Opportunity Information: Apply for 2017 EAP BKREO
The Regional Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Program for Northeast and Southeast Asia is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered through the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (EAP), in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). It funds small, practical environmental projects in selected countries in Southeast Asia and nearby areas, with program management handled by the OES Regional ESTH Officer based in Bangkok. The overall intent is to support local and regional efforts that deliver clear, on-the-ground environmental benefits, while also strengthening capacity, cooperation, and technical approaches to shared environmental challenges.
Project activities are restricted to a defined set of eligible countries: Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Proposals must be designed so that the actual work happens in one or more of those locations. The award type is a discretionary grant, and the funding is intended for small-scale initiatives rather than large infrastructure or multi-year programs. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is USD 24,999, and the program anticipated making about four awards under this announcement.
The opportunity focuses on a broad but clearly defined set of environmental priority areas. Projects can address food security topics, including agriculture and fisheries, especially where environmental conditions and resource management affect livelihoods and access to food. Sustainable economic development is another core theme, meaning projects should ideally connect environmental protection with durable economic benefits such as improved resource efficiency, more resilient community livelihoods, or environmentally responsible local industries. Adaptation to changing environmental conditions is explicitly encouraged, including work like coastal management and other measures that help communities and ecosystems cope with climate- and environment-related stresses.
Waste management is a major area of interest, with specific mention of marine litter, which makes projects related to plastics reduction, waste collection systems, community behavior change, and prevention of leakage into waterways especially relevant. Air quality is another eligible focus, which could include monitoring, mitigation strategies, public awareness, or local policy and technical capacity that reduces pollution exposure. Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are also central priorities, including efforts that protect habitats, improve ecosystem management, and support conservation outcomes. The announcement specifically highlights the creation and/or management of marine protected areas, signaling strong interest in coastal and marine conservation initiatives that are implementable at a small scale and can demonstrate measurable improvements in management effectiveness.
Beyond direct environmental management, the program also supports education and capacity building. Environment- or health-related education projects are eligible, particularly those aimed at underserved groups, which suggests the program values equity in access to environmental information, training, and risk reduction. Capacity building for scientific research on environmental issues is another eligible area, including activities that strengthen local institutions, researchers, monitoring systems, data collection methods, or applied research skills. Finally, the development of new technology for environmental applications is included, which can cover testing or adapting tools that help solve local environmental problems, provided the project scope and budget fit the small-grants format.
A wide range of applicants are eligible, reflecting the program's intent to attract strong project ideas from multiple sectors. Eligible applicants include independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (as defined in the eligibility list); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; individuals; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. This broad eligibility means proposals can come from academic teams, community-based organizations, NGOs, educators, researchers, private-sector implementers, or individuals with the expertise and local partnerships to deliver results.
Administratively, the opportunity is issued by the Department of State under Funding Opportunity Number "2017 EAP BKREO" and is cataloged under CFDA 19.124. It was originally posted on May 9, 2017, with an original closing date of June 9, 2017. Even if the specific deadline has passed, the structure of the announcement clearly describes the program model: small, targeted grants supporting practical environmental action in the listed countries, aligned to priority themes like food security, sustainable development, adaptation, waste and marine litter, air quality, biodiversity and marine protection, education for underserved communities, scientific capacity building, and environmental technology development.Apply for 2017 EAP BKREO
- The Department of State in the environment, food and nutrition, health, natural resources, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Program for Northeast and Southeast Asia" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.124.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 09, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 09, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $24,999.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Regional Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Program for Northeast and Southeast Asia?
It is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity that funds small, practical environmental projects in selected countries in Southeast Asia and nearby areas. The overall intent is to support local and regional efforts that deliver clear, on-the-ground environmental benefits while strengthening capacity, cooperation, and technical approaches to shared environmental challenges.
Which U.S. government offices are involved in this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (EAP), in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES).
Who manages the program regionally?
Program management is handled by the OES Regional ESTH Officer based in Bangkok.
What type of funding is this?
This opportunity provides a discretionary grant.
Is this program meant for large projects or small projects?
