Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT)

Deadline: 31-Oct-2026

The Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT) provides grants of up to USD 15,000 to researchers and scientists in Southeast Asia developing innovative projects that can contribute to agricultural and rural development. The program addresses the lack of start-up funding that often prevents promising research ideas from becoming larger research or training initiatives. It supports innovative concepts with potential for future scale-up while also strengthening researchers’ skills in proposal development and project management. Projects should contribute strategically to outcomes such as increased farmers’ income, improved food security and nutrition, greater climate resilience of agricultural systems, and empowerment of farmers and agricultural stakeholders and their institutions. Applicants must submit their proposal through the Grants Information System, together with a letter of request, employer endorsement where applicable, project budget, certification of no concurrent research grant, and a research timetable of no more than one year. What Is the Seed Fund for Research and Training? The Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT) is designed to provide start-up funding to Southeast Asian researchers and scientists working on innovative ideas related to agricultural and rural development. Many promising research concepts fail to progress because researchers do not have access to the initial funding required to test, develop, or validate their ideas. SFRT seeks to address this funding gap by providing early-stage financial support for research and training initiatives with the potential to develop into larger programs. Why Was the SFRT Established? The program responds to a common challenge faced by researchers: limited access to start-up or seed funding. Researchers may have strong ideas but lack the financial resources needed to begin their work. Without initial funding, promising concepts may not reach the stage where they can attract larger research investments.

SFRT aims to:

- Provide start-up funds for promising research ideas. - Encourage innovative agricultural research. - Support rural development initiatives. - Help researchers develop projects with scale-up potential. - Strengthen proposal-development skills. - Build project-management capacity. - Create a pathway toward larger research or training programs. Main Goal of the Seed Fund The primary goal is to support researchers and scientists who can make significant contributions to Southeast Asia but lack the resources to implement their ideas. The program therefore combines financial support with capacity building. Grantees are expected to use the seed funding not only to carry out innovative research or training activities but also to strengthen their ability to develop competitive research proposals and manage projects effectively. Grant Amount

SFRT provides grants of up to:

USD 15,000 per project The funding is intended as start-up support for innovative concepts that have potential to grow into larger-scale research or training programs. Applicants should develop a realistic budget that clearly explains how the requested funds will contribute to the proposed project. What Types of Projects Are Supported? SFRT supports innovative research and training concepts relevant to agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia. Projects should have the potential to address important regional development challenges and generate meaningful outcomes for farmers, agricultural stakeholders, rural communities, or their institutions. The proposed concept should also have potential for further development into a larger research or training initiative. Increased Farmers’ Income One important outcome supported by the program is increasing farmers’ income. Projects should demonstrate how research, innovation, training, or related interventions can contribute to improved economic opportunities for farmers. Potential approaches may focus on developing solutions that improve agricultural productivity, market opportunities, livelihoods, or other factors influencing farmers’ income. Food Security and Nutrition SFRT also supports projects contributing to food security and nutrition. Applicants should demonstrate how their research or training initiative can help address food-related challenges affecting agricultural and rural communities in Southeast Asia. Projects should establish a clear connection between their proposed activities and improved food security or nutritional outcomes. Climate Resilience of Agricultural Systems Climate resilience is another strategic priority. Projects should contribute to strengthening the ability of agricultural systems to respond to climate-related challenges. Research and training concepts may focus on approaches that help farmers and agricultural stakeholders improve resilience and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Empowerment of Farmers and Agricultural Stakeholders SFRT places emphasis on the empowerment of farmers and other agricultural stakeholders. Projects should contribute to strengthening the ability of stakeholders and their institutions to participate effectively in agricultural and rural development. This may involve research, training, knowledge development, institutional strengthening, or other innovative approaches. Potential for Scale-Up A key characteristic of a strong SFRT proposal is its potential to become a larger-scale research or training program. The seed grant is intended to help researchers develop innovative concepts that can eventually attract additional support.

Applicants should therefore explain:

- Why the idea is innovative. - What problem it addresses. - Why start-up funding is needed. - What the initial project will demonstrate. - How the results could support future research. - How the concept could potentially be expanded. Capacity Building for Researchers SFRT is not only a funding mechanism. The program also aims to strengthen grantee