Introduction

APN promotes regional collaborative research that improves understanding of the physical, biological, and social, economic and governance aspects of change in the Earth system and advances actionable science that informs decision making. APN promotes regional collaborative research that improves understanding of the physical, biological and human dimensions of change in the Earth system and advances actionable science that informs decision making. APN is inviting Collaborative Regional Research Programme (CRRP) proposals for funding from 1 October 2027 that engage at least three (3) member/approved countries in the region and prioritise collaboratively codesigned, actionable research with non-academic stakeholders. Codesigned proposals must address one or more of the following activities:

• Codesigned collaborative research on global change and sustainability that addresses GAPS, ANALYSIS, SYNTHESIS and ASSESSMENT work.
• Codesigned collaborative research that contributes to 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.
• Codesigned collaborative research that develops PATHWAYS and MECHANISMS to achieve sustainable development, and develop adaptation strategies.
• Codesigned collaborative PLACE-BASED INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH, particularly from developing countries.

Priority Topics for Funding

APN’s subregional committees establish priority topics based on inputs from member countries in each of the APN's four subregions. This year, APN is inviting trans- and interdisciplinary scientific capacity development proposals focusing on the following themes 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: Ocean acidification; Coastal ecosystems; Blue carbon systems; Marine resource management

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. 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. 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. 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 countries and approved countries are eligible to apply for APN grants. Details of eligibility criteria are outlined in the CRRP Guide for Proponents, available on the APNIS system.

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 be given priority.

Restriction: Please note that APN does not support:

• The running costs of institutions;
• 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 Frequently asked questions

Submission Procedure

Proponents must complete the submission form and submit a Summary Proposal under CRRP by Monday, 30 November 2026, 23:59 Japan Standard Time. Applications will undergo a screening process conducted by APN's Scientific Planning Group (SPG), which will select successful proponents to proceed to the next stage. All proponents will be 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, external reviewers and APN stakeholders, as appropriate.