Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation

  • Start Date:

  • Deadline:

  • Agency:
    The Rufford Foundation

The Rufford Foundation – Conservation Grants Programme

The Office of Grants and Research (OGR), KNUST, invites eligible researchers and conservation practitioners to apply for funding under The Rufford Foundation Grants Programme.

The Rufford Foundation supports nature conservation projects in emerging and developing economy countries. The programme is designed primarily for early-career conservationists undertaking impactful field-based projects with clear conservation benefits.

There are no application deadlines, and submissions are accepted throughout the year.

General Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be in the early stages of their conservation career

    • Priority is given to MSc and PhD candidates (or equivalent)

    • Or researchers who graduated within the past three (3) years

    • BSc students (or equivalent) are not eligible

  • Be working in an eligible developing or emerging economy country

  • Propose a project with a clear nature conservation focus

  • Request funding strictly for fieldwork costs

The Foundation supports small-scale or pilot projects and typically funds 50–100% of project costs. Where co-funding is involved, applicants must provide evidence of confirmed support.

Project Focus

Projects may focus on:

  • Threatened species

  • Endangered or vulnerable habitats

  • Human–wildlife conflict

  • Community conservation education

  • Other applied conservation challenges

For species-focused projects, eligible species must not be listed as “Least Concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species at the global level. Species not yet assessed but believed to be globally threatened may also be considered.

General Exclusions

The following are not eligible for funding:

  • Pure academic research without clear conservation outcomes

  • Expeditions requiring participants to raise funds

  • Conference or seminar attendance

  • Book publication projects

Grant Structure (Staged Funding Model)

The programme offers four sequential funding opportunities:

1. 1st Rufford Small Grant (RSG)

  • Up to £7,000

  • First stage of funding

  • Mandatory project updates and final report

After successful completion and reporting, applicants may apply for a 2nd RSG (minimum 12 months after payment).

2. 2nd Rufford Small Grant

  • Up to £8,000

  • Second stage of funding

  • Mandatory project updates and final report

After successful completion and reporting, applicants may apply for a Booster Grant (minimum 12 months after payment).

3. Booster Grant

  • Up to £12,000

  • Must build on previous Rufford-funded work

  • Applicants should demonstrate long-term sustainability plans and seek additional funders

  • Mandatory project updates and final report

After successful completion and reporting, applicants may apply for a Completion Grant (minimum 12 months after payment).

4. Completion Grant

  • Up to £18,000

  • Final stage of funding

  • Must significantly develop previous Rufford-funded work

  • Co-funding is expected at this stage (evidence required)

  • Mandatory project updates and final report

After receiving a Completion Grant, applicants are no longer eligible for further funding under this programme.

Important Notes

  • Applications may be submitted at any time of the year.

  • Only one application per 12-month period is permitted.

  • If an application is unsuccessful, applicants must wait 12 months before reapplying.

  • If funded, applicants must wait at least 12 months before applying for further support.

Apply here: https://apply.ruffordsmallgrants.org/

Interested KNUST researchers are encouraged to contact the Office of Grants and Research for institutional guidance prior to submission.