The International Climate Protection Fellowship is awarded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and funded through Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI). It brings prospective leaders and postdoctoral researchers from non-European developing and transition countries to Germany to carry out a self-designed, research-based project in climate protection or climate-related resource conservation. Fellows work with a host of their choice at a German university, research institute, NGO, company or public body for one year (postdocs may extend to 24 months). The programme runs one selection round each year. Its aim is to build long-term collaboration between future climate decision-makers and specialists in Germany.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly fellowship of €2,500, €2,800 or €3,000, depending on career stage (postdocs receive €3,000).
- Mobility allowance, travel lump sum and an initial subsidy.
- Subsidy toward medical and liability insurance.
- A one- or two-month intensive German language course in Germany before the fellowship starts, open to accompanying partners.
- Family allowance for accompanying partners and children under 18 staying at least three months, plus extra support for single parents, maternity and fellows with disabilities or chronic illness.
- The German host may claim a research-cost allowance of €800/month (natural sciences, life sciences, engineering) or €500/month (humanities, social sciences).
- Alumni sponsorship after successful completion.
Eligibility
- Citizenship of a listed non-European developing or transition country, which must also be the applicant’s habitual residence and place of work.
- Applicant must not have lived or worked outside a programme country for more than 90 days in the 18 months before the deadline.
- Prospective leaders: first university degree completed within the past 12 years, plus at least 24 months of relevant climate-related work experience after that degree — or a Master’s degree plus at least 12 months of such experience. Demonstrated leadership skills with references.
- Postdocs: doctorate completed no more than four years before the deadline (or by 31 August of the selection year), with peer-reviewed publications.
- Very good knowledge of English and/or German, with certificates.
- A German host must provide a statement and mentoring agreement.
- Up to 15 fellowships for prospective leaders and up to 5 for postdocs are awarded each year.
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Eligible nationalities
Afghanistan · Algeria · Angola · Argentina · Bangladesh · Belize · Benin · Bhutan · Bolivia · Botswana · Brazil · Burkina Faso
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Burundi · Cambodia · Cameroon · Cabo Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · China · Colombia · Comoros · DR Congo · Republic of the Congo · Costa Rica · Côte d'Ivoire · Cuba · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Djibouti · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Fiji · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Jamaica · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · North Korea · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lesotho · Lebanon · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Mali · Marshall Islands · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Morocco · Mongolia · Mozambique · Myanmar · Namibia · Nauru · Nepal · Nicaragua · Niger · Nigeria · Niue · Pakistan · Palestine · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Rwanda · Samoa · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sri Lanka · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Sudan · Suriname · Eswatini · Syria · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Togo · Tonga · Tunisia · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · Uganda · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Venezuela · Vietnam · Yemen · Zambia · Zimbabwe
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Education required
Bachelor · Master · PhD
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Application process
- 1Design a research-based climate project and agree it with a suitable host in Germany.
- 2Secure the host’s written statement and mentoring agreement.
- 3Complete the online application with a motivation letter, research proposal, two letters of recommendation and language certificates.
- 4Submit the application to your host, who forwards the complete documents to the Humboldt Foundation by the deadline.
- 5Shortlisted candidates present at a virtual selection meeting in September.
Program timeline
10 February 2026
Application deadline (2026 cycle; the next round opens in autumn 2026 with a similar February deadline)
Shortlist decided
End of June
Virtual selection meeting and interviews
September
Intensive German language course in Bonn
January–February 2027
Three-week introductory seminar
March 2027
Research work in Germany
April 2027 – February 2028
Two-week study tour
Autumn 2027
Closing seminar in Berlin
January/February 2028