Call for Proposals: Student Research Grant Program
Deadline: 10th October, 2026
Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) supported by the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF), is implementing the “Scaling up – Locally Led Nature Conservation Project (LNCP)” in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) and its buffer zone communities.
Under this project, RRN invites applications from students pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Forestry, Environmental Science, Biological Sciences, Social Science, or related fields to conduct academic research addressing key conservation and community-related issues within SNNP and its buffer zone communities.
The proposed research should be aligned with one or more of the priority research focus areas outlined below and contribute to strengthening locally led nature conservation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive conservation practices in the project area.
The proposed research should contribute to one or more priority areas of the project, including community-based conservation and sustainable livelihoods, human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, community-based fire management, GEDSI in conservation, and indigenous knowledge and traditional practices in natural resource conservation and management.
Each selected project will be eligible to receive up to NPR 50,000 in financial support, with applicable taxes deducted as per the Government of Nepal’s regulations. The grant is available for a total of four research projects, providing essential financial backing for students conducting degree-related studies in conservation and sustainable resource management.
Eligible applicants must be Nepali citizens currently enrolled in a BSc or MSc program at a recognized university. The proposed research must also be a mandatory component of the applicant’s academic degree. Selected grantees will be required to submit a final thesis report to RRN, SNNP, and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) library, followed by a brief presentation of their findings to RRN.
The complete research proposal should follow a specific format, including a 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. The document should not exceed eight to ten pages, excluding the cover and reference pages, and must adhere to the formatting guidelines of 1.5-line spacing, 1-inch margins, and 12-point Times New Roman font.
Applicants are required to submit a single PDF file containing a cover letter, the research proposal, a recent CV, and a letter of recommendation from their academic supervisor. The selection committee will evaluate proposals based on their relevance to project objectives, conservation priorities, and the clarity of research design and methodology. Female candidates, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), and local students from areas surrounding SNNP are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications must be submitted via email by 10th October, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
