This year, APN is inviting proposals under two separate programmes supporting APN’s core activities through our Collaborative Regional Research Programme (CRRP) and Scientific Capacity Development Programme (CAPaBLE), for funding and implementation from 1 October 2027. A limited amount of funding is available to support CRRP and CAPaBLE activities relevant to APN’s thematic areas that specifically target one (or more) themes under its sub-regional priority topics for funding.
I. Priority topics for funding
Pacific
- Climate resilience, adaptation and climate-related losses & damages
Topics may include: Climate resilience and adaptation; Losses and Damages (including finance mechanisms); Climate risk assessment and early warning systems; Extreme events (heatwaves, floods, cyclones); Insurability and fiscal risk of climate impacts. - Nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration
Topics may include: Nature-based solutions (NbS); Ecosystem restoration (including mangroves, watersheds, blue carbon); Payment for ecosystem services; Biodiversity conservation linked to climate solutions. - Climate–environment–health nexus (One Health)
Topics may include: Climate and environmental health; Heat-related health risks; Disease dynamics under climate change; One Health approaches linking ecosystems, climate and human health. - Food, water, energy and human security under climate change
Topics may include: Climate-resilient food systems; Low-emission agriculture; Water security and transboundary governance; Energy security (including nature-based solutions). - Marine and coastal systems
Topics may include: Ocean acidification; Coastal ecosystems; Blue carbon systems; Marine resource management.
South Asia
- Climate resilience, adaptation and climate-related losses & damages
Topics may include: Climate resilience and adaptation; Losses and Damages (including finance mechanisms); Climate risk assessment and early warning systems; Extreme events (heatwaves, floods, cyclones); Insurability and fiscal risk of climate impacts. - Nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration
Topics may include: Nature-based solutions (NbS); Ecosystem restoration (including mangroves, watersheds, blue carbon); Payment for ecosystem services; Biodiversity conservation linked to climate solutions. - Digital technologies and AI for Earth observations
Topics may include: Artificial intelligence for early warning and risk management; Big data and climate modelling; Earth observation and remote sensing; Climate downscaling and projections; Energy-efficient AI models - Food, water, energy and human security under climate change
Topics may include: Climate-resilient food systems; Low-emission agriculture; Water security and transboundary governance; Energy security (including nature-based solutions). - Governance, diverse knowledge systems and implementation gaps
Topics may include: Knowledge governance for global change; Policy implementation gaps; Multi-level governance challenges; Coordination failures in disaster response; Science–policy–society integration.
Southeast Asia
- Climate resilience, adaptation and climate-related losses & damages
Topics may include: Climate resilience and adaptation; Losses and Damages (including finance mechanisms); Climate risk assessment and early warning systems; Extreme events (heatwaves, floods, cyclones); Insurability and fiscal risk of climate impacts. - Digital technologies and AI for Earth observations
Topics may include: Artificial intelligence for early warning and risk management; Big data and climate modelling; Earth observation and remote sensing; Climate downscaling and projections; Energy-efficient AI models. - Climate–environment–health nexus (One Health)
Topics may include: Climate and environmental health; Heat-related health risks; Disease dynamics under climate change; One Health approaches linking ecosystems, climate and human health. - Chemicals, waste, pollution and the circular economy
Topics may include: Chemicals, waste and pollution; Emerging pollutants and ecological impacts; Circular economy approaches; Resource efficiency and sustainable supply chains. - (SEA PDTW 2026 ONLY) Climate change and variability and disaster risk reduction
Topics may include: Integrating climate information into disaster risk reduction planning, enhancing early warning systems and community-based monitoring mechanisms, heat stress and health vulnerability assessments, and nature-based and ecosystem-based approaches to risk reduction and adaptation.
Temperate East Asia
- Climate resilience, adaptation and climate-related losses & damages
Topics may include: Climate resilience and adaptation; Losses and Damages (including finance mechanisms); Climate risk assessment and early warning systems; Extreme events (heatwaves, floods, cyclones); Insurability and fiscal risk of climate impacts. - Nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration
Topics may include: Nature-based solutions (NbS); Ecosystem restoration (including mangroves, watersheds, blue carbon); Payment for ecosystem services; Biodiversity conservation linked to climate solutions. - Digital technologies and AI for Earth observations
Topics may include: Artificial intelligence for early warning and risk management; Big data and climate modelling; Earth observation and remote sensing; Climate downscaling and projections; Energy-efficient AI models. - Emerging scientific, technological and economic developments for global change
Topics may include: Carbon dioxide removal (CDR); Climate–economy–livelihood linkages; Synergies between environment and economic systems; Global supply chain sustainability.
II. Mandatory codesign integration
As of APN’s 6th Strategic Phase and the 2026 Call for Proposals, proposal codesign with relevant stakeholders is mandatory, with stakeholder(s) meaningfully involved from the outset in shaping a project proposal. Stakeholders may include researchers, policymakers, government agencies, practitioners, civil society organisations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the private sector and other relevant groups, depending on the nature of the proposal.
Proposals will be screened at all stages of the Call for Proposals to ensure compliance with the mandatory codesign requirement. Details on the screening procedures are provided in the CRRP and CAPaBLE Guide for Proponents, available on the APN Information System (APNIS).
III. Proponent eligibility
Researchers, academics and practitioners working in institutions based in APN member countries and approved countries are eligible to apply for APN grants. Details of eligibility criteria are outlined in the CRRP and CAPaBLE Guide for Proponents, available on the APN Information System (APNIS).
Special consideration: APN emphasises support for early career professionals (ECPs) in the Asia-Pacific region and strongly encourages applications from this cohort. Eligible proposals led by ECPs or involving ECP-majority project teams will be given priority.
IV. Proposal submission procedures
Proposals for either programme should be submitted through the APN Information System (APNIS). Each Programme Call on APNIS will provide detailed information on the proponent’s eligibility and submission criteria, the APN Secretariat’s review criteria and supplementary documentation relevant to the development of the project proposal (such as APN’s Sixth Strategic Plan 2026–2030).
- CRRP Programme submissions: https://www.apn-gcr.org/apnis/public/calls/35
- CAPaBLE Programme submissions: https://www.apn-gcr.org/apnis/public/calls/34
Proponents intending to submit a proposal may create an APNIS account and profile at any time, including before or during an active Call for Proposals. Proposals submitted by email are not accepted.
V. Key dates
For 2026, the following deadlines must be observed by proponents:
- Stage 1: Submission of Summary Proposal (online via APNIS): Monday, 30 November 2026, 23:59 Japan Standard Time.
- Stage 2: Submission of Full Proposal and compulsory appendices (online via APNIS, by invitation only for successful proponents): Monday, 29 March 2027, 23:59 Japan Standard Time.
VI. For more information
Proposal proponents are kindly asked to refer to the “Call for Proposals” and the “Frequently Asked Questions” pages on the APN website for more information, as well as documentation provided on APNIS.