The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) invites submission of interdisciplinary proposals addressing grand challenges in biodiversity science within the context of unprecedented environmental change, including climate change. The program supports a comprehensive and integrative approach to understanding planetary biodiversity from a functional perspective. Research supported by this program will improve modeling and forecasting of the consequences of functional change in biodiversity. The program supports both US-only collaborative proposals and proposals with international partnerships with National Science Foundations in China, Brazil, and South Africa. Proposals may be submitted by non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education. The total anticipated funding amount is up to US$17 million. Depending on the quality of proposals, 4-6 awards are estimated to be made for design and implementation. Applications have to be submitted by 05 September 2024. Link
East Asia
UN Global Compact — Young SDG Innovators Program
The Young SDG Innovators Program is an accelerator program for future business leaders and changemakers to develop and drive innovative SDG solutions through new technologies, initiatives, and business models. Participants participate in online and in-person workshops, case studies, company visits and forum discussions. Companies based in Brazil, China, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Ukraine, United Kingdom or the United States have the opportunity to collaborate with their Global Compact Local Networks to nominate young professionals for the program. The nomination deadline is 31 January 2024. Link to UN Global Compact
Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia — Wetland Fund 2024
The Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) accepts project proposals for funding support under the RRC-EA Wetland Fund 2024. Wetland advocates from the region are invited to apply for small grants in line with the following thematic areas: (1) Wetland Conservation; and (2) Celebration of World Wetlands Day. RRC-EA will support up to 4 projects under Thematic Area 1 with a budget of US$10 thousand each, and up to 3 projects under Thematic Area 2 with a budget of US$5 thousand each. Applicants can be practitioners, policy makers, researchers, local community leaders, media, or NGOs based in East, Southeast, and South Asia. Applications have to be submitted by 10 November 2023. Details here
Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition — Children and Youth Challenge
The Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition (CSET) wants children and young people to come up with ideas for how we can teach people about sustainable energy in our communities in fun and easy to understand ways, and ways we can use sustainable energy. All individuals and team members must be a resident in a Commonwealth member country. The winning entries (one per five Commonwealth regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada, Caribbean, and Pacific) will be offered the chance to pitch their ideas to their local governments and policymakers. Deadline for submissions is 31 August 2023. CSET Children and Youth Challenge
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Online Course on Forest and Landscape Restoration
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announces a call for applications for young professionals (under 35 years old) living in Asia for an online course on forest and landscape restoration. The online course includes teaching materials, access to expert commentary and guided exercises to support the development of ecologically, socially and economically realistic restoration plans. Applications have to be submitted before 16 July 2023. More about the Online Course
Shape-Sea — Essay Writing Competition for Undergraduate Students
Strengthening Human Rights and Peace Research and Education in ASEAN/Southeast Asia (SHAPE-SEA) hosts an essay writing competition for undergraduate students from Southeast Asia. Students are asked to write a paper on the right to a safe, clean, and sustainable environment and raise their voice on diverse issues and lived experiences reflecting the state of the environment and human rights in the region. Eligibility extends to Southeast Asian undergraduate students currently enrolled in a Southeast Asia tertiary academic institution. The winners receive small cash prizes. The deadline for submission is 12 August 2023. Details
ETH Zurich — Research Partnership Grants Asia
The Research Partnership Grants support research projects with collaborating institutions in China, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN member states. Researchers may request a total of CHF25 thousand to conduct feasibility studies or pilot projects in order to apply for grants from larger funding agencies. The grant builds on existing collaborations between researchers and scientists affiliated to a Swiss institution. The call is open to all scientific disciplines and fields of research, including social sciences and humanities. Asian researchers interested in acting as co-applicants on the Asian side have to contact their Switzerland-based peers. Application deadline is 30 September 2023. Research Partnership Grants
Earth Journalism Network — Media Workshop on Natural Resource Governance
The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) hosts a media workshop with the aim to improve journalists’ knowledge and reporting skills to tell impactful and in-depth stories about natural resources governance in the Mekong region. The three-day workshop will be held in English in early July, at a venue in Thailand. Following the training, participants will be invited to pitch story ideas. EJN will award 16 grants of US$1,500 each to journalists to produce their proposed stories. The workshop is open to applicants from the five Mekong countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The application deadline is 21 May 2023. Mekong Media Workshop
Greater Mekong Subregion Secretariat — Call for Demonstration Proposals
The GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program invites applications for pilot demonstration projects. Demonstration proposals from the following themes are accepted: Climate and disaster resilience; Low-carbon transitions; Transboundary climate-smart landscapes; Digital technology for climate actions and environmental sustainability; Financing low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure and technology. The call for proposals is directed at GMS countries including Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. Eligibility extends to government departments, civil society organizations, and academia and research institutes. The deadline for submitting proposals is 01 June 2023. More information
Banyan Tree Global Foundation — Greater Good Grants
Bayan Tree Global Foundation accepts applications for the “2024 Greater Good Grants,” which aim to impactful initiatives that benefit local communities and environments in Mexico, Cuba, Morocco, Islands in Eastern Africa and Southeast Asia. The main focus areas for projects include freshwater access, alternative livelihood development that protects the environment, management of food waste and humanitarian themes. Grants may request up to US$10 thousand. The application deadline is 30 September 2023. Greater Good Grants