The Aubrey Barker Fund has officially reopened its highly impactful Smaller Grants Programme, providing financial support for educational, professional, and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen surveying and land management skills across developing countries.
Through this programme, the Fund aims to enhance sustainable surveying and land management expertise through professional education, training, institutional development, and practical support. The ultimate goal is to create lasting benefits for local communities while strengthening professional standards and knowledge-sharing within the surveying and land management sector.
Organizations, institutions, students, young professionals, and conference organizers may be eligible to access funding through one of four dedicated grant streams, with awards ranging from up to £1,000 GBP to £3,000 GBP depending on the funding category.
About the Aubrey Barker Fund Smaller Grants Programme
The Aubrey Barker Fund is committed to improving sustainable survey and land management skills in developing countries through education, professional development, and capacity-building initiatives.
The Smaller Grants Programme supports projects that contribute directly to:
- Professional education
- Curriculum development
- Institutional strengthening
- Student advancement
- Knowledge sharing
- Capacity building
- Sustainable land management practices
- Community development through surveying and land management expertise
The Fund defines Smaller Grants as awards of up to £3,000 GBP and generally releases approved funding upon acceptance of the Letter of Offer.
Successful grantees are required to submit a Monitoring Form by an agreed deadline, usually three months after the completion of the funded activity.
Funding Available
Depending on the grant stream selected, applicants may receive:
- Up to £3,000 GBP for Capacity Development Grants
- Up to £3,000 GBP for Bursaries
- Up to £1,000 GBP for Project Grants
- Up to £3,000 GBP for Conference Attendance Support
For conference participation grants, a maximum of £1,000 GBP may be allocated to any individual attendee.
Four Funding Streams Available
1. Capacity Development Grants
Capacity Development Grants are designed to strengthen educational and professional institutions within developing countries.
The programme supports:
- Development of new curricula
- Improvement of existing curricula
- Creation of teaching materials
- Conversion of educational materials into online formats
- Development of professional institutions
- Institutional capacity-building projects
The objective is to ensure long-term educational and societal benefits that extend beyond individual beneficiaries.
Who Should Apply?
Applications must be submitted by:
- Educational institutions
- Universities
- Training institutions
- Professional organizations
- Professional bodies related to surveying and land management
Funding Amount
Successful applicants may receive:
- Up to £3,000 GBP
2. Bursaries
The Bursary funding stream supports students from developing countries who wish to pursue educational opportunities that would otherwise be financially inaccessible.
The Fund prioritizes applicants who demonstrate:
- Significant financial need
- Strong potential for professional growth
- Commitment to contributing to their home communities
- Capacity to create positive impact after completing their studies
Application Requirements
Applications must be submitted by the student and include:
- Support from an academic supervisor
- Support from an organization responsible for monitoring expenditure
Funding Amount
Successful applicants may receive:
- Up to £3,000 GBP
Important Limitation
Only one bursary grant may be awarded per academic year to students attending the same educational institution.
3. Project Grants
Project Grants provide financial assistance for students undertaking academic research and field-based activities.
The funding can be used for:
- Research equipment
- Fieldwork expenses
- Data collection activities
- Project implementation costs related to academic study
These grants are primarily intended for students studying at:
- Master’s level
- Doctoral level
- Advanced postgraduate programmes
Applicants below Master’s level must present a particularly strong and well-justified case for support.
Important Conditions
- Applications must be submitted by individual students.
- Academic supervisor support is required.
- Monitoring organization support is required.
- Equipment purchased through the grant becomes the property of the educational institution.
Funding Amount
Successful applicants may receive:
- Up to £1,000 GBP
4. Support for Conference Attendance
The Conference Attendance funding stream supports participation in conferences and major professional events.
The objective is to increase access to professional networking, knowledge exchange, and industry engagement opportunities for students and young professionals from developing countries.
Eligible Participants
Supported attendees must be:
- Students of surveying and land management; or
- Young professionals aged 35 years or younger; or
- Professionals within 10 years of graduation from a surveying or land management Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
Additionally, participants must be nationals of developing countries.
Who Can Apply?
Applications must be submitted by:
- Conference organizers
- Event management organizations
Individual attendees cannot apply directly.
Funding Amount
Available funding includes:
- Up to £3,000 GBP per application
- Maximum support of £1,000 GBP per individual attendee
Reporting Requirement
Supported participants must submit reports that are included within the Monitoring Form after the event.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for funding, projects must:
- Directly support sustainable surveying and land management skills.
- Deliver educational or professional development outcomes.
- Benefit local communities.
- Contribute to capacity building.
- Demonstrate practical feasibility.
- Align with the objectives of the Aubrey Barker Fund.
The Fund generally finances actual project costs rather than compensating applicants for their time.
Additionally:
- Only one active grant may be held by an organization or individual at any given time.
- Activities must take place within eligible developing countries.
- Applications must satisfy the requirements of the selected funding stream.
Assessment Criteria
Applications undergo a comprehensive evaluation process.
Mandatory Assessment Areas
Projects must demonstrate:
- Community and local benefits
- Benefits to the surveying and land management profession
- Sustained educational or professional development impact
- Promotion of the profession and/or the Aubrey Barker Fund
- Good professional practice
Applications scoring zero in any mandatory category will not be considered suitable for funding.
Desirable Criterion
Additional consideration is given to:
- Projects addressing minority challenges
- Women professionals
- Indigenous applicants
- Minority groups within the surveying and land management profession
Application Review Process
The Trustees follow a structured review process:
Step 1: Completeness Check
Applications are reviewed to ensure all required information has been provided.
If information is missing:
- Applicants may be contacted
- Additional documentation may be requested
Step 2: Eligibility and Viability Assessment
Trustees assess:
- Eligibility requirements
- Financial feasibility
- Project credibility
- Applicant capability
- Compliance with grant stream requirements
Step 3: Final Scoring
Applications are categorized as:
Category A
Suitable for funding.
Category B
Suitable for funding if resources permit.
Category C
Not suitable for funding.
Category A applications typically proceed directly to funding approval and issuance of a Letter of Offer.
Application Timeline
Applications are accepted throughout the year under all funding streams.
Deadline
There is no fixed application deadline. Applications may be submitted at any time.
However:
- Applicants should allow up to three months for a decision.
- The Fund aims to provide decisions within six weeks whenever possible.
Click here for more and to apply
Monitoring and Reporting
Successful applicants are required to:
- Complete funded activities as proposed
- Maintain communication with the Trustees
- Submit a Monitoring Form by the agreed reporting date
Typically, Monitoring Forms are due approximately three months after project completion.
Failure to submit the Monitoring Form may result in ineligibility for future Aubrey Barker Fund support.
Why This Opportunity Matters
The Aubrey Barker Fund Smaller Grants Programme provides an important source of support for professionals, students, institutions, and organizations working to improve surveying and land management capabilities in developing countries.
By supporting education, institutional development, research, professional engagement, and community-focused initiatives, the programme contributes to stronger professional capacity, improved land management practices, and long-term sustainable development outcomes.
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