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.<\/p>\n
Join Explore network<\/a><\/p>\n Summary 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.<\/p>\n Institutions in countries outside Cambodia, Lao PDR and Timor-Leste are not eligible under this call. 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.<\/p>\n The grant supports targeted, evidence-informed interventions that help institutions recognize and address these systemic inequalities and strengthen gender-responsive governance, teaching and research. Scope of supported interventions 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. Additional considerations Applications must be complete and follow the\u00a0template<\/a>\u00a0and 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. Implementation period: Nine months from contract signing date.<\/p>\n 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. Applicants must also upload the full proposal using the provided\u00a0template<\/a>\u00a0and a combined curriculum vitae file for all team members. The proposal\u00a0template<\/a>\u00a0contains all narrative sections of the application.<\/p>\n The project coordinator must have working-level proficiency in English, as all communication, coordination and reporting for this grant will be conducted in English.<\/p>\n At the application stage, institutions must confirm that they can provide:<\/p>\n These documents are not required at submission but must be provided before the contract is signed. Grant implementation<\/p>\n Selection process Shortlisted proposals will be presented to Explore\u2019s governing body, the Programme Advisory Committee, for their approval and comments. Grant administration 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.<\/p>\n The grant can cover the salaries of team members based on the university or research institute\u2019s actual salary and benefits structure, including health insurance.<\/p>\n Grant administration guidelines including allowable expenses and costs \u2013 activities, human resources and disbursement schedules \u2013 and reporting requirements will be shared with shortlisted candidates. 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For more information on Explore, visit:\u00a0https:\/\/www.recoftc.org\/projects\/explore<\/a>
\nExplore 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.<\/p>\n
\nRationale
\nInequality in higher education and research systems remains a persistent challenge in Southeast Asia. A 2022 Explore study, \u2018Gender inclusion in forest landscape governance research and education in Southeast Asia<\/a>\u2019, 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.<\/p>\n
\nObjectives
\nThe institutional grant aims to:<\/p>\n\n
\nApplicant 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\u2019s context and identified needs and resources. Examples include, but are not limited to:<\/p>\n\n
\nEligibility
\nWe will accept applications from:<\/p>\n\n
\nInstitutions 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.<\/p>\n
\nGrant size and duration
\nGrant size: USD 15,000 to USD 25,000 depending on the scale of the intervention proposed<\/p>\n
\nApplication process
\nEligible research institutions are requested to complete the\u00a0application form<\/a>, which collects essential eligibility and institutional information.<\/p>\n\n
\nTimelines
\nGrant selection<\/p>\n\n
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\nSubmitted 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.<\/p>\n
\nGrant selection criteria<\/p>\n\n
\nArrangements
\nExplore 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.<\/p>\n
\nExplore
\nExplore 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.<\/p>\n
\nAbout the Explore CoP
\nExplore 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<\/a>).<\/p>\n