APWLD Opens Call for Applications for Climate Justice

APWLD invites grassroots women-led organisations in Asia and the Pacific to apply for the Climate Justice Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) 2026–2027, focusing on resisting imperialism and extractivism of ocean resources. Deadline: 30 January 2026.

APWLD Opens Call for Applications for Climate Justice Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) 2026–2027

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) has announced a call for applications for its Climate Justice Programme’s Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) 2026–2027. Titled “Waves of Resistance Against Imperialism and the Extractivism of Ocean Resources: Strengthening Women’s Movement for Climate Justice,” this initiative seeks to support grassroots women’s rights organisations across Asia and the Pacific that are actively challenging unjust climate and economic systems.

With a deadline of 30 January 2026, the call invites feminist, women-led, and women’s human rights organisations to take part in a collaborative, community-based research process that centres the lived realities, leadership, and knowledge of grassroots women.

Strengthening Feminist Responses to the Climate Crisis

APWLD’s Climate Justice FPAR is grounded in the belief that local feminist movements are essential to achieving genuine climate justice. Across Asia and the Pacific, coastal and island communities—particularly women, small-scale fishers, and Indigenous peoples—are facing increasing threats from climate change, extractive development, and so-called “blue economy” initiatives.

Under the guise of sustainable development and green growth, ocean-based industries such as fisheries, tourism, shipping, energy, and conservation are rapidly expanding. While often promoted as climate solutions, these initiatives frequently prioritise profit over people, resulting in displacement, environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, and violations of women’s human rights.

Through the 2026–2027 FPAR, APWLD aims to strengthen the capacity of grassroots women to document these impacts, challenge false solutions, and influence climate policies from the local to the global level.

Purpose of the Climate Justice FPAR

The Climate Justice FPAR is designed to increase evidence-based feminist advocacy by supporting women as researchers, organisers, and campaigners. The programme seeks to:

Document the gendered impacts of imperialism and extractivism of ocean resources
Strengthen feminist and community-led monitoring of blue economy and climate policies
Shape governance instruments and policy discussions at national and international levels
Facilitate people’s mobilisation for climate and economic justice rooted in community realities

By placing grassroots women at the centre of research and advocacy, the programme challenges top-down approaches to climate action and promotes solutions grounded in justice, sustainability, and human rights.

Research Focus Areas

For the 2026–2027 cycle, six organisations from Asia and the Pacific will be selected to conduct Feminist Participatory Action Research between April 2026 and August 2027. Each organisation will work closely with affected communities to explore the impacts of ocean-related extractivism and imperialism in one or more of the following thematic streams:

Fisheries and coastal communities, including impacts on livelihoods, food security, and marine biodiversity
Climate projects in coastal and marine areas, such as land reclamation, giant sea walls, renewable energy projects, marine protected areas, and industrial aquaculture
Deep-sea and sand mining, particularly the extraction of critical minerals justified by the energy transition
Conservation projects, including blue carbon initiatives and carbon trading schemes that displace communities and undermine food sovereignty
Marine geo-engineering, including unproven and high-risk technologies such as carbon dioxide removal, carbon capture, and storage, which often lead to sea grabbing and ecosystem harm

These focus areas reflect APWLD’s concern that many climate interventions are reinforcing existing inequalities while creating new forms of exploitation.

Support and Funding for Selected Organisations

APWLD will provide each selected partner organisation with a sub-grant of up to USD 14,000 throughout the FPAR journey. This funding is intended to support:

Salary costs for a dedicated young woman researcher
Capacity-building activities for women and communities involved in the research
Participatory research processes grounded in feminist methodologies

Following the completion of the research phase, an additional flow of sub-grant funding will be provided to support advocacy activities at local and national levels, enabling organisations to translate research findings into action.

Capacity Building and Global Engagement

Beyond financial support, the Climate Justice FPAR offers extensive learning and networking opportunities. Assigned mentors and young women researchers will gain access to:

High-level capacity-building programmes
Regional and global climate advocacy spaces
Networking with broader movements addressing climate crises and economic injustice

FPAR modules will also be provided to strengthen research skills, particularly participatory data-gathering methods using a feminist analytical lens. The primary working language throughout the FPAR journey will be English.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open to non-governmental, non-profit, feminist, and women-led organisations in Asia and the Pacific that demonstrate:

Experience working with grassroots women and their communities
Strong understanding of climate crises and the impacts of ocean extractivism on women’s rights
Ability to provide a dedicated mentor and young woman researcher for the full duration of the FPAR
Capacity to conduct participatory feminist research
Ability to produce reports and documentation in English

Organisations from East Asia and the Pacific, those recommended by APWLD members, and groups with prior experience in participatory research and climate justice advocacy are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Process and Deadline

Interested organisations must submit a completed application form by email.

How to apply:

Send the completed application form to Ranjana Giri, Climate Justice Programme Officer, at [email protected]
Use the subject line:
Application form_CJ FPAR_2026-2027_(name of your organisation)

Applicants are advised to download and review the application form and concept note carefully before submission.

Deadline for applications: 30 January 2026

Looking Ahead

APWLD has also noted that a related call under the WITCH FPAR framework, focusing on trade, militarism, corporate capture, and neoliberal policies, will be published in February 2026.

Final Thoughts

The Climate Justice Feminist Participatory Action Research 2026–2027 represents a significant opportunity for grassroots women’s organisations to strengthen their research, advocacy, and movement-building work. By centring feminist leadership and community knowledge, APWLD continues to challenge unjust climate narratives and support resistance against extractive and imperial systems.

For organisations committed to climate justice, women’s human rights, and transformative change, this call offers both resources and solidarity to advance collective struggles across Asia and the Pacific.