Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT)

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:

1. 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.
2. 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
3. Submit a project proposal that
   1. 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
   2. Can be completed in one year or less
   3. Shows a detailed plan for securing long-term funding
   4. Has high potential to attract significant follow-on support
   5. Specifies a strategy for disseminating results and policy recommendations to various stakeholders in appropriate modes
4. Submit the following as part of the project outputs:
   1. At least one policy brief (following the prescribed format)
   2. Final research report that can be published as a technical paper, as determined by the technical reviewer
   3. Presentation of research results in at least one scientific forum/conference, whenever possible

How to Submit Proposals

1. New applicants must register through the Grants Information System to create an account.
2. Once registered, fill out the online form and upload a copy of all required documents.
3. Complete the online form and upload the following documents in English:
   1. Letter of request addressed to the SEARCA Center Director;
   2. Official endorsement from the employer (if employed);
   3. Budgetary requirement for the entire project proposal;
   4. Letter from the applicant certifying that he/she is not receiving any other research grant from any other institution. If partial funding has been obtained from other sources, the applicant must submit a certification from the funding agency indicating the grant amount and items covered by the grant, as well as proof that there will be no conflict with the funding agency when applying for another funding; and
   5. Research timetable indicating the activities involved in the research and the expected date of completion which should not exceed one year.
4. Download the full guidelines on proposal format and required documents (PDF). Only proposals submitted with complete and correctly formatted documents through the Grants Information System will be evaluated.
5. For upload issues, contact the SFRT secretariat through via

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Timeline and Process Flow

All applications should be received by SEARCA not later than 31 October of every year.