Explore is offering institutional grants to advance gender equity in learning, teaching and research. Grants of USD 15,000 to USD 25,000 support institutions in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Timor-Leste to address structural barriers and improve policies and practices.

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Summary
Explore is inviting applications for institutional grants to strengthen gender equity in learning, teaching and research. These grants support universities and research institutions in Cambodia (private institutions only), Lao PDR and Timor-Leste to address systemic gender barriers, improve institutional policies and practices, and create more inclusive and equitable academic environments.

The grants aim to catalyse long-term institutional change by supporting context-specific actions that address structural inequalities. Grants range from USD 15,000 to USD 25,000 and must be implemented over a nine-month period, ending February 2027.

Institutions in countries outside Cambodia, Lao PDR and Timor-Leste are not eligible under this call.
Rationale
Inequality in higher education and research systems remains a persistent challenge in Southeast Asia. A 2022 Explore study, ‘Gender inclusion in forest landscape governance research and education in Southeast Asia’, found that men continue to dominate leadership roles, shape decisions and define research priorities in forestry and forest governance education. Women faculty members, researchers and students, are often underrepresented, with notable exceptions in Thailand and the Philippines. These disparities limit opportunities for women to enter, advance and lead in forestry- and governance-related fields.

Structural barriers such as unequal access to leadership positions, gender-blind curricula, limited mentoring for early career women, and the absence of supportive policies contribute to unequal participation and representation. Institutions also face capacity constraints, including limited technical expertise on gender, lack of gender-disaggregated data and insufficient mechanisms to address harassment or discrimination.

The grant supports targeted, evidence-informed interventions that help institutions recognize and address these systemic inequalities and strengthen gender-responsive governance, teaching and research.
Objectives
The institutional grant aims to:

• support universities and research institutions to identify, analyse and address systemic gender inequalities in learning, teaching and research environments through context-specific, inclusive and sustainable institutional interventions
• strengthen institutional capacity and leadership commitment for gender equity by embedding inclusive policies, practices and structures that foster long-term organizational change
• encourage sustainable institutional change through improved policies, strengthened internal systems and inter-departmental collaboration
• promote documentation, peer learning and shared reflection across institutions within the Explore network

Scope of supported interventions
Applicant should propose actions that address institutional or structural barriers to achieving gender equality within their organizations, rather than only individual-level needs. Specific activities need to be tailored to each institution’s context and identified needs and resources. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• gender analysis – conducting or updating concerning gender gaps, needs and opportunities across learning, teaching, research and institutional culture
• policy and planning improvements – implementing efforts that address structural and policy-level changes needed for developing long-term gender mainstreaming or updating gender action plans; these include integrating gender considerations into curricula and teaching materials (e.g. ensuring course content or research guidance is gender-responsive)
• capacity building – conducting training programmes for faculty, administrators, department heads or gender focal points on gender awareness, analysis, inclusive teaching practices and gender-responsive leadership (selected “gender champions” in each department may be trained to support and mentor their peers; orientation programmes for new staff can also be updated to include components on gender equity)
• institutional mechanisms – establishing or strengthening gender committees, working groups or cross-departmental networks
• pilot support measures – conducting feasibility studies on childcare options, mentorship programmes, safe reporting channels or other mechanisms that reduce barriers for women and underrepresented groups

The above are examples that illustrate the breadth of possible interventions. Applicants are encouraged to design activities that reflect their institutional context, priorities and capacity.
Eligibility
We will accept applications from:

• universities or research institutions working on forestry, forest governance, environmental studies, social sciences, gender studies, law, economics or related fields
• institutions conducting forestry and forest governance-related research, academic programmes or teaching
• institutions seeking to strengthen institutional capacities, improve gender equality within their institutions and integrate gender into curricula and research
• public and private universities and research institutions in Lao PDR and Timor-Leste
• private universities and research institutions in Cambodia

Additional considerations
Institutions with a lower research profile, or those located near forest landscapes, are strongly encouraged to apply. Department-level proposals are fully eligible where they demonstrate institutional relevance and a clear pathway for broader institutional impact.

Applications must be complete and follow the template and submission requirements. Institutions must be able to provide required due diligence documents (registration/charter certificate, financial and administrative policies, tax certificate if applicable, audit reports for the last three years) before contracting.
Grant size and duration
Grant size: USD 15,000 to USD 25,000 depending on the scale of the intervention proposed

Implementation period: Nine months from contract signing date.

Co-funding: Institutions are encouraged to contribute up to 25 per cent in cash or in-kind. However, this is not a requirement and will not affect evaluation.
Application process
Eligible research institutions are requested to complete the application form, which collects essential eligibility and institutional information.

