NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity 2026 (With up to ¥ 1,000,000 in Funding)

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About NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity

The NEF Research Grant Programme is inviting applications from researchers and doctoral students conducting scientific research on biodiversity, ecosystems, wildlife, and nature conservation in developing countries across the Asia-Pacific region. The programme supports field-based scientific research involving living organisms and aims to strengthen conservation knowledge through independently designed research projects.

• Sponsor Organisation: Nagao Natural Environment Foundation

Benefits of NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity

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

NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity Requirements

Eligible applicants

Note: This programme is intended for researchers and doctoral students who are based in and conduct research in one of NEF’s target countries.

An applicant must:

• be a national of developing country in the Asia-Pacific region (see 3. TARGET COUNTRIES AND REGIONS below);
• be either of the following:

1. 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 listed in 3. TARGET COUNTRIES AND REGIONS below, OR

2. a full-time doctoral student enrolled at a research institution in one of the countries listed in 3. TARGET COUNTRIES AND REGIONS below, and conducting research in that country;

• 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 submisson; AND
• not have had another NEF-funded project for the past two years.

Eligible research projects

Only individual research projects are eligible under this programme. Team or group projects are not supported.

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.

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.

 

 

 

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Application Deadline

14 October, 2026

Opportunity Application

View details of NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity

Apply for NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity