Deadline: 31-Oct-2025
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is inviting applications for its Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT), which provides grants of up to USD 15,000 to support innovative agricultural research and training initiatives in Southeast Asia.
The objectives of the program are to provide start-up funds to Southeast Asian researchers and scientists who can make significant contributions to the development of the region but lack the funds to carry out their projects, build grantees’ capacity to develop research proposals and manage projects, and expand SEARCA’s reach in terms of research, capacity building, and contributions to regional agricultural and rural development (ARD) knowledge.
Eligible applicants must be Southeast Asian nationals with at least a four-year degree and limited research start-up funds. Priority is given first to SEARCA alumni, University Consortium faculty and staff, and SEARCA IDA participants, and second to staff of government or nonprofit development agencies and agricultural university faculty outside the Consortium. Applicants must propose projects that strategically contribute to outcomes such as increased farmers’ income, improved food security and nutrition, greater climate resilience, and empowerment of farmers, groups, and stakeholder institutions.
All project proposals must present innovative concepts with clear development plans, be designed for completion within one year, detail strategies for securing long-term funding, and include mechanisms for disseminating results and policy recommendations. Project outputs must include at least one policy brief, a final research report suitable for publication, and, where possible, presentation of research results at a scientific forum or conference.
Applicants are required to submit proposals through the SEARCA Grants Information System by completing the online form and uploading all required documents, including a letter of request to the SEARCA Center Director, official employer endorsement where applicable, project budget, funding certifications, and a detailed research timetable. Only proposals with complete submissions in the prescribed format will be considered.
For more information, visit SEARCA.