The Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF) is a non-governmental organization to promote nature conservation in developing countries, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Foundation makes grants for academic and scientific research, and it funds university scholarships.
NEF’s thematic interests include ecological research; biodiversity surveys and assessments; conservation planning and strategy; economic studies of the natural environment; and others.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
1 — Research Grants. The Research Grant Scheme makes grants to individuals in developing countries for scientific research in biodiversity conservation and closely related topics. The scheme includes a sub-program for field research projects, and another sub-program for publications.
Eligibility for support extends to doctoral students and academic and scientific staff of research institutions and other relevant organizations in the developing Asian-Pacific countries, who are nationals of those countries.
The maximum research grant size is ¥500 thousand for two years. Publication grants are a maximum of ¥1 million for one year.
About research grants
APPLICATION: NEF posts eligibility criteria, application guidelines, an application form, and the annual calendar deadlines.
About how to apply
2 — Scholarships. The Scholarship Scheme supports university students in Southeast Asia who will work for nature and wildlife conservation in the future. Funding is for students in Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam.
About scholarships
APPLICATION: NEF works with local universities in each participating country.
About how to apply
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
The Foundation makes grants in the following countries, applying the regional definitions of the Terra Viva Grants Directory.
Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands: Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam
East Asia: Mongolia
South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal
NEF’s website is available in Japanese and English.
The NEF manages the Comprehensive Program for Conservation Research and Activities to fund ecological studies and conservation in the Mekong – Chao Phraya Basin. Participation is limited to a few named institutions in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan.
Grant seekers can explore NEF’s searchable database for recent past grants.
Nagao’s frequently asked questions (FAQ) address issues about research grants as well as scholarships.
NEF provides contact information for its Secretariat in Tokyo.
January 2021