Applicants must also upload the full proposal using the provided template and a combined curriculum vitae file for all team members. The proposal template contains all narrative sections of the application.

The project coordinator must have working-level proficiency in English, as all communication, coordination and reporting for this grant will be conducted in English.

At the application stage, institutions must confirm that they can provide:

• registration or charter certificates
• financial and administrative policies
• tax certificates (if applicable)
• audit reports for the last three years

These documents are not required at submission but must be provided before the contract is signed.
Timelines
Grant selection

• 15 December 2025 – call for proposals open for Explore institutional grants
• 30 December 2025 – deadline for clarification questions; all queries are to be emailed to Explore.secretariat@recoftc.org with the subject ‘Institutional grant for gender equity’
• 9 January 2026 – online introduction workshop (registration required)
• 30 January 2026 – proposal submission deadline
• 15 March 2026 – notification of results
• 16 April 2026 – revised proposals due
• 16 May 2026 – contracts finalized

Grant implementation

• May 2026 – kick-off meetings with selected grantees to clarify grant objectives, processes and Explore’s reporting and financial guidelines
• June 2026 – finalize grant agreements and refine proposals, risk-management plans, workplans and budgets
• July 2026–March 2027 – grant implementation; ongoing support from Explore Secretariat; check-in meetings every six weeks to ensure progress and effective risk management; mid-term review (October 2026)
• April–May 2027 – closing activities and final narrative and financial reporting; submission of comprehensive final report documenting activities, results and lessons learned (a concluding virtual workshop or review meeting may be organized to reflect on achievements and discuss steps to sustain momentum beyond project period); submission of financial report and supporting documents

Selection process
Submitted proposals will be reviewed and scored by the Explore Secretariat (RECOFTC and CIFOR-ICRAF) and two additional RECOFTC experts. Recipients will be selected based on scores against the grant selection criteria outlined below and with additional considerations to ensure a balance of needs.

Shortlisted proposals will be presented to Explore’s governing body, the Programme Advisory Committee, for their approval and comments.
Grant selection criteria

1. Clarity of analysis of the gender equity problem – at the institutional level, particularly in learning, teaching and research in alignment with project goal
2. Relevance and feasibility of proposed activities – concerning identified issues, institutional context and realistic delivery of the nine-month work plan
3. Appropriateness of methods and strength of capacity building component – to address systemic gender inequality
4. Clarity and logic of the theory of change – showing clear links between activities, outcomes and intermediate to long-term impact and sustainability of the interventions
5. Appropriateness of the indicative budget – in relation to the proposed scope and activities

Grant administration
Arrangements
Explore administers implementation grants through a project coordinator/grant administrator, typically from a university or research institution. Grant administrators are responsible for receiving, disbursing, monitoring and reporting on the use of Explore funds. The Explore Secretariat selects the most cost-effective methods of transferring funds.

Grant administrators must submit their university/institute procurement and travel policies in English before the Explore Secretariat issues a partnership agreement or letter of agreement. This agreement specifies the total implementation grant amount, fund disbursement schedule and reporting requirements.

The grant can cover the salaries of team members based on the university or research institute’s actual salary and benefits structure, including health insurance.

Grant administration guidelines including allowable expenses and costs – activities, human resources and disbursement schedules – and reporting requirements will be shared with shortlisted candidates.
Explore
Explore is a research network and community of practice dedicated to expanding and applying knowledge on forest landscape governance in Southeast Asia. It is the only research network in the world focused on forest landscape governance.

Through multidisciplinary, participatory and inclusive multi-stakeholder approaches, Explore aims to contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change and other international and national commitments.

Explore emphasizes gender equality and social inclusion. Forty-two per cent of its advisory board members are women and it seeks equal representation of women researchers. The network also emphasizes transboundary collaboration and problem solving.

Launched in October 2020, Explore is funded by the Government of Sweden. RECOFTC hosts the network in partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and in collaboration with universities, research institutes, governments, civil society organizations, local communities and the private sector in Southeast Asia.

For more information on Explore, visit: https://www.recoftc.org/projects/explore
About the Explore CoP
Explore operates a community of practice (CoP) to support the Explore grant mechanism and foster interdisciplinary research on forest landscape governance. The CoP is hosted by the Agroecology Transformative Partnership Platform (Agroecology TPP).

The CoP is open to all applicants to Explore grants and interested stakeholders.

Explore welcomes universities and researchers, policymakers, practitioners, companies, donors, development institutions and representatives of forest communities to join and participate.

Detailed instructions on how to join the Explore CoP is available here.