The European Invasive Alien Species Rapid-Response Fund pays for immediate action against alien plants, animals and macroalgae that have just arrived in Europe and can still be removed. It is run by IUCN Save Our Species, the species-conservation grant programme of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and co-funded by the European Union.
The fund holds €2.1 million and runs for three years, until 2028. Grants of €10,000 to €50,000 go to organisations operating in the European Union, and each project lasts up to 12 months.
The money is meant to reach the field while an invasion is still small. Fundable work covers coordination with authorities, eradication operations, early-stage response planning, and monitoring to confirm the result. By August 2026 the fund had supported 20 rapid-response projects in nine European countries.
Benefits & funding
- €10,000 to €50,000 per project, paid as a grant to the applying organisation.
- Projects of up to 12 months, sized for a single fast intervention.
- The fund totals €2.1 million, is co-funded by the European Union, and runs until 2028.
- Fundable activities: on-the-ground coordination, rapid eradication operations, early-stage response planning, and monitoring and verification.
- Technical guidance from IUCN’s expert networks, including the IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Eligibility
- Only organisations may apply: conservation organisations, research institutions and public authorities operating in the European Union.
- The work takes place in the European Union. EU overseas countries and territories are outside the fund, apart from the Canary Islands, the Azores and Madeira.
- The target is an alien animal, plant or macroalga at an early stage of invasion, with a high risk of spreading and causing ecological harm.
- A species does not have to sit on an existing regulatory list. The fund also covers threats those lists have not caught up with.
- No nationality, residency, degree, age or work-experience requirement is set for the people who run the project.
- The budget falls between €10,000 and €50,000, and the project runs no longer than 12 months.
Can you apply?
Open to all applicants
No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.
Appears to have an age limit “up to 12”
confirm in the requirements
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Application process
- 1Read the fund page and the call description on the IUCN SOS grant page.
- 2Watch the information session recording from June 2025 and the IUCN Grants Portal demonstration video.
- 3Create an account on the IUCN Grants Portal at speciesgrants.iucn.org.
- 4Fill in the call’s application form in the portal, covering the species, the site, the response plan, the budget and the timeline.
- 5Submit before 10 February 2027, 14:00 CEST. Submit earlier if you can, because the call also closes once the funding is fully allocated.
- 6Send questions to the IUCN SOS team at SaveOurSpecies@iucn.org.
Program timeline
IUCN and the European Union announce the fund
2025-05
Call for proposals opens on the IUCN Grants Portal
2025-06
Information session held, recording published
Jun 24, 2025
Date IUCN suggests for submitting while funding remains
2026-09
Call closes at 14:00 CEST, or earlier once the funding is fully allocated
Feb 10, 2027
Fund ends
2028