The Biodiversity Challenge Funds (BCF) include the Darwin Initiative, Darwin Plus and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which support a series of projects under distinct funding rounds.<\/p>
<\/p>
All grants under these schemes report on effectiveness through a combination of half-year, annual and final reports. These reports are assessed by an independent specialist. A sample of projects across the portfolio are also selected each year for detailed financial spot audit checks and technical checks through mid-term reviews which are more in-depth investigations into project performance.<\/p>
<\/p>
All reports and information about projects are available on the relevant fund websites:<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
In 2020, an external evaluation of the BCF was carried out. The scope of this evaluation included all projects since the beginning of the schemes across all countries and territories of operation. Across the three BCF, the evaluation found that, overall, projects made significant contributions to reducing threats to biodiversity loss and enhancing the protection of biodiverse ecosystems. The full report is available at: https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/assets/uploads/FinalReport_Publishable.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4593", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Trudy Harrison"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 Rapid Response Round - IWT Challenge Fund (ODA) Grant.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4410", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Knight"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1656942", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1656942/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Biodiversity Challenge Funds (BCF) include the Darwin Initiative, Darwin Plus and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which support a series of projects under distinct funding rounds.<\/p> <\/p> All grants under these schemes report on effectiveness through a combination of half-year, annual and final reports. These reports are assessed by an independent specialist. A sample of projects across the portfolio are also selected each year for detailed financial spot audit checks and technical checks through mid-term reviews which are more in-depth investigations into project performance.<\/p> <\/p> All reports and information about projects are available on the relevant fund websites:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> In 2020, an external evaluation of the BCF was carried out. The scope of this evaluation included all projects since the beginning of the schemes across all countries and territories of operation. Across the three BCF, the evaluation found that, overall, projects made significant contributions to reducing threats to biodiversity loss and enhancing the protection of biodiverse ecosystems. The full report is available at: https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/assets/uploads/FinalReport_Publishable.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4593", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Trudy Harrison"}
}
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, {"_value" : "196205"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Grant Scheme R6 FY20-24.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1656951", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1656951/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Biodiversity Challenge Funds (BCF) include the Darwin Initiative, Darwin Plus and the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which support a series of projects under distinct funding rounds.<\/p> <\/p> All grants under these schemes report on effectiveness through a combination of half-year, annual and final reports. These reports are assessed by an independent specialist. A sample of projects across the portfolio are also selected each year for detailed financial spot audit checks and technical checks through mid-term reviews which are more in-depth investigations into project performance.<\/p> <\/p> All reports and information about projects are available on the relevant fund websites:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> In 2020, an external evaluation of the BCF was carried out. The scope of this evaluation included all projects since the beginning of the schemes across all countries and territories of operation. Across the three BCF, the evaluation found that, overall, projects made significant contributions to reducing threats to biodiversity loss and enhancing the protection of biodiverse ecosystems. The full report is available at: https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/assets/uploads/FinalReport_Publishable.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4593", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Trudy Harrison"}
}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Government grants statistics 2020 to 2021, published on 31 March 2022, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the COVID-19 Rapid Response Round - IWT Challenge Fund (ODA) Grant.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4410", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Julian Knight"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1645721", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1645721/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The UK is committed to combatting the illegal wildlife trade to benefit biodiversity, local communities, and the economy, while protecting global security. As part of this commitment, we are increasing our funding and will invest a further £30 million between 2022 and 2025. This includes through Defra\u2019s grant scheme, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which to date has supported 136 projects in over 60 countries, including projects to change behaviours, strengthen wildlife crime legislation, and help communities to protect the wildlife they rely on for their livelihoods.<\/p> We recognise the importance of regularly assessing the impact and effectiveness of our efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Most recently, in May 2022, an independent evaluation was carried out on Defra\u2019s Biodiversity Funds, including the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. The evaluation found strong alignment with the aims of various Multilateral Environmental Agreements, particularly the Convention on Biodiversity, and that projects are highly aligned with the needs of the countries they operate in. The full report can be found at:<\/p>