Southeast Asia is home to many researchers and scientists whose work contribute to sustaining transformation of Southeast Asian agricultural systems through innovation is often stalled by limited start-up funding, which hinders the translation of promising research and training into scientific outputs that could be applied to promote agricultural development. SEARCA’s Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT) aims to bridge this gap. Grants of up to USD 15,000 will help worthy proposals secure long-term support.
Objectives
- 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.
- Expand SEARCA’s reach in terms of research, capacity building, and contributions to regional agricultural and rural development (ARD) knowledge.
Eligibility Guidelines
All proponents must:
Presentation of research results in at least one scientific forum/conference, whenever possible
Be a Southeast Asian national with at least a four-year degree and limited research start-up funds
Priority 1: SEARCA alumni, University Consortium faculty/staff, and SEARCA IDA participants
Priority 2: Staff of government or nonprofit development agencies, and agricultural university faculty outside the Consortium
Former SFRT grantees may re-apply if their previous grant concluded more than two years prior to their new application.
Propose a project that will strategically contribute to any of the following outcomes:
Increased farmers’ income
Improved food security and nutrition
Greater climate resilience of agricultural systems
Empowered farmers, farmer groups, and agricultural stakeholders and their institutions
Submit a project proposal that
Is an innovative concept accompanied by an appropriate plan for developing it into a potentially large-scale research/training program greatly relevant to the ARD needs of the region
Can be completed in one year or less
Shows a detailed plan for securing long-term funding
Has high potential to attract significant follow-on support
Specifies a strategy for disseminating results and policy recommendations to various stakeholders in appropriate modes
Submit the following as part of the project outputs:
At least one policy brief (following the prescribed format)
Final research report that can be published as a technical paper, as determined by the technical reviewer
