NEF Research Grant Programme (Nature, Ecosystems and Biodiversity)

The NEF Research Grant Programme provides financial support for scientific research projects that deepen our understanding of nature, ecosystems, and biodiversity in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. 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 Organization: Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF)

Research Scope: Nature, ecosystems, and biodiversity

Eligibility:

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.

An applicant must:

be a national of target countries;
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 target countries, OR
a full-time doctoral student enrolled at a research institution in one of the target 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; AND
not have had another NEF-funded project for the past two years.

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; AND
be exclusively funded by the NEF Research Grant Programme.

Maximum Award: The maximum grant size is 1,000,000 Japanese yen per project, with a maximum duration of two years.

Application Process: Application documents should be submitted to the NEF Secretariat by e-mail (secretariat@nagaofoundation.or.jp).

Application Deadline: The application deadlines for the year 2025 are