The funding is intended for small-scale initiatives rather than large infrastructure or multi-year programs.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is USD 24,999.
How many awards are expected to be made?
About four awards were anticipated under this announcement.
Where must project activities take place?
Proposals must be designed so that the actual work happens in one or more of the eligible countries listed in the announcement.
Which countries are eligible locations for project activities?
Eligible countries are Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Can a project include activities outside the eligible countries?
The announcement states that proposals must be designed so that the actual work happens in one or more of the eligible countries. Project activities are restricted to that defined set of locations.
What are the main program goals?
The program aims to deliver clear, on-the-ground environmental benefits and to strengthen capacity, cooperation, and technical approaches to shared environmental challenges at the local and regional level.
What environmental topics or priority areas are eligible?
The announcement identifies several priority areas, including food security (agriculture and fisheries), sustainable economic development, adaptation to changing environmental conditions, waste management (including marine litter), air quality, biodiversity and healthy ecosystems (including marine protected areas), environment- or health-related education for underserved groups, capacity building for scientific research, and development of new technology for environmental applications.
What kinds of food security projects are relevant under this program?
Food security topics are eligible, including agriculture and fisheries, especially where environmental conditions and resource management affect livelihoods and access to food.
How does the program connect environmental work with economic outcomes?
Sustainable economic development is a core theme, meaning projects should ideally connect environmental protection with durable economic benefits such as improved resource efficiency, more resilient community livelihoods, or environmentally responsible local industries.
Are climate and environmental adaptation projects encouraged?
Yes. Adaptation to changing environmental conditions is explicitly encouraged, including work like coastal management and other measures that help communities and ecosystems cope with climate- and environment-related stresses.
Is waste management an eligible focus area?
Yes. Waste management is a major area of interest under this opportunity.
Is marine litter specifically called out as a priority?
Yes. The announcement specifically mentions marine litter as an area of interest, making projects related to plastics reduction, waste collection systems, community behavior change, and prevention of leakage into waterways particularly relevant.
Are air quality projects eligible?
Yes. Air quality is an eligible focus and may include monitoring, mitigation strategies, public awareness, or local policy and technical capacity that reduces pollution exposure.
Are biodiversity and ecosystem projects eligible?
Yes. Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are central priorities, including efforts that protect habitats, improve ecosystem management, and support conservation outcomes.
Does the program support marine protected areas?
Yes. The announcement specifically highlights the creation and/or management of marine protected areas, signaling strong interest in coastal and marine conservation initiatives that are implementable at a small scale and can demonstrate measurable improvements in management effectiveness.
Are education projects eligible?
Yes. Environment- or health-related education projects are eligible, particularly those aimed at underserved groups.
What does the announcement suggest about underserved groups?
By calling out education projects aimed at underserved groups, the announcement suggests the program values equity in access to environmental information, training, and risk reduction.
Is scientific research capacity building an eligible activity?
Yes. Capacity building for scientific research on environmental issues is eligible, including activities that strengthen local institutions, researchers, monitoring systems, data collection methods, or applied research skills.
Does the program fund technology development?
Yes. The development of new technology for environmental applications is included, including testing or adapting tools that help solve local environmental problems, as long as the scope and budget fit the small-grants format.
Who is eligible to apply?
A wide range of applicants are eligible, including independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (as defined in the eligibility list); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; individuals; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?
No. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories).
Can individuals apply for this funding?
Yes. Individuals are included in the list of eligible applicants.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are included as eligible applicants.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments or tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations (as defined in the eligibility list) are eligible.
Are public housing authorities eligible applicants?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included in the eligibility list.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 2017 EAP BKREO.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 19.124.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was originally posted on May 9, 2017, with an original closing date of June 9, 2017.
If the deadline has passed, what is still useful about this announcement?
Even if the specific deadline has passed, the announcement describes the program model: small, targeted grants supporting practical environmental action in the listed countries, aligned to the stated priority themes.
What is the intended geographic focus described by the program title versus the eligible country list?
The program is described as serving Northeast and Southeast Asia, and the eligible project locations listed in the announcement are Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
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