Introduction

APN supports CAPaBLE activities that enhance existing capacities of developing countries at three levels of individual-based capacity development; group, organisation, network-based capacity development; and societies, governance, and system level capacity development. APN is inviting codesigned CAPaBLE proposals for funding from 1 October, 2027 that engages (1) or more member/approved countries and that addresses one or more of the following activities in one or more of the priority topics for funding:

Activities related to the CAPaBLE Programme that APN supports cover the following:

1. Codesigned scientific capacity development activities that promote the following approaches related to one or more of the thematic areas of APN: (a) Utilising and strengthening existing capacity, (b) Creating opportunities to use/instil capacity, and (c) Developing new capacity through innovative approaches.
2. Codesigned science policy interfacing in the context of the priority topics.
3. Codesigned scientific capacity development partnership activities that contribute to the capacity development components of the evolving global change arena, including the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030), and the accumulation of scientific knowledge at IPCC, IPBES, etc. and ongoing and new global change and sustainability research programmes.
4. Codesigned awareness-raising and dissemination activities through policy- and decision-making communities, civil society, or the general public.
5. Codesigned activities centred towards using science communication to disseminate knowledge generated from projects, particularly to non-science audiences.

Priority Topics for Funding

APN’s subregional committees establish high-priority topics based on inputs from member countries in each of the APN's four subregions. APN is inviting trans- and interdisciplinary scientific capacity development proposals focusing on the following priority for each subregion as indicated below:

Pacific

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. Marine and coastal systems Topics may include: Climate-resilient food systems; Low-emission agriculture; Water security and transboundary governance; Energy security (including nature-based solutions).

South Asia

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. (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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

Proposals that do not address any of the above themes will not be accepted under the 2026 Call for Proposals

Eligibility

Researchers, academics, and practitioners working in institutions based in APN member and approved countries are eligible to apply for APN grants. Details of eligibility criteria are outlined in the CAPaBLE Guide for Proponents available in the APNIS supporting documentation.

Special consideration: APN reiterates the importance of enhancing support to, and engagement of, early career professionals (ECPs) in the Asia-Pacific region by providing a platform for ECPs to utilise their knowledge and innovative ideas to address regional issues related to global change and sustainability. Therefore, APN encourages applications from ECPs. Proposals submitted by ECPs that fulfil the eligibility criteria, or involve an ECP-majority project team will receive particular attention.

Restriction: Please note that APN does not support:

• The running costs of institutions and any taxes or statutory charges arising from the receipt and administration of the APN grant;
• The salaries of administrative staff; the salaries of researchers who receive or are to receive full-time salary support;
• The salaries of consultants (project leaders and collaborators should have the expertise to conduct the activities);
• The maintenance of long-term observation and monitoring systems; and
• General purpose equipment such as personal computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets or fixed office structures (desks, chairs, etc).

For further information, please refer to the APN Frequently Asked Questions on the APN Call for Proposals.

Submission Procedure

Proponents must submit a Summary Proposal under CAPaBLE by completing the submission form. The form must be completed and submitted by Monday, 30 November 2026, 23:59 Japan Standard Time. Applications will undergo a screening process performed by APN's Scientific Planning Group (SPG) and Capacity Development Committee (CDC), who will select successful proponents that will proceed to the next stage. All proponents are notified of the preliminary screening results by early March 2027.

Proponents who pass this stage will be invited to submit a Full Proposal for further consideration by the SPG and the CDC, external reviewers and APN stakeholders, as appropriate.