New Zealand’s government provides a variety of opportunities for training and university study through the New Zealand Aid Program, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The program has four scholarship schemes, reaching a total of over 90 countries. The priorities for support often include agriculture, renewable energy, fisheries, disaster risk management, and other areas related to natural resources and environment. The eligibility requirements for scholarships are specific to each country/regional program. The application deadline for submissions is 28 February 2020 for most developing countries in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; and 27 March 2020 for Commonwealth countries. Check the eligible countries and closing dates carefully. Details here
Asia-Pacific
U.S. Agency for International Development — Save Forests and Biodiversity in the Philippines
USAID aims to combat threats to biodiversity caused by habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation, mining and marine ecosystem degradation, and overexploitation in the Philippines. Therefore, USAID seeks projects and activities to be implemented in areas of biological significance and/or land areas of high climate change mitigation potential. The total estimated budget under this call is US$22 million. USAID intends to make two to three awards. The call is open to eligible U.S. and non-U.S. foundations, academic organizations, for-profit private enterprises, and consortia. The closing date for applications is 10 March 2020. Link
Earth Journalism Network — Asia-Pacific Investigative Environmental Story Grants
The Earth Journalism Network makes investigative reporting grants to support the production of in-depth stories that highlight previously untold threats to global biodiversity, or explore new conservation-based solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. Story ideas that uncover corruption, address the safety of environmental defenders and call out business practices that are impacting negatively on the environment and the lives of local communities are particularly welcome. Eligibility for funding extends to journalists (online, print, television) and other expert media practitioners with a track record of reporting on environmental issues. For this grant, applications from South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and the Pacific region are accepted. The application deadline is 31 March 2020. Investigative Environmental Story Grants
UK Natural Environment Research Council — Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems
UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) invite proposals for collaborative research projects to understand the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia. Applicants may request up to S$1.25 million from NRF and up to £700 thousand from NERC. Applications are sought from teams comprising researchers from Singapore, the UK and low- and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia. A Notification of Intent to submit should be submitted no later than 05 March 2020. Find details
Water and Energy for Food — Asia Agriculture & Energy Prize
The Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) Prize seeks business owners and entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia with innovations in renewable energy and agriculture. The Prize includes a US$355 thousand cash prize for winners and runners-up, and sponsorship to participate in the Clean Asia Energy Forum in the Philippines (June 2020). The Prize is open to mid-stage businesses and youth innovators. To be eligible for the mid-stage prize, enterprises must have existing services or products. For the Youth Innovators Prize, applicants must be under the age of 30 with a pre-revenue or post-revenue business model. Submission deadline is 29 January 2020. Click here
Asia New Zealand Foundation — Capacity Building for Agribusiness Entrepreneurs
The Asia New Zealand Foundation and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs offer young Southeast Asian agribusiness entrepreneurs the opportunity to visit New Zealand. Applicants will learn about the New Zealand agriculture business environment, meet and network with entrepreneurs and business leaders, and attend New Zealand’s leading agribusiness event, Fieldays. Applicants must be entrepreneurs or business leaders at CEO or senior management level involved in agriculture from an ASEAN country. The Asia New Zealand Foundation will cover the costs of participating in the capacity building program (airfare, accommodation, meals, etc.). Applications close 20 February 2020. More here
Young Sustainable Impact Southeast Asia — Innovation Program 2020
Young Sustainable Impact (YSI) Southeast Asia invites applications for a fully funded Incubation Program which will provide participants with the frameworks, mentorship and resources to start a company. Teams or individually are invited to create lasting solutions to Southeast Asia’s pressing problems in the themes of “Energy Transitions”, “Future of Food & Agriculture”, and “Circular Economy.” Candidates have to be 18-35 years old. Participants receive a fully funded trip to Singapore to participate in a 9-day workshop. Up to US$5 thousand funding is available to promising startups. Applications have to be received by 18 January 2020. More about this opportunity
PNG-Australia Partnership — Off-Grid Electrification Program Papua New Guinea
The PNG-Australia Off-Grid Electrification Program (Pawarim Komuniti) supports access to clean energy in rural and remote communities in Papua New Guinea. The Program will support local off-grid energy solutions such as solar home systems, and others, to provide rural households, community service facilities and businesses with affordable access to clean energy. Selected organisations will receive funding in the amount of between PGK250 thousand and PGK3 million. Pawarim Komuniti will accept proposals from legally registered national or international private companies and NGOs eligible to work in Papua New Guinea. Applications have to be submitted by 20 January 2020. Link
U.S. Agency for International Development — Health, Ecosystems and Agriculture for Resilient, Thriving Societies
The Office of Forestry and Biodiversity in USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment seeks transformational solutions to cross-sectoral development challenges in biodiverse landscapes. Sectors that may comprise HEARTH concepts are: biodiversity conservation, health, food security (agriculture and nutrition), governance, economic development and livelihoods, water supply and sanitation, education, modern energy solutions, forest management and restoration, and climate resilience. Eligible priority countries include Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and South America Regional; Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Central Africa Regional; Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Vietnam and the Regional Development Mission for Asia. Awards range between US$1 million and US$10 million. The deadline for applications is 15 June 2020. More
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — Water and Energy for Food
The Water and Energy for Food challenge fund is a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The program objectives are to expand the scale of innovations that impact the sectors food and water, food and energy or all three sectors of the nexus, to increase the sustainability of agricultural food value chains, improving energy and water efficiency, and to improve climate resilient agriculture in developing countries and emerging markets in accordance with the SDGs, with a particular focus on the poor and women. The two focus geographical areas are the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and South/Southeast Asia. Award size is of a maximum of US$15 million. The closing deadline for applications is 09 December 2019. Link