CEPF Opens Second Round of Indo-Burma Biodiversity Grants, Offering Up to US$250,000 per Project

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have opened a new call for conservation projects in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. Applications are open until 2 November 2026. The call is aimed at civil society groups working on threatened species, wildlife trade and community-led conservation.

What Is the CEPF Indo-Burma Grant Call?

The call invites Letters of Inquiry (LOIs), the first stage of the application process, from local and international non-governmental organisations. Community groups, Indigenous peoples’ organisations, women’s groups and private companies may also apply. Individuals must work through a registered organisation rather than apply directly.

The Indo-Burma Hotspot covers the non-marine areas of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, along with parts of southern China. Projects must be located within this boundary. The call opened on 28 September 2026.

Three Funding Priorities

Strategic Direction 1: Safeguarding Threatened Species

This priority supports projects that reduce major threats to globally threatened species and restore wild populations. Eligible species are those listed in the hotspot’s Ecosystem Profile, which include the Saola, the Hainan Gibbon, the Mekong Giant Catfish and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Funding can support long-term monitoring, species reintroduction, community species champions and research into poorly understood species. Applicants are encouraged to build the capacity of domestic civil society organisations.

Strategic Direction 2: Tackling Wildlife Trade and Health Risks

This priority addresses illegal wildlife trade, unsustainable consumption and disease spillover risks at the wildlife–livestock–human interface, using a One Health framework. Eligible work includes helping enforcement agencies investigate trafficking networks and coordinating enforcement, health and environment agencies. It also covers working with online platforms to curb wildlife trafficking, demand-reduction campaigns, and research on links between biodiversity loss and zoonotic diseases.

Strategic Direction 9: Strengthening Civil Society

This priority supports the organisational development of civil society groups working on biodiversity, communities and livelihoods. The call covers three investment priorities: organisational support (9.2), matching technical expertise with community needs (9.3), and start-up funding for new grassroots and Indigenous-led groups (9.4). Projects under this direction must integrate gender considerations and show strategies to promote equitable access to capacity building.

Grant Sizes, Eligibility and Deadlines

Small grants go up to US$50,000, and large grants range from US$50,000 to US$250,000. Eligible countries are Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The deadline is 11:59 PM Indochina Time on 2 November 2026, and late submissions will be rejected.

Grants cannot be used to buy land, alter cultural heritage sites, relocate people or capitalise trust funds. All activities must follow CEPF’s social and environmental safeguards.

How to Apply

Small-grant applicants submit an offline LOI template by email to the IUCN team. Projects should run 12 to 24 months and start no earlier than 1 April 2027. Small-grant LOIs are accepted in seven regional languages, including Burmese, Chinese, Khmer, Lao, Thai and Vietnamese.

Large-grant applicants apply through CEPF’s online ConservationGrants portal, using reference IBIV-LG-2026-02. Projects should run 12 to 36 months and start no earlier than 1 March 2027. Large-grant LOIs are accepted in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Shortlisted large-grant applicants will present to a Technical Review Committee in November 2026. Successful applicants get four weeks to prepare a full proposal and can attend a proposal development workshop.

How Proposals Will Be Judged

Reviewers will favour projects that closely fit the eligible priorities and are likely to achieve lasting results. They will also weigh whether a project builds on past initiatives, offers good value for money and shows the institutional capacity to deliver. Gender-responsive projects get preference. Applicants are encouraged to show how their work supports the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan.

Conclusion

The call combines species protection, wildlife-crime prevention and civil society strengthening in one of the world’s most threatened biodiversity regions. Its focus on One Health and on grassroots organisations reflects a view that conservation, public health and community livelihoods are linked. With grants of up to US$250,000 and no restriction on past CEPF funding, the call is open to both established and new organisations.

Way Forward

Eligible organisations should read the Ecosystem Profile, check their project against the priority species list and contact the IUCN Regional Implementation Team before submitting. IUCN is hosting online information sessions in early October, with details on its Asia social media channels. Future calls will be announced on the CEPF and IUCN websites.