Submit Applications: NEF Research Grant Programme 2025

This programme aims to enhance the research capabilities of young researchers in the region. It is open to individual researchers and doctoral students who prepare and implement their research proposals independently.

Funding Information

• The maximum grant size in this programme is one million (1,000,000) Japanese yen per project, with a maximum duration of two years.

Eligible Expenses

• Expendables necessary for field surveys and analysis (e.g., sampling gear, reagent);
• Local travel expenses for the field trips (e.g., accommodation, food, transportation);
• Reference materials (e.g., articles, books);
• Labor costs necessary for the proposed research (e.g., local guides/porters, field assistants); and
• Other expenses only when the NEF Secretariat approves.

Ineligible Expenses 

• Salaries and tuition for the applicant, their assistants, and others involved in the research;
• Renovation and installation of the institution’s facilities;
• Equipment available through the applicant’s institution and with high versatility (e.g., personal computer, computer software/accessories, analytical equipment, microscope, projector, printer, GPS, digital camera, vehicle, motorbike, etc.). Exceptions might be made only if the NEF Secretariat approves the justification for the importance of purchasing brand-new equipment;
• Honoraria, consultation fees, and travel expenses paid to advisors and experts;
• Participation fees to attend national and international workshops, conferences, and training;
• International travel expenses;
• Expenses for disseminating research results/findings;
• Publication costs
• Expenses for past activities already completed;
• General administrative expenses and overheads; etc.

Eligible Projects

• A proposed research project must:
  • be scientific research contributing to the nature conservation of the country where the applicant currently works or studies;
  • focus primarily on living organisms;
  • be carried out in the country where the applicant currently works or studies;
  • involve fieldwork for data collection;
  • be the applicant’s OWN research work (team project is ineligible.);
  • achieve its objective(s) and submit interim and/or final reports within a scheduled project period of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years;
  • be exclusively funded by the NEF Research Grant Programme.

Geographical Focus

• The target countries in the Asia-Pacific region include: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

Eligibility Criteria

• An applicant must:
  • be a national of developing country in the Asia-Pacific region
  • be either of the following:
    • a researcher with at least three (3) years of research experience and sufficient achievement in their field of study, working full-time at a research institution or relevant organisation in one of the countries
    • a full-time doctoral student enrolled at a research institution in one of the countries
  • have research experience and skills sufficient to conduct and manage the proposed research project;
  • be able to communicate in English;
  • not have another application to the NEF;
  • not have another ongoing NEF-funded project at the time of application submission;
  • not have had another NEF-funded project for the past two years.

Selection Criteria

• Only qualified applications will be examined by the NEF Selection Committee based on the following criteria:
  • Relevance and importance to nature conservation;
  • Clearness of objectives and research questions/hypotheses;
  • originality and quality of the proposed research;
  • Appropriateness and concreteness of methodology to achieve objectives and answer research questions/hypotheses;
  • Feasibility of the research design and schedule;
  • Reasonableness of the budget;
  • Applicant’s past achievements and experience in related research; and
  • Recommender’s statement on the applicant and the proposed research project.

For more information, visit NEF.