The African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) has announced the call for applications for its Intra-Africa Mobility Grant for Junior Researchers. This opportunity is a critical strategic intervention, designed to break down geographic silos and accelerate high-level scientific collaboration across the African continent.
If you are a doctoral student in Sub-Saharan Africa aiming to elevate your research through specialized collaboration, this grant is designed for you.
What Is the Grant and Why It Matters
The AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant is generously funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH).
The grant’s core mission is to strengthen the scientific capacity and networking of young researchers by facilitating active co-operation with senior researchers within the same region (Sub-Saharan Africa).
This recognizes a critical need: while international funding often focuses on North-South collaboration, Intra-Africa collaboration is essential for building robust, self-sustaining regional research ecosystems capable of solving uniquely African challenges.
The Opportunity: Funding and Focus
The grant enables eligible doctoral students to conduct 1-2 month research stays at a university or research institute in a sub-Saharan African country other than their home country.
Financial Support: A maximum grant amount of up to EUR 3,000 is earmarked to cover the major costs associated with short-term international travel. This amount is intended to be as financially comprehensive as possible, covering:
Travel expenses.
Subsistence (living expenses) during the stay.
A research allowance for the host institute to cover essential lab or resource expenses.
Research Focus: The research must be an active part of the doctoral work. This includes crucial activities like bench work, laboratory studies, using specialized library resources, or writing up the thesis (or parts of the thesis).
The Big Picture: Applicants must demonstrate the relevance of their work for the further development of their home countries in sub-Sahara Africa, ensuring the research translates into tangible continental impact.
Who Should Apply?
The grant is open to male and female doctoral students in all fields of science from sub-Saharan African countries.
To be eligible, you must be a junior researcher, typically a PhD student who is ready to spend a focused research period collaborating with an experienced researcher at a host institute in another sub-Saharan African country.
A Look at Past Grantees
Past recipients showcase the diversity and high impact of the research supported:
Engineering: Researchers developing proposals for spectral and energy-efficient systems for 5G technology.
Agriculture and Data Science: Students working on complex Generalized Linear and Nonlinear mixed statistical models for better data exploitation in applied biological fields.
Climate & Soil Science: PhD candidates focused on the accurate quantification of soil carbon in relation to climate change, providing a framework for understanding ecosystem services.
The AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant is a crucial mechanism for transforming individual research projects into collaborative, continent-wide breakthroughs.
Deadline: 30th November
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