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Call for EOIs: Rapid Response Research Grants Program

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Deadline: 31-Mar-2026

SUMERNET is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for 12 rapid-response research grants under SUMERNET PLUS (Phase 5), offering up to 480,000 SEK per project for initiatives in the Mekong Region. Projects must be completed within 6–12 months and can apply under Capacity Development Grants, Impact Grants, or Innovation Grants, with a strong focus on equitable climate resilience, collaboration, gender inclusion, and practical outcomes.

This funding opportunity is especially relevant for research institutes, universities, think tanks, and non-profit organizations in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam working on climate adaptation, climate mitigation, climate policy, innovation, and inclusive resilience solutions.

The Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for rapid-response research grants under its fifth-phase programme, SUMERNET PLUS. The programme will provide 12 grants, each worth up to 480,000 SEK, for projects to be implemented within 6 to 12 months in the Mekong Region.

These grants are designed to support timely, practical, and collaborative climate resilience initiatives that can generate useful outcomes for research, policy, institutions, communities, and markets.

Key Grant Details at a Glance

Funding Snapshot

Core Objective

The grants are intended to support projects that strengthen:

What Is SUMERNET PLUS?

SUMERNET PLUS is the fifth phase of the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) programme. It supports research, partnerships, and action that respond to climate and development challenges in the Mekong Region.

The programme promotes equitable climate resilience, which means strengthening the ability of communities, institutions, and systems to respond to climate risks while also improving social equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

In practice, SUMERNET PLUS supports work that connects:

Why This Grant Matters

The Mekong Region continues to balance rapid economic development with the need for environmental resilience and social equity. Over recent decades, the region has become a growing economic hub supported by its rivers, wetlands, forests, and farmlands.

At the same time, resource-based development has contributed to:

This makes climate resilience an urgent regional priority.

These grants matter because they support fast, targeted, and applied projects that can help organizations:

Grant Windows Explained

SUMERNET PLUS offers three grant windows, each designed for a different type of climate resilience intervention.

1) Capacity Development Grants

Capacity Development Grants aim to strengthen capacities, skills, networks, and collaborative systems for knowledge producers, policy influencers, and young professionals working on climate resilience.

These grants are intended to go beyond short-term training and support long-term capacity outcomes.

What They Support

Possible activities include:

Priority Groups

These grants are expected to support groups such as:

Best Fit For

This window is best suited for projects focused on:

2) Impact Grants

Impact Grants support initiatives that use existing research, partnerships, and field experience to advance knowledge, policy development, implementation, and institutional practice for equitable climate resilience.

These grants are designed to help institutions and partners turn evidence into practical outcomes.

What They Support

Possible activities include:

Intended Beneficiaries

These grants are intended to benefit stakeholders at:

This may include:

Best Fit For

This window is best suited for projects focused on:

3) Innovation Grants

Innovation Grants support the piloting, testing, and scaling of climate-resilient solutions in collaboration with private sector actors.

These grants focus on solutions that are:

Private Sector Engagement

These grants encourage engagement with:

What They Support

Possible activities include:

What Strong Proposals Should Show

Proposals are encouraged to clearly present:

Best Fit For

This window is best suited for projects focused on:

Priority Themes and Eligible Project Topics

Across all grant windows, proposals may address a broad range of climate resilience and sustainable development themes.

Priority Areas

Projects may focus on:

Semantic SEO Terms Relevant to This Opportunity

This opportunity is especially relevant to searches related to:

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicants include organizations such as:

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be from:

Key Eligibility Rules

Applicants should note the following requirements:

  1. The lead organization and consortium members must be independent entities.

  2. They cannot be public or government entities registered under Cambodian law.

  3. The project lead must be a formal member of the SUMERNET network.

  4. The project lead must demonstrate the expertise and institutional support needed to lead the proposed work.

Strongly Encouraged Applicants

Previous recipients of:

are strongly encouraged to apply.

Essential Proposal Requirements

All applications must demonstrate clear relevance to Mekong climate resilience priorities and show meaningful collaboration across sectors.

Every Proposal Should Include

Inclusion Is a Core Requirement

Proposals should not treat inclusion as a minor add-on. SUMERNET expects strong integration of:

How to Choose the Right Grant Window

Choose the grant window that best matches your project’s main purpose.

Choose Capacity Development Grants if your project is about:

Choose Impact Grants if your project is about:

Choose Innovation Grants if your project is about:

How to Apply

Because this is an Expression of Interest (EOI) stage, applicants should focus on showing fit, relevance, feasibility, and impact potential.

Step-by-Step Application Approach

  1. Confirm eligibility
    Verify your organization type, country, consortium structure, and SUMERNET network membership.

  2. Choose the correct grant window
    Match your project clearly to Capacity Development, Impact, or Innovation.

  3. Define the climate resilience challenge
    Focus on a specific Mekong-related problem such as climate adaptation, value chains, restoration, or climate-smart systems.

  4. Build a strong consortium
    Include partners that add technical expertise, community reach, policy relevance, or private sector value.

  5. Describe practical outputs
    Clearly explain what your project will deliver within 6–12 months.

  6. Integrate gender and social inclusion from the start
    Include clear participation targets, leadership roles, and inclusion measures.

  7. Plan knowledge sharing and open access
    Show how outputs will be shared, accessible, and useful beyond the project.

  8. Keep the scope realistic
    Make sure the workplan is achievable within the short funding period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common weaknesses when preparing your EOI:

Tips to Make Your EOI Stronger

A stronger EOI usually demonstrates:

Practical Tips

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) How much funding is available under the SUMERNET PLUS grants?

SUMERNET PLUS will award 12 grants, with each project eligible for up to 480,000 SEK.

2) How long can funded projects run?

Projects must be completed within 6 to 12 months, making this a rapid-response funding opportunity.

3) Which countries are eligible?

Eligible applicants must be based in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, or Vietnam.

4) Who can apply for these grants?

Eligible applicants include:

However, the project lead must be a formal member of the SUMERNET network.

5) What are the three grant windows?

The three grant windows are:

  1. Capacity Development Grants

  2. Impact Grants

  3. Innovation Grants

Each serves a different purpose, so applicants should choose the one that best matches their project.

6) Is private sector collaboration required?

Private sector collaboration is especially important for Innovation Grants, where proposals are expected to work with actors such as MSMEs, business networks, intermediaries, and financial actors.

For the other grant windows, private sector involvement may still strengthen a proposal where relevant.

7) What makes a proposal competitive?

A strong proposal typically includes:

Conclusion

The SUMERNET PLUS rapid-response research grants offer a strong opportunity for organizations in the Mekong Region to secure up to 480,000 SEK for short-term, high-impact climate resilience projects. With 12 grants available, the programme is especially relevant for institutions that can move quickly, collaborate effectively, and deliver practical outcomes in areas such as climate adaptation, climate policy, nature-based solutions, climate-smart agriculture, and inclusive innovation.

For more information, visit SUMERNET.

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