SparkUp Initiative offers a fellowship that helps women-led NGOs and grassroots organizations worldwide build their fundraising and project-development capacities. Participants receive training in crafting effective fundraising strategies, writing grant proposals for international foundations and public institutions, and exploring crowdfunding and digital fundraising. The program is open to women-led organizations from developing countries in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe. The next application deadline is 20 December 2025. Link
East Asia
Imagine H2O — Water-Technology Startups Asia
Imagine H2O seeks innovative water solutions from anywhere in the world. Any company offering solutions for water access, safety, resilience, or efficiency is welcome to apply. Selected candidates will have access to a network of industry executives, experts, and entrepreneurs and showcase their ideas during a week-long boot camp at the Water Innovation Week. Participants will receive cash awards and in-kind donations from strategic partners. The deadline for applications is 19 December 2025. For more information, visit the Imagine H2O Accelerator Program
Ocean Park Conservation Foundation — Wildlife Conservation in Asia
The Ocean Park Conservation Foundation solicits projects on threatened animal species in Asia. The Foundation supports conservation research and management, as well as community education and capacity building. Priority will be given to projects from Eastern, Southern, and Southeast Asia. Coastal countries connected to Asia, where funding is limited and with threatened wide-ranging Asian species, are included. The majority of projects are for one year, but the Foundation will also consider multi-year projects if they show promise of clear conservation outcomes. Successful applicants receive on average HK$250 thousand per year. The application deadline is 31 January 2026. Criteria here
Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture — Photo Contest
The SEARCA Photo Contest with the theme “Beyond the Harvest: People and Processes in the Agriculture Value Chain” seeks images from across Southeast Asia that showcase moments that connect producers with markets, communities, and consumers. The contest is open to all Southeast Asian nationals. Winners receive cash prizes of US$1000 (1st place), US$800 (2nd place), and US$500 (3rd place). All entries must be submitted before 30 November 2025. SEARCA Photo Contest
U.S. Department of State — TechGirls 2026
TechGirls is an international summer exchange program designed to empower and inspire young women from around the world to pursue careers in science and technology. The program is open to teenage girls (ages 15-17) from eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, and Latin America. TechGirls covers the costs of travel, accommodation, and meals for participation in the technology camp hosted by Virginia Tech University. The application will close on 04 December 2025. Link to TechGirls
Efico Foundation — Support for Coffee Producers
EFICO Foundation supports coffee farmers and their families through training and education programs, sustainable income increase, resilience for climate change, infrastructure support, and natural resource protection. About every 3 years, the Foundation organizes a project initiation round and funds projects that aim to improve the living conditions of coffee producers and their communities. Preference is given to projects having a clear strategy to become self-sustaining and creating a leverage effect. Applicants receive a full application form after contact. Efico Foundation
Energy Foundation — China Sustainable Energy Program
The Foundation’s China Sustainable Energy Program makes grants for planning, policies, research, and training to improve energy efficiency and to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions in China. Grant eligibility extends to organizations in China and the USA. They include research institutes and foundations; universities; professional organizations, societies, and academies; energy technology centers; policy groups and think tanks; state-owned energy companies; regulatory agencies; and NGOs. Proposals are accepted on a continuous basis. Link
Explore — Research Implementation Grants
Explore recruits researchers from research institutes and universities in Southeast Asia to submit research proposals on forest landscape governance. Explore aims to support governments in using high-quality research findings to improve policies, institutional structures and frameworks, which will contribute to inclusive and sustainable development of forest landscapes. Applicants need to apply by 31 January 2025. Link
Global Landscapes Forum — Landscape Leadership Camp in Asia
Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) invites applications to the Landscape Leadership Camp. The Camp offers sessions, discussions, field trips, workshops, dialogues, and field visits, you’ll have the chance to build your expertise and workshops for participants to craft strategies to bring back to their communities. The camp is for leaders between the ages of 18 and 35 championing landscape action and community-based solutions all across Asia. GLF offers a limited number of full and partial travel scholarships available to cover some participants’ travel, accommodation, and associated attendance costs. The application deadline is 15 January 2025. Landscape Leadership Camp
U.S. National Science Foundation — Biodiversity on a Changing Planet
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) invites submission of interdisciplinary proposals addressing grand challenges in biodiversity science within the context of unprecedented environmental change, including climate change. The program supports a comprehensive and integrative approach to understanding planetary biodiversity from a functional perspective. Research supported by this program will improve modeling and forecasting of the consequences of functional change in biodiversity. The program supports both US-only collaborative proposals and proposals with international partnerships with National Science Foundations in China, Brazil, and South Africa. Proposals may be submitted by non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education. The total anticipated funding amount is up to US$17 million. Depending on the quality of proposals, 4-6 awards are estimated to be made for design and implementation. Applications have to be submitted by 04 September 2025. Link