The Darwin Initiative is a UK-based small grants programme that promotes biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of resources in less-developed countries, especially targeting states that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It receives its core funding from and is administered by the UK Government via the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

It has funded 602 projects in partner programmes with 763 organisations in host countries and 197 UK organisations. Some of its major projects in Papua New Guinea include Developing Local Capacity for Biodiversity Surveys in Papua New Guinea, Integrated River Basin Management in the Sepik River, Sustainable Insect Collecting and Farming in Papua New Guinea, Training the Next Generation of Conservation Biologists and the Waria Valley Community Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods Programme. There are currently three Darwin Initiative sponsored scientists working with local communities in PNG at present.

More information on the Darwin Imitative and their programme in Papua New Guinea can be accessed from their website.