NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity 2026
The NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity 2026 is now accepting applications. This programme supports researchers and doctoral students conducting scientific research on biodiversity, ecosystems, wildlife, and nature conservation in developing countries across the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to strengthen conservation knowledge through independently designed, field-based scientific research projects.
🌏 About the NEF Research Grant Programme
The Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF) invites applications from researchers and doctoral students who are based in and conduct research in one of NEF’s target countries. The programme focuses on:
- Supporting field-based scientific research involving living organisms.
- Promoting nature conservation in developing countries.
- Encouraging independently designed research projects.
🎁 Benefits of the Programme
- Maximum Grant Size: Up to 1,000,000 Japanese yen per project.
- Project Duration: Maximum of two years.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Nationality: Must be a national of a developing country in the Asia-Pacific region (see Target Countries below).
- Professional Status:
- A researcher with at least three years of research experience, working full-time at a research institution or relevant organization in one of the target countries.
- OR a full-time doctoral student enrolled at a research institution in one of the target countries and conducting research in that country.
- Research Experience: Must have sufficient experience and skills to conduct and manage the proposed research project.
- Language Proficiency: Must be able to communicate in English.
- Funding Restrictions:
- Must not have another application to the NEF.
- Must not have another ongoing NEF-funded project at the time of application submission.
- Must not have had another NEF-funded project in the past two years.
Eligible Research Projects
Only individual research projects are eligible. Team or group projects are not supported. The proposed research project must:
- Contribute to the nature conservation of the applicant’s country.
- Focus primarily on living organisms.
- Be carried out in the applicant’s country of work or study.
- Involve fieldwork for data collection.
- Be the applicant’s own research work (team projects are ineligible).
- Achieve its objectives and submit interim and/or final reports within a scheduled project period of 1–2 years.
- Be exclusively funded by the NEF Research Grant Programme.
Target Countries
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, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.
📅 Application Date and Process
- Application Deadline: 14 October 2026
- To apply, visit the official application website.
🔗 Additional Information
For more details about the NEF Research Grant Programme for Biodiversity, visit the official website of the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation.
- Grant size up to 1,000,000 Japanese yen per project.
- Maximum duration of two years for the project.
