Call for Grant Applications –
Wild Animal Initiative’s Challenge Grants
Application Deadline:
November 1, 2024
About Organisation
Wild Animal Initiative is dedicated to advancing science that benefits wild animals. Despite the vast number of animals living in the wild, there is limited understanding of their quality of life and how to enhance it. Our mission is to accelerate research in wild animal welfare, focusing on uncovering the causes of suffering in wild animals and identifying effective, responsible interventions. The field of wild animal welfare science is still emerging, and we are committed to driving progress in this area by supporting critical research. We believe that science plays a crucial role in understanding the factors that impact wild animal welfare and in developing solutions that minimize suffering. Through our efforts, we aim to inspire the scientific community to prioritize wild animal welfare, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges wild animals face and promoting evidence-based strategies for improving their lives.
About the Grant
Wild Animal Initiative’s Challenge Grants support research that addresses key questions in wild animal welfare. These grants aim to foster innovative research that is often overlooked by other funders. The Challenge Grants focus on projects aligned with specific themes that advance high-priority research areas. Flagship projects should be led by experienced principal investigators, demonstrate novelty, and adhere to rigorous scientific methods. Grants are designed to unlock new pathways in wild animal welfare research, offering financial support to researchers whose work has the potential to significantly impact the field. In addition to direct research costs such as supplies and materials, the grants can fund stipends, salaries, and capital equipment if relevant to the project goals. Challenge Grants encourage projects that expand existing research to include wild animal welfare or initiate entirely new studies. Researchers working on projects related to wild animal welfare are invited to apply, with an emphasis on creating long-term impacts through scientific discovery.
Who can Apply?
Challenge Grants are open to experienced principal investigators affiliated with universities or research institutions, including government agencies. Projects can also involve collaborations with students or early-career researchers, offering financial support for their contributions. Researchers from any country can apply, as long as the fieldwork will be conducted by residents of the countries where the research is taking place. Projects may be led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but those NGOs must be registered in the country where the fieldwork will occur. Eligible projects can either be standalone or expand an existing project by adding a wild animal welfare component. The grants prioritize direct research costs but also cover other expenses, provided they are clearly justified in relation to the project’s goals. Proposals involving animals in research must adhere to Wild Animal Initiative’s guidelines, with an emphasis on minimizing harm. If distressing methods are necessary, applicants must justify their approach with evidence.
How to Apply?
Submit an expression of interest that outlines the project’s relevance to one or more of the grant’s themes. Clearly explain how the research contributes to multiple domains of welfare and justifies the chosen study approach.
Application Deadline
Submit applications by November 1, 2024.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
