Request for Proposals: Student Research Grant Program (Nepal)

Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), supported by the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), invites student applications for its Student Research Grant Program under the “Scaling up – Locally Led Nature Conservation Project (LNCP).” The program supports degree-related research that addresses conservation and community issues in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) and its buffer zone communities. The application deadline is 10 October 2026 (email submission). Opportunity at a Glance

- Provider: Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), supported by the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF)

- Opportunity type: Student research grant / call for proposals

- Project context: “Scaling up – Locally Led Nature Conservation Project (LNCP)”

- Geographic focus: Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) and its buffer zone communities, Nepal

- Eligible applicants: Nepali citizens enrolled in a BSc or MSc program at a recognized university

- Research requirement: Must be a mandatory component of the applicant’s academic degree

- Grant amount: Up to NPR 50,000 per selected project (applicable taxes deducted as per Government of Nepal regulations)

- Number of awards: Total of four (4) research projects

- Deadline: 10 October 2026 (applications must be submitted via email by this date; late submissions will not be considered)

- Submission method: Email (see “How to Apply”)

About the Opportunity

RRN is implementing the “Scaling up – Locally Led Nature Conservation Project (LNCP)” in and around Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP). Through this call, RRN seeks proposals for student-led academic research that can strengthen locally led nature conservation and related community outcomes in the project area. The selected student research should align with the project’s priority themes and contribute to biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive conservation practices. Funding and Benefits

- Financial support: Each selected project may receive up to NPR 50,000.

- Tax handling: Applicable taxes will be deducted in line with Government of Nepal regulations.

- Award limit: The program supports a total of four (4) research projects.

- Research outputs required after selection: - A final thesis report must be submitted to RRN, SNNP, and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) library. - Grantees must also provide a brief presentation of findings to RRN. Who Is Eligible?

The opportunity is open to:

- Applicants who are Nepali citizens - Applicants who are currently enrolled in a BSc or MSc program at a recognized university - Applicants whose proposed research is a mandatory component of their academic degree - Research must address issues within SNNP and its buffer zone communities The following are strongly encouraged to apply: - Female candidates - Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) - Local students from areas surrounding SNNP The source does not specify any additional eligibility exclusions beyond the requirements above. Applicants should review the official guidance on the opportunity page for any further conditions. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Proposals must address conservation and community-related issues and align with one or more of the priority research focus areas listed by RRN. Priority areas include: - Community-based conservation and sustainable livelihoods - Human-wildlife conflict and coexistence - Community-based fire management - GEDSI in conservation (Gender, Equality, Disability, Social Inclusion, and related dimensions) - Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices in natural resource conservation and management Research topics should also contribute to: - Strengthening locally led nature conservation - Biodiversity conservation - Sustainable livelihoods - Inclusive conservation practices in the project area Why This Opportunity Matters This grant supports degree-linked student research that is directly relevant to conservation programming in Nepal’s Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park landscape. By focusing on both ecological and community dimensions—such as livelihoods, coexistence, fire management, and locally grounded knowledge—the program aims to generate evidence that can support locally led nature conservation approaches in SNNP and surrounding communities. How to Apply - Prepare a complete research proposal in the specified format (see below for required structure and page limits). - Compile the application as a single PDF file containing: - Cover letter - Research proposal - Recent CV - Letter of recommendation from the academic supervisor - Email your application to the addresses provided below. - Ensure your submission is received no later than 10 October 2026. Late submissions will not be considered. Submission email addresses (as stated in the source): - [contact details removed] - hr@rrn.org.np Proposal format and length requirements (as stated in the source) The complete research proposal should include: - Title - Background and statement of problem - Rationale - Research hypothesis - Research questions - Research objectives - Review of literature - Methodology - Study area - Significance of the proposed research - Time frame and schedule - Budget and limitations of the study

Length limit: The document should not exceed eight to ten pages, excluding the cover and reference pages.

Formatting guidelines:

- 1.5-line spacing - 1-inch margins - 12-point Times New Roman font Official application source Application Tips or Common Mistakes

- Submit one PDF only: The source requires a single PDF file containing all listed documents (cover letter, proposal, CV, and supervisor recommendation).

- Stay within the page limit: Do not exceed eight to ten pages for the proposal content (excluding cover and references).

- Align clearly with priority areas: Selection emphasizes relevance to project objectives and conservation priorities—ensure the proposal directly addresses one or more stated priority research focus areas.