Applications Invited for Explore Research Implementation Grants

Follow us@ngobox

About the Organization

RECOFTC envisions a future where the people of the Asia - Pacific region live equitably and sustainably, in and alongside thriving forests and healthy, resilient landscapes.

Explore is a research network and community of practice dedicated to expanding and applying knowledge on forest landscape governance in Southeast Asia. It is the only research network in the world focused on forest landscape governance.

Through multidisciplinary, participatory and inclusive multi-stakeholder approaches, Explore aims to contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change and other international and national commitments.

Explore emphasizes gender equality and social inclusion. Forty-two per cent of its advisory board members are women and it seeks equal representation of women researchers. The network also emphasizes transboundary collaboration and problem solving.

Launched in October 2020, Explore is funded by the Government of Sweden. RECOFTC hosts the network in partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and in collaboration with universities, research institutes, governments, civil society organizations, local communities and the private sector in Southeast Asia.

About the Grant

Explore is recruiting researchers from research institutes and universities in Southeast Asia to submit research proposals on forest landscape governance. All research grants awarded by Explore aim 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 in Southeast Asia.

Explore will fund selected proposals through grants and expert mentorship.

Explore will award grants to support up to three research projects. Each grant will range from USD 80,000 to USD 83,000 and will fund research for 18 to 24 months. The grant amount for each project will be determined based on the complexity of the proposed research, the scale of the issues addressed, and the extent of transboundary approaches applied.

Applicants should request a grant amount that accurately reflects the proposed scope of research innovation, specifically in translating forest landscape governance concepts into practical solutions.

In addition to financial support, Explore will provide capacity development opportunities organized by the Explore Secretariat (a collaboration between RECOFTC and CIFOR-ICRAF). Grantees will also receive mentorship from scientific experts throughout the project implementation phase, ensuring ongoing support and guidance.

Successful research teams will be invited to join the Explore community of practice (CoP), which builds upon the foundations established during Phase I (2020–2022) of the Explore programme and being expanded during the current phase (2023–2027). This CoP provides a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration among researchers.

Explore is seeking to support research that will advance forest landscape governance by integrating the following themes:

• Biodiversity conservation and Indigenous Peoples (IP), local communities (LC) and marginalized groups
• The engagement of IPs and LCs in Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs)
• Community-led conservation
• Climate change adaptation
• Climate financing
• Land rights and biodiversity
• Policy, laws, governance and equity
• Wetland forest landscape governance with a focus on mangrove forest
• Role of mangroves in climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Ecosystem goods and services
• Policy and governance
• Monitoring and assessment

Eligibility

The call for proposals is open to all scientific disciplines and fields of research related to forest landscape governance.

Eligibility

• Professors, senior scientists and postdoctoral researchers affiliated with universities and think tanks/research institutes in Southeast Asia are eligible to apply.
• Principal investigators must be affiliated with a university or research institution in Southeast Asia and be a national of and reside in a Southeast Asian country.
• Women and early-career researchers are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Compliance with RECOFTC’s research implementation grant agreement and Explore’s reporting requirements is mandatory.

Team composition

• Researchers can apply as individuals or teams. There is no limit on team size, but the budget must not exceed USD 83,000.
• Teams may include researchers and other experts from universities, research institutes, the private sector, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and development agencies. At least one university or research institution from Explore focal countries must be involved.
• Teams should include early-career researchers from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The composition should aim for gender balance with at least 50 per cent women. A woman must serve as either the principal or co-principal investigator.
• Priority will be given to teams involving researchers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.

Geographic focus

• Proposals should focus on one or more of Explore’s eight focal countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam.
• Multi-country research projects are strongly encouraged to facilitate cross-learning and comparative analysis with a particular emphasis on including low-income countries such as Cambodia, Lao PDR and Timor-Leste.
• Proposals involving countries outside the eight focal countries are welcome, provided they address key regional forest governance challenges. These projects should integrate multidisciplinary research approaches and draw comparative lessons from both focal and non-focal countries to enhance regional understanding and cooperation.
• While not mandatory, proposals focusing on RECOFTC landscapes – Prey Lang in Cambodia, South Sulawesi in Indonesia, Nam Poui in Lao PDR, Nan in Thailand and Nghe An and Quang Nam in Viet Nam – are encouraged.

Research focus

• Researchers must demonstrate interest in conducting transboundary, interdisciplinary and participatory action research to improve forest landscape governance in Southeast Asia. Research approaches should integrate gender equality and social inclusion and human rights perspectives throughout the study.

Grant recipient qualifications

• Demonstrated experience and interest in integrating gender, climate change, livelihood and human rights considerations into research, with a focus on contributing to poverty alleviation
• Flexibility and openness to employing transdisciplinary, participatory and reflexive research approaches
• Strong commitment to co-learning and collaboration with researchers and other forest landscape stakeholders on relevant issues
• Experience engaging forest governance stakeholders to collaboratively develop research ideas addressing regional issues, including multi-county learning processes such as comparative analyses or transboundary research
• Commitment to designing and implementing policy advocacy strategies based on research findings 

How to Apply

To submit your proposal, complete the online application form and include all requested attachments by Friday, 31 January 2025, 17:00 Indochina Time.

Access the application form  

For more information please check the Link

Stay in the loop with the newest RFPs and Grants through NGOBOX's WhatsApp Channel. Join now by clicking here!

Tags Environment and Sustainability Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Research Others