Accelerated Adaptation
Backed by £54m, this programme sits within the Resilient Climate and Ecosystems opportunity space and seeks to explore pathways to accelerate the adaptation of wild species in order to prevent biodiversity loss and secure the natural infrastructure that underpins our global economy and well-being.
Funding: Public dialogue on accelerated adaptation in nature – Request for Proposal
Submit your proposals by 16 December 2026 (23:59 GMT)
We are partnering with Sciencewise, a government funded programme specialising in public dialogues on science and technology issues, to run a UK-wide Public Dialogue on Accelerated Adaptation in Nature. This RFP seeks proposals to deliver this UK-wide public dialogue to explore public values and perspectives towards key research topics and questions in the Accelerated Adaptation Programme.
The dialogue will develop a set of principles for research and innovation in the targeted adaptation of wild species in the UK. In this context, it will explore topics including governance and regulatory principles, what types of interventions should be prioritised and under what conditions, and the role of science and technology in preventing biodiversity loss.
The findings will help inform the next stage of research in the programme, including potential activities focused on the governance, ethics and regulatory requirements relevant to this area of research and its potential applications in wild species.
Who should apply?
We are open to the provider being a research agency, consultancy, consortium or any other type of organisation that has the following experience:
Deep experience designing and delivering national public dialogues in complex areas.
Strong ability to draw useful insights from primarily qualitative data analysis, and to deliver concise, compelling and clear narratives and findings that have a practical focus.
Flexible approaches to working on topics that are novel, emerging and generally unfamiliar to the general public.
Experience working on scientific, contentious or highly technical topics would be desirable.
Experience working with publicly funded bodies would be desirable.
How to apply
Proposals should be submitted through ARIA's application portal as a PDF of no more than six pages, not including annexes (a maximum of 15 pages for full submission including annexes).
Read the Request for Proposal for the full scope, selection criteria, and submission requirements.
Deadline for submission of clarification questions: 30 November 2026 (13:00 GMT)
Deadline for proposal submission: 16 December 2026 (23:59 GMT)
Notification of selection for presentation: 13 January 2027
In-person presentation by bidders to ARIA selection panel, ARIA London office: 20 and 21 January 2027
Preferred bidder chosen and informed: W/c 25 January 2027
Target Award date: 1 February 2027
Resources
Clarification questions
If you have any additional questions, please submit them to clarifications@aria.org.uk no later than 13:00 (GMT) on 30 November 2026. Clarification requests received after this date will not be answered.
The projects we have funded were selected from teams and individuals who applied to our previous funding calls for this programme. You can read more about these archived calls below.
How we work
We seek out exceptional scientists and engineers and empower them with the resources and autonomy to turn their ideas into reality.
Applicant guidance
Discover the process of applying for ARIA funding and find key resources.