APFNet Call for Projects 2026 (First Call under the Fourth Strategic Plan 2026-2030)

The APFNet Call for Projects 2026 is the first funding round under APFNet's Fourth Strategic Plan (2026-2030), ending a three-year pause. APFNet, a non-profit international body founded in 2008, works to advance sustainable forest management and restoration across the Asia-Pacific region. This call focuses on innovative responses to pressing environmental and social issues in forestry, supporting efforts that contribute to climate action, biodiversity protection, and inclusive livelihoods for forest-dependent communities.

Priority areas include practical field demonstrations and capacity building. Field projects may address forest-landscape restoration, climate-smart forestry, biodiversity conservation, and digital forestry tools such as AI, drones, and remote sensing. Capacity building efforts target human and institutional strengths through training, scholarships, institutional assessments, technical support, and regional peer exchanges, enabling knowledge sharing across member economies. The programme seeks measurable gains in both environmental health and socio-economic conditions throughout the region.

• Identify Representative: Begin by identifying your country's APFNet Council Representative, a government-appointed national focal point. Contact this individual, as their involvement is required.
• Secure Endorsement: Collaborate with the national focal point to obtain their official endorsement of your project concept. This step is compulsory.
• Prepare Concept Note: Utilise APFNet's designated concept-note template, accessible on their information page, to draft a comprehensive concept note covering project objectives, methodology, anticipated outcomes, and budget.
• Submit Concept Note: Send the endorsed concept note via email to projectsubmission@apfnet.cn before the specified deadline.
• Await Shortlisting: APFNet evaluates all submitted concept notes. Only those shortlisted receive an invitation to continue.
• Prepare Full Proposal: Upon invitation, craft a detailed full proposal in line with APFNet's guidelines for thorough project planning.
• Submit Full Proposal: Submit the full proposal by the invited deadline, which generally falls after the concept note deadline.

Concept notes are first screened for alignment with APFNet's Fourth Strategic Plan, thematic priorities, feasibility, and likely impact. A key requirement at this stage is prior endorsement from the applicant's country's APFNet Council Representative, which confirms national relevance and government backing. Only notes that clear this initial review proceed to the shortlist.

Shortlisted applicants are then asked to submit a detailed full proposal. A selection committee evaluates these proposals on technical merit, budget justification, implementation approach, monitoring and evaluation framework, and the applicant organisation's capacity. The final decision rests on the overall strength of the proposal and its expected contribution to APFNet's goals.