The Terra Viva Grants Directory brings free funding information to the developing world. Please consider making a donation to support our operations.

The Terra Viva Grants Directory develops and manages information about grants for agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in the world's developing countries.

International Foundation for Science

Research grants for early-career scientists in subjects of sustainable natural resources, water and aquatic resources, and agriculture and food production

Principal Office: International

The International Foundation for Science (IFS) makes grants to early-career researchers in developing countries for the sustainable management of biological and water resources.

IFS defines its mission broadly to include research interests in biodiversity; forestry; natural products; renewable energy and climate change; water resources; aquatic resources; agricultural crop production; animal production; food science; and food security.

Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources

Research grants. The IFS makes grants to early-career scientists of low-income developing countries. The program features three grant-making approaches:

  • Grants to individual researchers (“Individual Research”);
  • Grants to small collaborative teams of researchers (“Collaborative Research”); and
  • Grants to put research into use and to enable innovation (“Contributing Innovation”).

About the program

Grants are to citizens of eligible countries whose research is carried out in eligible countries, and who possess a minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent. The age limit is 35 for men and 40 for women.

Applicants must be attached to a national research institute (e.g. university, non-profit research center, or research-oriented NGO) in an eligible developing country.

APPLICATION: IFS posts calls for applications in each of its three grant-making approaches.

A call provides application guidelines, eligibility criteria, an application form, and a calendar deadline for submissions.

About how to apply

Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries

The following countries are eligible for grants, applying the regional geographic structure of the Terra Viva Grants Directory.

Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands: Cambodia, Fiji, Kiribati, Laos, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam

East Asia: Mongolia, North Korea

South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Eurasia and Central Asia: Afghanistan

Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

Sub-Saharan Africa: Angola,  Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Dem Rep of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Latin America and Caribbean: Belize, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay

IFS manages a database of grant recipients.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) address specific details of the grant-making program.

IFS posts annual reports, impact studies, and other publications.

IFS makes awards to recognize the achievements of its grantees.

Contact Us offers complete information for the IFS Secretariat in Sweden.

July 2021