Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF) - Research Grant Programme (from February 2024)

The Research Grant Programme financially supports academic and scientific research that will deepen knowledge of the nature conservation in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Eligibility requirements

An applicant must:

• be a national of developing country in the Asia-Pacific region (see 3. Target countries and regions below);
• be a researcher/scientist, who works full-time or is enrolled in a doctoral course, conducting research at a research institution or relevant organisation in one of the target countries listed in 3. Target countries and regions below;
• have sufficient experience and skills in conducting and managing the proposed research;
• be able to communicate in English;
• not have another application to the NEF; AND
• not have another on-going research or publication project funded by the NEF at the time of application submission.

A proposed research project must:

• be a scientific research contributing to the NATURE CONSERVATION of the country where the applicant currently works or studies;
• put its main focus on LIVING ORGANISMS;
• be carried out in the country where the applicant currently works or studies;
• involve fieldwork for collecting data;
• be applicant's own research work (team projects are ineligible.);
• achieve its objective(s) and submit reports within a scheduled project period of not less than one year and not more than two years; AND
• be exclusively funded by the NEF Research Grant Programme, or co-funded with the applicant's institution.

Target countries and regions:

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.

Evaluation

The NEF Secretariat will check applications whether all the requirements mentioned above are fulfilled. Only those qualified applications will be examined twice a year by the NEF Selection Committee for final decision. Please note that your final grant amount may be the same as or lower than budget amount you requested based on selection results.

The following factors will be considered during the selection process:

• relevance and importance to nature conservation;
• originality and quality of proposed research;
• feasibility of the research design/plan and schedule;
• reasonableness of the budget;
• applicant’s past achievements/experience in related research; and
• recommender’s statement on the applicant and application.

Result notification and remittance

Evaluation result will be announced by two to three months after each deadline. If granted, the NEF Secretariat also informs the applicants the payment process.

Grant size and duration

The maximum grant size in this programme is 500,000 Japanese yen per project for a maximum duration of two year.

Eligible and ineligible expenses

Eligible expenses

• expendables necessary for field survey and analysis (e.g., sampling gear, reagent, etc.);
• local travel expenses for fieldtrip (e.g., accommodation, food, transportation, etc.);
• reference materials (e.g., article, book, etc.);
• labour costs necessary for proposed research; and
• other expenses only when the NEF Secretariat approved.

Ineligible expenses

• salaries and tuition paid to applicants, assistants, and other people to be involved in research;
• renovation and installation of institution’s facilities (e.g., rearing, cultivation facilities);
• equipment available through applicant’s institution and with high versatility (e.g., personal computer, computer software/accessory, analytical equipment, microscope, projector, printer, GPS, digital camera, vehicle, motorbike) Exception might be made only when the NEF Secretariat approve the importance of purchase of brand new equipment;
• honoraria, consultation fees, and travel expenses paid to advisors and experts;
• participation fees to attend national and international workshops, conferences, and trainings;
• international travel expenses;
• expenses necessary for disseminating research results/findings;
• manuscript preparation and publication;
• expenses for the past activities already done;
• general administrative expenses and overheads; etc.

Those who wish to continue their research with additional grant

Grant recipients may submit a renewal application to continue the funded research project in subsequent year(s). Those recipients wishing renewal should follow the same application procedure above. The NEF Selection Committee evaluates progress/final reports and other items resulting from the funded research as well as renewal application. Please be sure that submission of renewal application does not guarantee additional grant funding.

Submission of such additional applications is acceptable after completion of the funded projects and up to one time.