According to the cooperation agreement between the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the two parties will jointly fund Chinese and international scientists to conduct collaborative research. The research areas should focus on developing countries in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

I. Funding Areas

Project applications should focus on the areas of Ecosystem, Climate Change, and Resource Efficiency, and conduct in-depth research on the three major global challenges identified by UNEP’s medium-term strategic goals: climate change, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution. The aim is to provide scientific decision-making support for developing countries and regions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to collaboratively enhance the early warning capacity for environmental risks and systematic solutions.

Application Code 1 must be selected from the application codes under C03, D01, D05, and G0412. It is recommended to fill in the code to the last level. Applications that do not fill in the designated application Code 1 as required will not be accepted.

II. Funding Scale

Approximately 4 projects will be funded.

III. Funding amount

The funding amount is two million yuan per project, including expenses for research and international cooperation and exchange.

IV. Project duration

Projects are expected to start on January 1, 2026 and end on December 31, 2030, with a duration of five years.

V. Eligibility

According to the Measures for Fund Management of NSFC-Funded International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Programs and the consensus reached by all parties, applications for this program must meet the following requirements:

(1) The applicant should hold a senior professional and technical position (Professional Title), and should be the project leader of an NSFC project with a duration of three years or more (excluding cooperative and exchange projects).

(2) The applicant should establish contact with the relevant staff of UNEP and list the UNEP staff member as the foreign collaborator. Foreign participants may include researchers who are engaged in scientific research abroad, hold a professional and technical position (Professional Title) equivalent to associate professor or above in their home country (or location), and have experience in independently leading laboratories or important research projects. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with high-level researchers from developed countries.

(3) The number of Chinese cooperative research units shall not exceed two.

(4) For a detailed explanation of applicant requirements, please refer to the National Natural Science Fund Guide to Programs 2025.

VI. Contacts

Wang Lei, Rong Nianhe (NSFC)

Bureau of International Cooperation

Tel: +86-10-62328404, +86-10-62326998

E-mail: wanglei1@nsfc.gov.cn, rongnh@nsfc.gov.cn

For technical support (Information Center):

+86-10-62317474

Zhang Linxiu (UNEP)

Tel: 010-64889833

For more detailed information, such as regulations on restricted applications and application description, please visit https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/p1/3381/2824/94032.html.

Source: Bureau of International Cooperation,

National Natural Science Foundation of China