The United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairshas launched the third round of the Illegal Wildlife Challenge Fund that eligible Zimbabwean organisations can bid for to access funding to curb illegal wildlife trade and promote wildlife conservation initiatives.

Ambassador Catriona Laing said:

The UK is at the fore front of tackling Illegal wildlife trade globally. This fund has so far supported 34 successful projects around the world valued at US$12.67 million. I would like to encourage Zimbabwean wildlife conservation organisations to submit project bids. Zimbabwe is an important partner in combating the illegal wildlife trade industry. I would love to see a successful project bid that will make a meaningful contribution to Zimbabwe’s wildlife conservation efforts.

The criteria of project bids that Defra seeks to fund include projects that will develop sustainable livelihoods for communities affected by illegal wildlife trade; strengthen law enforcement and the role of the criminal justice system when prosecuting illegal wildlife crimes and reduce demand for the products of the illegal wildlife trade.

Application forms and more information on the Illegal Wildlife Challenge Fund can be downloaded online.

The deadline for concept note submissions is on 17 August 2016.