Request for Applications: SEARCA Travel Grant Program

Deadline: 30-Nov-2026

The SEARCA Travel Grant provides up to USD 1,200 to eligible Southeast Asian professionals, social scientists, and graduate students to participate in or present papers at scientific conferences related to agricultural and rural development. The grant supports knowledge sharing, research collaboration, networking, and partnerships that can contribute to sustainable agricultural transformation in Southeast Asia. Funding can cover eligible conference-related expenses, including registration, airfare, accommodation, local transportation, meals not provided by the event, and visa application fees.

About the SEARCA Travel Grant

The travel grant is designed to support the dissemination of scientific knowledge that can contribute to the sustainable transformation of agricultural systems in Southeast Asia. The programme encourages researchers and professionals to share research findings, exchange knowledge, develop institutional connections, and establish partnerships that can address important agricultural and rural development challenges. Priority is given to applicants presenting papers at relevant scientific conferences, although applications for conference participation may also be considered when the main purpose is networking and collaboration.

Objectives of the SEARCA Travel Grant

The programme aims to:

- Promote the dissemination of scientific knowledge related to agriculture and rural development. - Support innovation in Southeast Asian agricultural systems. - Encourage dialogue among researchers and institutions. - Facilitate research collaboration and knowledge exchange. - Foster partnerships across the region. - Contribute to increased farmers’ income. - Support improved food security and nutrition. - Promote greater climate resilience in Southeast Asian agricultural systems. Who Can Apply? The grant is available to nationals of Southeast Asian countries who are working or studying in agriculture and related fields.

Eligible applicants may include:

- Agriculture professionals. - Social scientists. - Graduate students. - Researchers working in agriculture or related disciplines. - Professionals from eligible nonprofit development-oriented institutions. - Graduate students studying at agricultural universities.

Priority may be given to:

- SEARCA fellows. - SEARCA alumni. - SEARCA researchers. - SEARCA affiliates. Regular staff members of nonprofit development-oriented institutions and graduate students at agricultural universities may also be eligible. Eligible Southeast Asian Countries Applicants must be nationals of one of the following Southeast Asian countries: - Brunei Darussalam - Cambodia - Indonesia - Lao PDR - Malaysia - Myanmar - Philippines - Singapore - Thailand - Timor-Leste - Vietnam What Does the Travel Grant Support? The SEARCA Travel Grant can support eligible expenses associated with attending a relevant scientific conference.

Supported costs may include:

- Conference registration fees. - Airfare. - Accommodation. - Local transportation. - Meals that are not covered by the conference or event. - Visa application fees. The total grant amount can be up to USD 1,200. Applicants should provide a clear budget showing how the requested funding will be used. Priority for Paper Presentations Priority is given to applicants who will present a research paper at a relevant scientific conference. Paper presentations provide an opportunity for researchers to: - Disseminate research findings. - Receive feedback from other researchers. - Share innovative approaches. - Build professional networks. - Develop potential research collaborations. - Increase the visibility of agricultural and rural development research. The programme may also consider applications from individuals attending conferences primarily for networking and collaboration purposes. Networking and Collaboration Conference participation does not have to be limited to presenting research. The programme also recognizes the value of scientific meetings as opportunities to establish relationships among researchers, institutions, and development-oriented organisations. Applicants seeking support primarily for networking or collaboration should clearly explain: - Why attending the conference is important. - Which institutions or researchers they expect to engage with. - What collaboration opportunities may result. - How the participation could benefit agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia. Where applicable, applicants should provide evidence of ongoing negotiations or invitations related to potential collaboration. Application Requirements Applicants must submit their applications online through the SEARCA Grants Information System. Required application documents may include: - Letter of interest. - Recommendation letter. - Summary of the research paper. - Letter of acceptance. - Conference programme. - Detailed budget breakdown. - CV for applicants who are not presenting a paper. - Proof of ongoing negotiations or invitations for collaboration, where applicable. Applicants should make sure that all supporting documents are complete and clearly demonstrate the relevance of the proposed conference participation. Letter of Interest The letter of interest should explain why the applicant is seeking travel support and how participation in the conference relates to their professional, academic, or research work.

Applicants should highlight:

- The purpose of attending the conference. - The relevance of the conference to agriculture or rural development. - Whether they will present a paper. - The expected benefits of participation. - Potential networking or collaboration opportunities. Paper and Conference Documents Applicants presenting a paper should provide a summary of the research paper and evidence that the paper has been accepted for presentation. The conference programme should also be provided to demonstrate the relevance and timing of the event. These documents help establish that the