With the theme “Water security: improving knowledge systems, governance and regional cooperation“, APN’s Proposal Development Training Workshop (PDTW), covering the Southeast Asia (SEA) region, will be held from 22 to 26 May 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. The training workshop is designed to enhance the capacity of young scientists and practitioners in the SEA region to develop competitive project proposals for funding.

Considering limited financial resources and the numbers that can be accommodated for an effective workshop, participants will be selected on a “first come, first served” basis. For this reason, we encourage those interested in submitting their application before 24 March 2023, Friday 23:59:59 JST.

A. Main Theme

The main theme of the workshop will be Water security: improving knowledge systems, governance and regional cooperation, with the following sub-themes:

1. Food-Water-Energy nexus management for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
2. Impact of extreme events in the urban or rural context in Southeast Asia
3. Nature-based solutions for enhancing water and food security in Southeast Asia
4. Climate smart agriculture in Southeast Asia

B. Structure of the Workshop

The training workshop and other networking activities will be for five full days, with the tentative schedule outlined below.

• Day 1: Introductory session and interactive lecture-based activities
• Day 2: Hands-on proposal writing and peer-review
• Day 3: Group presentations and mentor feedback, and Early-career professional networking session
• Day 4: Tour of AIT water research facilities and Interactive local field trip with senior researchers and policymakers
• Day 5: Training workshop on WATSAT water security and assessment tool

C. Participation

The PDTW is open to early-career professionals (researchers/practitioners) from Southeast Asia and working in the areas related to the workshop’s main theme. For this reason, applicants requiring funding support will ONLY be accepted from early-career professionals who are from, living and working in APN member countries of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Young scientists/practitioners who wish to submit applications on a self-funded basis may do so and should be working in an area related to the topic and the focus should be Southeast Asia, although he/she may be from any APN member or approved country.

D. Eligibility and Procedures

1. Applicant must be an early-career scientist/practitioner 40 years of age and under (students/research assistants and post-docs are encouraged).
2. Applicant should be working in areas of, or have academic experience related to, the workshop’s main topic.
3. Applicant must be one of the following:
   • An undergraduate degree holder with five years of related working experience;
   • A postgraduate working towards a PhD or Master’s degree;
   • A Master’s degree holder with two years of related work experience;
   • A PhD degree holder; or
   • A postdoctoral student.
4. Applicant must currently be affiliated with an academic or national/regional research institution.
5. Applicant must have a good working knowledge of the English language.
6. Applicant must provide letter of recommendation from their supervisor and a motivation essay.
7. Successful applicants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
8. Applicants applying on a self-funded basis can be within or outside the sub-region, but their area of work must be related to the theme of the workshop and the geographical scope of work must be in Southeast Asia. The applicant must be from one of APN’s member/approved countries.

E. Application Process

Interested persons should complete the four steps outlined below.

1. Complete and submit the online application form for the PDTW through the APN website
   • APN funded: https://www.apn-gcr.org/apnis/public/events/23/register?af=1
   • Self-funded: https://www.apn-gcr.org/apnis/public/events/23/register
2. Submit a short motivation essay (300-400 words). The best essay will address the following questions in a narrative style:
   • How will this training workshop be important in your career development and what are the expected impacts?
   • What is your research interest(s)?
   • What is your motivation for undertaking regional-based research?
   • Indicate which of the 4 sub-themes you are interested in (select at least two and place in order of preference)
3. Submit resume/CV (maximum 2 pages) with minimum details: Full name, Nationality Date of Birth, Gender, Current Affiliation, Education/Employment history
4. Submit a letter of recommendation from your supervisor indicating:
   • Endorsement to attend the workshop
   • How will the training workshop benefit the trainee’s research career?
   • Commitment and consent as the supervisor of the trainee to encourage the trainee to submit regional-based proposals (to APN or other funding bodies) and/or become engaged in regional-based research.

F. Sponsorship

1. A maximum of 25 early-career scientists and practitioners will be selected for the training workshop. Based on the financial resources available, APN will be in a position to financially support a minimum of 14 early-career scientists/practitioners.
2. From each sub-regional member country and approved country (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam), a minimum of two early-career professionals will be selected as recipients of APN financial support.
3. Sponsorship for successful applicants will cover the cost of an economy-class air ticket, accommodation, meals and local transportation.
4. There is no registration fee to participate in this workshop.

G. Application Deadline: 24th March 2023, 23:59 (JST)

Additional Information

• Participants of the workshop will be provided with breakfast and lunch during the event.
• Participants who have previously attended PDTWs are ineligible to apply for this training activity.
• Participants are required to commit to attending the full five-days of events to gain the maximum benefit from the program.

For additional queries, please contact the APN Secretariat via email to Dr Linda Anne Stevenson ([email protected]) and Dr Nafesa Ismail ([email protected]).