2025 BID Call for Proposals - Regional Biodiversity Data Mobilization Projects (Sub-Saharan Africa)

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is calling for concept notes from eligible organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa for project funding through the Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) programme. BID is funded by the European Union through the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and seeks to strengthen the capacity of institutions and countries to mobilize biodiversity data, making it openly available to inform decision-making and to support the knowledge needs of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Selected projects address critical biodiversity data gaps by mobilizing data, promoting application in research and policymaking, and building sustainable open data networks. Projects start September 2026 and run up to 24 months.

Implementation of biodiversity data mobilization activities per the approved project including data digitisation, georeferencing, data quality improvement, publication to GBIF infrastructure, capacity building of biodiversity data publishers, application of mobilized data in research and policy. Required participation by one project representative in a data mobilization capacity workshop in Q3/Q4 2026 (cost outside project budget). Reporting per BID requirements.

Legal entity (research institution, university, museum, NGO or government agency) registered in an eligible Sub-Saharan African country (full list on the GBIF call page). Organisations with legal presence in eligible country but headquartered elsewhere may apply through their local entity. Project team must demonstrate sufficient prior experience in biodiversity data mobilization. Submission of concept notes in English via the GBIF Grants Portal.

Two independent reviewers score concept notes (and subsequently full proposals) on relevance (alignment with BID objectives and regional priorities), impact (contribution to biodiversity data priorities), sustainability (long-term benefits, building on past achievements), cost-effectiveness (number of beneficiaries, efficient resource use, co-funding).