BID 2020: Institution-level biodiversity data mobilization grants

Grants that seek to mobilize biodiversity data relevant for decisions supporting sustainable development

Composia fidelissima
Composia fidelissima observed in Cayo Santa María, Cuba by Marta Południk. Photo via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Purpose

Institution-level biodiversity data mobilization grants seek to mobilize biodiversity data relevant for decisions supporting sustainable development.

The objectives of the BID institution-level biodiversity data mobilization grants are to:

  • Strengthen the capacity of institutions in the target countries to manage and mobilize biodiversity data
  • Increase available biodiversity data, within and beyond the grant period
  • Support application of biodiversity data in response to sustainable development priorities

Institution-level grants must include at least one activity contributing to the following component categories. It is important that activities are implemented within the 24-month project period.

1. Activities to mobilize biodiversity data relevant to sustainable development

  • Developing institutional workflows to support ongoing data mobilization, including recognition of the benefits to the institution
  • Training stakeholders on data mobilization and management, for example, through workshops to share the knowledge gained by attending the BID capacity enhancement workshop
  • Compiling inventories of biodiversity data holdings (for example, implementing metadata catalogues)
  • Digitizing and publishing data from natural history collections, monitoring and sampling activities, DNA barcoding, citizen science, literature and other sources
  • Validating and publishing regional, national and local species checklists, invasive species lists or threatened species lists
  • Preparing data papers to improve the reusability of the mobilized biodiversity data

2. Integrating biodiversity information into policy and decision-making processes

  • Leading surveys or workshops to understand the biodiversity data requirements for specific use cases
  • Setting up user groups to guide project implementation on identified priority themes
  • Directing workshops and advocacy actions that promote the use of openly accessible data, for example, in national-level biodiversity reporting
  • Hosting workshops on data analysis techniques
  • Applying biodiversity data in decision-making processes
  • Documenting use cases and sharing them with partners in the region

Funding

Maximum funding: €20,000 per project

Eligibility

In addition to complying with the general eligibility criteria, applications for institution-level biodiversity data mobilization grants must comply with the following criteria:

  1. All projects must include activities contributing to each of the two component categories listed above.
  2. The project coordinator responsible for organizing project activities on behalf of the project collaborators must submit the concept note. The project coordinator must be affiliated to a legal entity located in an eligible country.
  3. All projects must include a major component of data mobilization through the GBIF network. It is expected that most BID funding is directed towards data mobilization. As a guideline for the institution-level biodiversity data mobilization grants, the amount of BID funding spent on data mobilization activities should not be less than 60% of the total grant.
  4. BID funds may be used to cover up to 50% of the costs of any IT services or purchases, up to a maximum of €1,000 of any institution-level grant. Receipts will need to be provided in financial reports.

 This programme is funded by the European Union.