Deadline: 28th February 2025
The Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ) Species Conservation Fund in the UAE is an innovative philanthropy providing small grants to boots-on-the-ground, get-your-hands-dirty, in-the-field species conservation projects for the world’s most threatened species.
Originally set up in 2008 with an initial endowment of €25,000,000, the Fund was established to:
- Provide targeted grants to individual species conservation initiatives.
- Recognize leaders in the field of species conservation; and
- Elevate the importance of species in the broader conservation debate.
The Fund’s reach in species conservation is truly global, and its species interest is non-discriminatory. It is open to applications for funding support from conservationists based in all parts of the world and will potentially support direct conservation projects focused on all kinds of endangered plant, animal and fungus species, subject to the approval of an independent evaluation committee.
Key Information:
- Focus: Conservation of threatened plant, animal, and fungi species globally.
- Special Focus: Threatened soil species (2023–2024 trial period).
- Grant Amount: Up to $25,000 per project.
- Competitiveness: Highly competitive (only 12% of applicants receive funding).
Eligibility & Criteria:
- Species must be threatened (incorrect status or unjustified applications will be rejected).
- Applications exceeding the maximum grant size will not be considered.
- Open to conservation projects worldwide.
Application Process & Timeline:
- Three funding rounds per year:
- February Deadline: Open, Responses by April/May.
- June Deadline.
- October Deadline.
- Applicants will receive an automated confirmation email after submission.
How to Apply:
- Submit an application online (visit the Fund’s website).
- Read the eligibility criteria and FAQs before applying.
- For soil species conservation, select “MBZ Special Focus” under Species Type (Section 5.1).
For further details please see the Fund’s website.
