassies and High Commissions in ODA eligible countries, and from HMG policy and strategy teams, the Evidence Fund strengthens the evidence behind the UK’s priority international development investments and development diplomacy. The Evidence Fund also invests modest amounts of non-ODA, to strengthen the evidence behind wider UK foreign policy.
Nepal in Business (NIB) Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Nepal in Business programme will unlock economic prosperity by generating inclusive growth, expanding businesses, and addressing income poverty in Nepal. The programme will do this by supporting and financing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to build organisational effectiveness through improved management and productivity, to achieve business growth and create jobs. It will partner with government to create a more conducive business environment in Nepal, delivering the reforms that matter to improve the ease of business. It will establish a recyclable fund to improve access to finance for SMEs by crowding-in commercial finance.
Green Growth Nepal
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
GGN will increase green, resilient, and inclusive growth by expanding investment in green industries and services, improving climate-resilient infrastructure, and strengthening sustainable economic policy and facilitating economic opportunities across Nepal. This will create prosperity while protecting the environment and the natural assets that underpin sustainable growth in Nepal.
Enhancing Gender Outcomes through Social Services Systems Strengthening (Samartha)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will focus on improving the systems and capacity of local government to deliver its social service mandates with a specific focus on improving access to quality health and education services, especially by women, girls and excluded groups. This will be complemented with national policy support in the Health and Education sectors to ensure sector policies and resource allocations align to support Nepal in building responsive and resilient Health and Education systems.
Nepal Local Infrastructure Support Programme (LISP)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Local Infrastructure Support Programme will improve Nepal’s new local and provincial governments’ delivery of the local infrastructure services demanded by rural citizens to create jobs and drive economic development. LISP will do this by providing technical assistance and performance-based capital funding to improve the delivery and resilience of local infrastructure. It will focus on increasing the legitimacy and accountability of local government to their citizens. LISP will directly support the use of the systems and capacity developed by the sister Provincial and Local Government Support Programme.
Public Financial Management Multi Donor Trust Fund – Phase II
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme provides support to strengthen Nepal’s Public Finance Management (PFM) systems in the context of the implementation of federalism.
Resilient Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Emergency Preparedness Programme (RWEPP)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Resilient Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Emergency Preparedness Programme (RWEPP) is a five-year programme that started in July 2021. The RWEPP aims to increase inclusive access to sustainable and resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services, and strengthen the resilience of communities to deal with climate induced disasters. The programme partners are the Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) and UNICEF.
The Evidence Fund Phase II
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Evidence Fund procures and manages research and evaluations that primarily benefit ODA eligible countries. Most research and evaluations paid for by the Evidence Fund are country-specific, and all respond to requests for evidence to inform programme or policy decisions. Primarily serving research requests from HMG’s Embassies and High Commissions in ODA eligible countries, and from HMG policy and strategy teams, the Evidence Fund strengthens the evidence behind the UK’s priority international development investments and development diplomacy. The Evidence Fund also invests modest amounts of non-ODA, to strengthen the evidence behind wider UK foreign policy.
Strengthening Inclusive Democratic Governance and Electoral Process in Nepal
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Strengthening Inclusive Democratic Governance and Electoral Process in Nepal” through the pooled fund mechanism Nepal Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Fund for support to Nepal 2026 elections (Jan–Dec 2026) seeks to restore public trust and foster an enabling environment for Nepal’s general election while safeguarding integrity and inclusion.
Security and Justice Programme 2
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Security and Justice Programme (SJP) ultimately aims to help to enhance public safety in Nepal and improve people’s trust in a key institution: the police. It will contribute to increased responsiveness of security and justice providers, particularly gender-based violence (GBV) and increased prevention of GBV and wider public safety problems. Understanding and influencing different social and organisational norms will run through the whole programme to address the prevalence of violence against women and girls. The programme also has a particular focus on the organisational development of the Nepal Police, investigation capability, problem-solving community policing and better climate-resilient solar-powered infrastructure for service delivery, notably police women and children service centres (WCSCs).
Rights, Inclusion, Voice and Agency Nepal (RIVA)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The RIVA programme will empower women, girls, and excluded groups in Nepal to understand and claim their Rights individually and collectively, participate in Inclusive policy-making and implementation, and have a stronger Voice and Agency at both national and local levels to advance Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).
Evidence, Digital Innovation and Technology
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Evidence, Digital Innovation and Technology (EDIT) programme aims to enhance Nepal's evidence-based policy-making and digital development. It will build modern partnerships to improve the capacity of the Government, development partners (including BEK), and other stakeholders to use data for better policies, unlocking the data dividend and accelerating poverty reduction. The programme will support the establishment of a state-of-the-art e-Governance system, fostering an inclusive and safe environment for AI and other innovative technologies. Beneficiaries include the Government of Nepal, civil society organizations, and the general population, particularly youth and disadvantaged groups
Development Influencing And Learning in Nepal (DIAL Nepal)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
DIAL Nepal, a small programme, is being implemented to achieve British Embassy Kathmandu (BEK)’s overall policy and influencing objectives through supporting provincial and local governments on innovative and need-based development needs. The programme aims to support and collaborate with key interlocutors, on building relationships and influencing policy reforms for development impact, in line with BEK’s campaign goals.
Resilience, Adaptation and Inclusion in Nepal (RAIN) Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Resilience, Adaptation and Inclusion in Nepal (RAIN) programme is a significant investment by the UK to support Nepal’s climate change adaptation and disaster risk management efforts. The programme is aligned with UK’s International Development Strategy and various international climate commitments. It aims to build the resilience of vulnerable communities in Nepal by strengthening government systems, mobilising climate finance, and enhancing social protection mechanisms.
Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF)