The FBIS-Africa project is inviting applications for the Freshwater Biodiversity Data Mobilisation Small Grants, offering between US$5,000 and US$10,000 to support the mobilisation and publication of existing freshwater biodiversity data from Africa. The grants aim to improve access to African freshwater biodiversity information by helping researchers, institutions and data custodians prepare unpublished occurrence records for publication through the Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (FBIS-Africa) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The programme is led by the Freshwater Research Centre and supported by the JRS Biodiversity Foundation and the GBIF Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) programme. Application deadline: 9 November 2026. Overview of the FBIS Africa Small Grants Funding amount: US$5,000–US$10,000 Grant period: January–June 2027 Duration: Six months Location: Africa Eligible applicants: African freshwater biodiversity data holders, researchers and eligible institutions Focus: Mobilisation and publication of existing, unpublished freshwater biodiversity occurrence data Application deadline: 9 November 2026 Application method: Email submission with the completed application form and Project Leader’s CV About the Grant Programme The FBIS-Africa Freshwater Biodiversity Data Mobilisation Small Grants programme seeks to make existing African freshwater biodiversity information more accessible for research, conservation and decision-making. Many valuable biodiversity records remain unpublished, undigitised or difficult to access. The grants will support activities that prepare these records for publication on FBIS-Africa, with datasets also published to GBIF. Funding may cover data collation and digitisation, data cleaning and quality control, georeferencing, metadata preparation, formatting, standardisation and other reasonable costs directly related to preparing datasets for publication. A biodiversity occurrence record documents the observation or collection of a particular species or taxon at a specific place and time. Each record must include at least the taxon name, sampling date and spatial coordinates, consisting of latitude and longitude. Additional information, such as abundance, sampling methods, photographs, habitat characteristics and water-quality measurements, can strengthen the usefulness of a dataset. Who Can Apply? Applications are welcomed from African freshwater biodiversity data holders, including: Universities and research institutions. Museums and natural history collections. Government agencies. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Freshwater biodiversity programmes. Individual researchers and data custodians working through eligible host institutions. Proposed datasets must meet the programme’s eligibility requirements. They must represent freshwater biodiversity in Africa, must not already be published on GBIF, and must contain the minimum information required for occurrence records. Applicants must also demonstrate clear ownership or custodianship of the data and have permission to publish the records. The proposed work must be achievable within the six-month grant period, from January to June 2027. Eligible Freshwater Biodiversity Groups The call identifies the following eligible taxonomic groups: Freshwater fishes Amphibians Molluscs Crustaceans Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Trichoptera (caddisflies) Megaloptera (dobsonflies and related insects) Researchers and institutions holding unpublished datasets covering these groups may be well positioned to apply, provided their data meet the programme’s requirements. Grant Requirements and Expected Outputs Applicants must specify the number of unpublished biodiversity occurrence records they intend to mobilise and explain how the proposed activities will prepare the records for publication. Successful applicants will be required to: Sign the FBIS-Africa Data Sharing Agreement. Format datasets using the official FBIS-Africa Data Upload Template. Submit the completed datasets and associated metadata to FBIS-Africa. Agree to publication of the mobilised records on FBIS-Africa and their transfer to GBIF. Complete the required technical and financial reports. The data upload template is available at https://fbisafrica.org/upload/. The FBIS-Africa team will provide assistance with the data preparation process. How Applications Will Be Evaluated Applications will be assessed using four weighted criteria: Data quality – 30%: Reliability, taxonomic accuracy, metadata completeness, georeferencing and the availability of useful additional information. Data quantity – 30%: The number of unique occurrence records proposed for mobilisation. Geographic coverage and priority – 25%: The dataset’s geographic reach and its contribution to addressing information gaps in underrepresented countries, river basins and freshwater ecosystems. Capacity to deliver – 15%: Relevant experience, technical and institutional capacity, and the ability to complete the work during the grant period. Additional consideration may be given to historical or irreplaceable datasets, threatened or endemic species, conservation-priority areas, capacity development, regional collaboration and value for money. Applicants should therefore demonstrate both the scientific value of their data and a realistic plan for preparing and publishing the records. How to Apply Interested applicants must complete the Africa Freshwater Biodiversity Data Mobilisation Small Grant Application Form and submit it together with the Project Leader’s CV. Step 1: Download the official application form: https://fbisafrica.org/uploaded/ckeditor/2026/10/05/fbis_africa_small_grant_application_form_restricted.docx Step 2: Prepare the application details, including the project motivation, description of the proposed dataset or datasets, number of records, geographic coverage, confirmation that the records are not already published to GBIF, and planned data mobilisation activities. Step 3: Email the completed application form and Project Leader’s CV to nazley@frcsa.org.za. Use the required email subject line: FBIS-Africa small grant application submission. Application Deadline The deadline is 9 November 2026. Applicants should submit complete applications before the closing date and ensure that their datasets satisfy the eligibility and data-sharing requirements. Official Application Information For the full announcement, application form and further details, visit the official FBIS-Africa website: VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) does not take ownership or credit for the opportunities shared on this platform. All opportunities are sourced from official announcements and external sources for informational purposes only. 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