Call for Project Proposals
SEARCA Institutional Development Assistance (IDA) Program
For Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Southeast Asia
Deadline of submission: 15 June 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Empowering Institutions: The SEARCA IDA Program
The Institutional Development Assistance (IDA) program, implemented by the Education and Collective Learning (ECL) Department, is SEARCA’s flagship initiative for modernizing agricultural higher education in Southeast Asia. Through this program, SEARCA strengthens the capacity of academic institutions to be responsive, innovative, and globally competitive, while contributing directly to the Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia).
A Targeted, Proposal-Driven Approach
We recognize that institutions—particularly those in emerging growth areas—operate within distinct contexts, systems, and resource environments. For this reason, the IDA program moves beyond a "one-size-fits-all" approach to institutional development.
Instead, SEARCA adopts a demand-driven model by issuing calls for proposals focused on the specific forms of assistance that universities themselves identify as highly needed. This approach empowers institutions to chart their own transformation pathways by defining the support required to address local challenges, strengthen institutional capacities, and seize emerging regional opportunities.
Below are examples of IDA activities that SEARCA has conducted in the recent past:
Curriculum Innovation | Designing and implementing forward-thinking, industry-aligned educational programs. |
Institutional Strengthening | Enhancing governance, quality assurance, and assessment tools, while boosting digital literacy and international competitiveness. |
Staff Development | Investing in the continuous development of educators to ensure long-term improvements in the education system. |
Stakeholder Engagement | Building strong bridges among universities, local communities, and industry partners to apply academic research to real-world challenges. |
Eligible Applicants
Any agricultural higher education institution in Southeast Asia that does NOT belong to the top 500 in the 2026 QS World University Rankings for Agriculture and Forestry is eligible to apply.
- Applications from individuals will not be accepted
- Institutions with an existing IDA MOA with SEARCA (i.e., RUA, YAU, SKU, TUAF, and UNTL) need not apply
Submission Requirements
A formal letter from the Head of the Institution must be submitted via email to , together with the complete project proposal.
The submission should include:
Rationale for the proposed project
- Objectives
- Expected outputs
- Anticipated outcomes
- Detailed budget requirement
- Timeline of activities
- Organizational profile
Ideally, the project duration should be one to two years; if the timeline extends beyond a year, clear deliverables must be indicated for each year of the project.
The project proposal must not exceed 20 pages and should be formally addressed to:
Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla
Center Director
SEARCA
The following institutions have partnered with SEARCA for capacity building activities and projects under the IDA program:
Savannakhet University, Lao PDR
Savannakhet University (SKU) in Lao PDR was established in October 2009 and is strategically situated to cater to the demand for human resources needed to boost the economic development of Savannakhet, Khammouane, and Bolikhamxay provinces. These areas are located in the East-West economic corridor envisioned to link Vietnam and Myanmar through Lao PDR and Thailand.
Engagements under IDA:
- SEARCA to spearhead institutional development assistance to Savannakhet University, Lao PDR
- Laotian Vice Governor lauds SEARCA capacity-building initiatives for Savannakhet University
- Savannakhet University staff members receive SEARCA Scholarship
- In-country Training (i.e. Two-level English Course)
- Short Course on Utilization of Indigenous Crops to Strengthen Food Security
- Participation to SEARCA Learning Events
Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia
Founded by Prince Norodom Sihanouk in 1964, the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) is one of Cambodia's leading higher education institutions that develop human resources in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and related sciences as well as rural development.
Engagements under IDA:
- Mentoring Workshop on Strategic Planning, 20-22 August 2012
- In-country Training
- Scholarship Support for RUA Staff
- Short course on Water Resources Management for Smallholder Farmers
- Participation to SEARCA Learning Events
Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
Yezin Agricultural University (YAU), established in December 1924 as the Agricultural College and Research Institute of Mandalay, was Myanmar’s first and remains the country’s only institution of higher learning in agriculture, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
Engagements under IDA:
- Yezin Agricultural University and SEARCA Outline Next Steps to University's Advancement
- Short Course on General Education Program in Addressing Food Security
- Strategic Planning Workshop
- Development of a Curriculum on Agricultural Extension as a new Specialization in the Bachelor of Agricultural Science Program
- Scholarship Support for YAU staff
- Participation to SEARCA Learning Events
Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam
TUAF was established in 1969 as part of Thai Nguyen University and is one of the four leading national agricultural universities in Vietnam. It is also considered as a center for training, scientific research and technology transfer in agriculture, forestry, environmental and resource management, and rural development in the midland and northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam.
Engagements under IDA:
- SEARCA, TUAF sign memorandum of understanding for institutional cooperation
- SEARCA's IDA Program conducts training on communication skills
- Scholarship Support for TUAF staff
- Participation to SEARCA Learning Events
National University of Timor-Leste
The National University of Timor-Leste was established in 2000 after the country gained its independence. It is a nonprofit public higher education institution in Dili, Timor-Leste and is considered the largest university in the country.
Engagements under IDA:
- Short Course on Climate-Agriculture-Impact Modelling
- In-country Training/Conferences
- Participation on SEARCA’s Learning Events
- Scholarship Support for UNTL Staff
State Universities and Colleges – Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines, Inc. (SUC-ACAP)
A project with the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR) upgraded the institutional capacities of the State Universities and Colleges – Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines, Inc. (SUC-ACAP) members through short-term trainings, cross-visits as and participation in the University Consortium activities. All events and activities conducted under this project were by invitation only for SUC-ACAP member institutions.
Engagements under IDA:
Contact Information
For inquiries, please contact:
Education and Collective Learning - Graduate Scholarship and Institutional Development (ECL-GSID)
- +63 49 554-9330 to 39
- +63 49 536-2290
- +63 2 8657-1300 to 02 (local 2200 to 2203)