Satoyama Development Mechanism SDM Seed Funding Programme 2026 | Biodiversity Grants

The International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) is a global partnership established in 2010 during the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10) in Nagoya, Japan. It brings together governments, research institutions, NGOs, international organisations, and other stakeholders committed to promoting sustainable management of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes. IPSI works to strengthen positive relationships between people and nature by supporting collaborative actions that conserve biodiversity while improving livelihoods. Through partnerships, knowledge exchange, and innovative conservation practices, IPSI contributes to global biodiversity goals and sustainable development initiatives across diverse ecosystems.

The Satoyama Development Mechanism SDM Seed Funding Programme supports collaborative projects that advance the objectives of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative. The programme provides seed funding for initiatives that address local environmental challenges while promoting biodiversity conservation, sustainable landscapes, ecosystem restoration, and community participation. Selected projects should align with the IPSI Strategic Objectives and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Funding is available for projects lasting up to 24 months and encourages innovative, scalable, and sustainable approaches. The programme prioritises collaborations that strengthen biodiversity conservation and create long-term environmental and social benefits across different regions.

The Contrapuntal is an independent non-profit publication committed to delivering rigorously researched, accessible, and factually accurate journalism from a ground-up perspective. Inspired by Edward Said’s concept of contrapuntal reading, the publication examines the intertwined histories of colonizers and colonized, offering a nuanced approach to complex global issues. With a focus on political economy, migration, ecology, and culture, The Contrapuntal prioritizes people-centric stories, emphasizing voices often silenced and unpacking the structures that perpetuate such silencing. The platform rejects “objective truth” storytelling and false balance, instead aiming to critique oversimplified narratives, particularly those affecting the Global South. By uniting researchers, journalists, activists, artists, and critical thinkers, The Contrapuntal strives to provide diverse perspectives on contemporary global issues.

The Bridging Narratives Grant is an intersectional initiative funded by the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. It aims to foster collaborative projects between independent journalists and social scientists, blending academic research and journalism to produce critical, people-centered narratives. The selected projects will address key global themes such as migration, political economy, ecology, and culture, highlighting their local implications through in-depth reporting. The goal is to create high-quality, participatory content that is disseminated through The Contrapuntal’s digital magazine. In addition to financial support, successful applicants will attend a workshop focused on journalism-research collaborations, culminating in an edited volume reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of merging the two fields.