Grants

The RGC4 Theme Paper — published 1 September 2026 and accessible below — sets out the rationale and background for the theme of the fourth GCBC Research Grant Competition (RGC4). It presents the focal geographies and research priorities, including indicative research questions and eligibility criteria.

Watch the RGC4 Theme Launch webinar below, where the team present the RGC4 Theme Paper and outline how it has been developed. The webinar covers eligibility and requirements, the competition timeline, and concludes with an open Q&A session with the team.

• The next RGC4 webinar – Positioning for Impact and Concept Note – is scheduled for Tuesday 13 October at 12:00 (BST). Register below.

Register for webinar

• The application window for RGC4 will open for Concept Notes on 19 October 2026 (expected, subject to change).
• Successful applications at the Concept Note stage will be invited to submit Full Proposals early in 2027.

View RGC4 Theme Paper

View Research Strategy

View GEDSI Approach

RGC4 FAQs

We aim to fund a mixed portfolio of up to 12 grants that fit the RGC4 Theme:

Enabling transformative change: addressing drivers of biodiversity loss in three critical regions.

The focal geographies of the competition are the Amazon, the Congo Basin; and the Coral Triangle.

In addition to matching the thematic and geographic scope of the theme, to be accepted for grant funding under the GCBC programme a project will have the following characteristics:

• Be between 2 and 4 years in duration, with a budget of between £200,000 and £1,500,000.

• Address poverty alleviation and climate resilience, focusing on approaches that better value, protect, restore, and sustainably manage biodiversity.

• Incorporate clear plans to factor in gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) from the outset. Find GCBC’s GEDSI Approach document below.

• Meet the definition of research and development: creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge – including knowledge of humankind, culture and society – and to devise new applications of available knowledge (OECD, 2015).

• Be led by a Research Organisation. Lead Organisations registered in UK will need to be listed amongst research organisations eligible for UKRI funding (https://www.ukri.org/publications/organisation-eligibility/). Lead organisations outside of UK will need demonstrate that they are legally constituted as an organisation whose remit includes research and have a track record in research relevant to the competition theme.

• Have at least one implementing partner legally registered in an ODA eligible country in one of the focal geographies described in the Theme Paper.  Applications from Lead Organisations based in ODA eligible countries are especially welcome.

More details of the theme, competition, eligibility requirements and a list of ODA-eligible countries relevant to this call are given in the RGC4 Theme Paper.

The research should aim to generate learning, solutions, tools or methodologies that can be positioned to be upscaled and replicated in other regions or countries. Uptake of research results is likely to require stakeholder involvement and working in partnership throughout project development and implementation.

Proposed research must be carried out to a high ethical standard, which includes meeting the five objectives of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity 2025.

We encourage innovation in projects. Innovation is the process of developing and testing new ideas, methods, or technologies (or improving existing ones) in ways that advance knowledge, solve problems, and create value for specific groups.

Proposals should explain where proposed approaches are novel, and how they are expected to address specific and clearly identified conceptual or practical problems, knowledge gaps or challenges.

Research Grant Competition 3 (RCG3)

The third grant call invited applications to conduct research on one of two themes:

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).

A total of twelve grants were awarded and projects began implementation in July 2026.

Research Grant Competition 2 (RCG2)

The second Research Grant Competition (RGC2) was launched on February 5, 2024. This round invited research applications focusing on ‘Unlocking Nature – Driving innovation in how biodiversity can support climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods through practice and governance.’

A series of webinars were held, leading up to RGC2’s official launch, and throughout the application period (starting week commencing January 22nd, 2024). These webinars delved into the competition theme, outlined eligibility criteria, and provided details on RGC2 – including the application and evaluation process.

18 successful applicants under RGC2 were awarded grants in November 2024.

Research Grant Competition 1 (RGC1)

The first grant call invited applications to conduct research on the role of biodiversity in agriculture and natural resources management (NRM) for climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods, specifically:​​

• Sustainable agriculture (including crops, livestock, post-harvest technology, agronomy, horticulture, aquaculture and agroforestry) for food, fibre, fuel and pharma supply chains; and​​
• Natural resource management approaches resilient to climate change (including protecting and/or enhancing ecosystem services, water resource management, natural resource extraction and protecting and/or restoring habitats). ​

Grants of between £100k – £750k were available for research of between 12-36 months.  Applications closed in July 2023 and successful applicants were awarded in November 2023.