Call For SUMERNET PLUS “Scoping Study Grants”: Deadline 31 October 2025

CALL SUMMARY

Call Opens:  15 October 2025 

Proposal Deadline: 31 October 2025 at 23:59 Bangkok/Indochina Time 

Number of Grants:  Two grants available 

Grant Amount-Currency:  350,000 SEK (approximately 36,600 USD) per study 

Implementation Period:  Maximum 6 months upon contract signing 

IMPORTANT:  Proposals will ONLY be accepted through the online submission platform:  

SUBMISSION LINK

Scoping Study Grants

The Scoping Study Grants are the first type of grants launched under the SUMERNET PLUS programme. The grants are to support SUMERNET network members and partners in the Mekong Region who have a strong wish to conduct two strategic scoping studies that will inform future programme activities related to granting support, knowledge exchange and sharing, engagement strategies, innovations, boundary partners, communications and partnership as priority areas.  

Scoping study No.1 “Best Practice, Innovation and Pathways to Climate Resilience”. 

This study will take stock of SUMERNET over the past 20 years regarding the best practice and lessons learned on technical and social innovations for constructing innovative pathways to climate resilience over the next two decades. 

Scoping study No.2 “Mapping Key Actors, Priority Needs, and Strategic Engagement Opportunity for Climate Resilience”.  

This study will identify key actors, their priority needs in terms of policies and practice, and opportunities to cooperate in building climate resilience in the Mekong Region. 

Please find attached the TORs as pdfs below.

Selection Criteria  

Successful proposals must fulfill the following criteria: 

• Eligible Applicant: 
  • Following the donor’s policy, only the organizations (e.g. research institutes, universities, think tanks, non-profit organizations) from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam can apply. For Cambodia, the governmental agencies and other organizations registered as public entities including the public universities are NOT eligible.  
  • Project lead must be a formal member of SUMERNET network. [To become SUMERNET network member, please register here].  
  • Recipients of previous SUMERNET and Mekong Think Tank grants are strongly encouraged to apply.  
• Required Qualifications:  
  • Demonstrated experience in regional research and policy analysis 
  • Demonstrated experience in conducting similar studies in the Mekong Region 
  • Strong understanding of Mekong region development challenges 
  • Proven track record in stakeholder engagement 
  • Experience with climate resilience, sustainability, water management resources, community & policy engagement, and other areas related to SUMERNET PLUS 
  • Experience in integrating gender equality, disability and social inclusion and human rights based approach into climate and environmental research and studies.  
  • Financial management capacity for international grants with reporting standards 
• Desired Qualifications:  
  • Previous collaboration with SUMERNET or relevant networks 
  • Multi-country team composition 
  • Inclusion of young professionals (under 35 years) 
  • Gender-balanced research team members  
  • Experience with participatory research methods 
  • Past research experience with similar stakeholder engagement in the Mekong region 
  • Multi-country team that includes the talent individuals from diverse genders, Indigenous groups, people with diverse ethnicities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  

Proposals will be evaluated based on: 

• Technical Quality (40%) 
  • Clear understanding of study objectives 
  • Methodological rigour and appropriateness (including also integration of gender equality, disability and social inclusion into the design). 
  • Feasibility of proposed approach 
  • Innovation in research design
• Team Expertise (30%) 
  • Relevant experience and qualifications 
  • Team composition and complementary skills 
  • Track record in similar research in the Mekong Region 
  • Regional knowledge, networks and connections with the targeted stakeholders of scoping studies.    
• Impact Potential (15%) 
  • Expected contribution to SUMERNET PLUS objectives 
  • Policy relevance and uptake potential 
  • Stakeholder engagement strategy 
  • Sustainability of outcomes 
• Financial Management Capacity, Budget and Timeline (15%) 
  • Demonstrated organizational financial management capacity for international grants’ compliance and reporting 
  • Cost-effectiveness 
  • Realistic timeline 
  • Clear budget justification 
  • Value for money 

Note: To support granting decision, SUMERNET reserves the right to assess the track record of the applicants’ delivery and compliance of the past grants, projects and contracts (if any) with SUMERNET and SEI that the applicants have been involved as one of the key actors.  

Expected Outputs

For both Scoping Studies: 

1. Inception Report  (within 2 weeks of contract signing) 

2. Midterm Progress Report  (at 50% completion)  

3. Draft Final Report  (for review and feedback) 

4. Final Report  (incorporating feedback) 

Additional Requirements: 

• All reports in English 

• Executive summary  

• Raw data and analysis files 

• Stakeholder engagement documentation 

Tentative Timeline

• Call Launch: 15 October 2025 
• Proposal Deadline: 31 October 2025 
• Proposal Review Period: 1-10 November 2025 
• Meeting with Shortlisted Applicants (tbc): 10-15 November 2025 
• Proposal Refinement & Submission                        
• Grant Contract Template Review
• and Confirmation from Applicants: 16-25 November 2025        
• Final Proposal Review & Approval
• and Organizational Due Diligence Process: 25-30 November 2025                   
• Results Notification: 1 December 2025 
• Contract Signing: 15 December 2025 
• Project Start: Upon signing contract 
• Project Completion & Approval: Max. 6 months after signing of contract

How To Apply

Submission Process: 

1. Access the online platform: [SUBMISSION LINK] 

2. Create account & log in 

3. Complete application form 

4. Upload all required documents 

5. Submit before deadline of 31 October 2025

Important Notes

• Email submissions will NOT be accepted 

• Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed 

• Late submissions will NOT be considered 

• Lead organization can apply for ONE or more scoping study grants. However, only one grant can be awarded to the same lead organization. 

• Lead organization will enter into sub-grant agreement with SEI as the host of SUMERNET Secretariat.  

• An individual expert can be a project lead for only one scoping study.  

• SUMERNET reserves the right not to grant the shortlisted teams that cannot fulfill the expectations during the proposal refinement and due diligence processes.