Economics of Climate Risks, Natural Resource Use, and Environmental Change The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE), a research capacity and academic leadership initiative under the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), has announced its Call for Research Concept Notes for 2026. This call focuses on advancing empirical research at the intersection of economic development, climate risks, natural resource use, and environmental change across South Asia and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. Concept notes must be submitted by 31 December 2025. About SANDEE and ICIMOD SANDEE operates as part of ICIMOD’s continued efforts for 2023–2026 to work towards its vision for 2030: a greener, more inclusive, and climate-resilient Hindu Kush Himalaya. ICIMOD’s strategy is structured around three core areas: Climate and Environmental Risks Resilient Economies and Landscapes Regional Action and Global Advocacy SANDEE supports early-career researchers and institutions across South Asia and the HKH region, strengthening empirical research, fostering interdisciplinary thinking, and building an evidence-based science-policy interface. Its grants provide an opportunity to contribute to high-quality research with real policy relevance. Priority Research Areas Submitted concept notes must address pressing environmental and resource economics challenges linked to development in South Asia and the HKH region. Projects that explicitly respond to demonstrated policy needs or demands are strongly encouraged. Research topics must align with ICIMOD’s strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Risks Projects may explore the economics of cryosphere change and related hazards; multi-hazard disaster risks; and nature-based solutions for disaster risk reduction. Proposals can also focus on disaster-risk financing, sustainable river basin management—including irrigation, drinking water, hydropower, and upstream-downstream interactions—and air pollution, including data gaps, health impacts, policy analysis, and communication strategies. Resilient Economies and Landscapes This area prioritises research on sustainable and climate-resilient mountain livelihoods. Topics may include the economics of Yak/Chauri herding, rangeland management, nature-based entrepreneurship, agroecological transitions, sustainable tourism, renewable energy, and the cost-benefit analysis of nature-based housing materials. Other areas include policies supporting green, circular livelihoods; valuation of ecosystem conservation mechanisms; human-wildlife coexistence; and the economics of springshed and wetlands management. Regional Action and Global Advocacy Research in this area assesses the influence of regional and global climate and biodiversity policies at national and local levels. Relevant themes include adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage, biodiversity conservation, access and benefit-sharing with Indigenous peoples, and the role of NAPs, NDCs and NBSAPs in regional climate action and finance. Proposals may integrate issues that overlap with the previous two focus areas. Eligibility Criteria SANDEE invites applications from professionals working in South Asia and the HKH region, including academics, researchers, and practitioners. Women professionals are especially encouraged to apply. Concept notes must demonstrate a strong economic analytical framework and should have the potential to contribute to both scientific literature and policy influence. To maintain research integrity, applicants with immediate relatives working or consulting for ICIMOD are not eligible. Principal investigators must be junior or mid-career professionals with institutional affiliation. Senior-level professionals such as professors and directors are not eligible to serve as principal investigators. SANDEE encourages interdisciplinary and cross-border collaborations, provided that roles and responsibilities within teams are clearly defined. Grant Size and Duration Research grants will typically range from USD 20,000 to 30,000 over a two-year period. Higher-value grants will be awarded to multidisciplinary teams, multi-country collaborations, or projects addressing complex transboundary issues. Application Process Applicants must submit their concept notes online via the application portal:https://forms.icimod.org/regional-action/sandee-call-for-research-concept-notes-summer-2026/ Concept notes that meet eligibility and selection criteria will be reviewed by SANDEE’s panel. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to prepare full proposals, which undergo multiple rounds of rigorous review. Finalists will present and defend their proposals during SANDEE’s Summer 2026 Research and Training Workshop. Additional Information ICIMOD may cancel or postpone the call depending on funding availability. Queries about technical issues with the submission platform may be sent to sandee@icimod.org. SANDEE’s work is grounded in its commitment to building regional research capacity, promoting gender inclusion, and strengthening evidence-based policymaking across South Asia and the HKH region. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the seeking organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.