Alexander von Humboldt Foundation offers International Climate Protection Fellowships for Developing Countries in Germany. With the International Climate Protection Fellowships the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables prospective leaders to conduct a research-based project in the field of climate protection and climate-related resource conservation during a one-year stay in Germany. Up to 20 International Climate Protection Fellowships are granted annually, funded under the Federal Environment Ministry’s (BMU) International Climate Initiative.
Study Subject:
The fellowship is awarded in climate protection and climate-related resource conservation.
Eligibility:
Applicants must demonstrate clearly visible leadership potential based either on experience in initial leadership positions or on appropriate references. They must also have completed their first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) less than 12 years prior to the start of the fellowship (1 March 2015) with outstanding results. Furthermore, they must have extensive professional experience in a leadership role (at least 48 months at the time of application) or hold a further academic or professional qualification. They are also expected to have gained initial practical experience through involvement in projects related to climate protection and climate-related resource conservation.
In addition to applicants with a background in the natural and engineering sciences, candidates who have been engaged in legal, economic and societal issues relating to climate change are encouraged to apply for this program.
Graduates who are interested in spending time studying or training in Germany should apply to the programs offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or other funding organizations. Post-doctoral researchers wishing to pursue an academic research project should apply to the Georg Forster or Humboldt Research Fellowship Program for Post-doctoral Researchers (up to four years after completion of doctorate) or for Experienced Researchers (up to 12 years after completion of doctorate).
Scholarship Duration:
The following timetable for the one-year stay in Germany is designed to facilitate networking amongst the fellows and is mandatory for everyone:
- January, February 2015: intensive language course in Germany (optional)
- March 2015: introductory seminar
- April 2015 – February 2016: work on project at host institutes in Germany
- June 2015: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Annual Meeting including reception held by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Autumn 2015: several-day training course
- January/February 2016: final week including reception held by the leadership of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
- Fellowships may be extended by up to three months on application.
Scholarship Value:
- The fellowship amount reflects the fellow’s academic and professional qualifications, current position and professional experience and is currently set at 2,150 EUR, 2,450 EUR or 2,750 EUR per month. This includes a mobility lump sum and a contribution towards health and liability insurance;
- Allowance for research costs to be paid to the hosts in Germany amounting to 800 EUR per month (for projects in the natural and engineering sciences) and 500 EUR (for projects in the humanities and social sciences);
- Language fellowship for a one- to two-month intensive language course in Germany immediately prior to the start of the fellowship; when a fellowship has been granted, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation may provide financial support for improving fellows’ language skills while they are still in their own countries. Fellows with little or no knowledge of German are strongly advised to take a two-month intensive language course in Germany;
- Lump sum for the fellow’s travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party;
- Europe allowance for a maximum of one to two months spent studying or researching at an institution in another European country during the fellowship, provided that this is necessary to carry out the project in question;
- Family allowances for visits by family members lasting at least three months (up to 326 EUR per month for the marital partner and up to 234 EUR per month for each child);
- For single parents accompanied by children under the age of 18 on stays of at least three months, an allowance is available (400 EUR per month for the first child, 100 EUR for every additional child);
- Additional extension of the fellowship by up to three months if children under 12 also accompany the fellow to Germany;
- Extensive alumni funding after successfully completing the stay in Germany, especially support for networking with collaborative partners in Germany during the fellow’s entire career.
Application requirements:
- First university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), completed less than 12 years prior to the start of the fellowship (1 March 2015)
- Extensive professional experience in a leadership role (at least 48 months at the time of application) in the field of climate protection or climate-related resource conservation or a further academic or professional qualification
- Initial practical experience (at least 12 months at the time of application) through involvement in projects related to climate protection and climate-related resource conservation (possibly already during studies)
- Leadership potential demonstrated by initial experience in a leadership position and/or appropriate references
- A detailed statement by a host in Germany, including a mentoring agreement; details of the proposed project must be discussed with the prospective host prior to application
- Citizenship of a non-European emerging or developing country (see list of countries) which is also the fellow’s habitual abode and place of work
- Very good knowledge of English and/or German, documented by appropriate language certificates
- Two expert references by individuals qualified to comment on the candidate’s professional, personal and, if applicable, academic eligibility and his / her leadership potential.
Prospective applicants, who have spent more than six in Germany at the time of the application deadline, or more than 12 months in a country that is not on the relevant list of countries, should contact the Humboldt Foundation (info@avh.de) before submitting an application as they may be ineligible on formal grounds.
Applicants who have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation in the form of a fellowship or award are not entitled to apply to this program but should turn to the appropriate alumni sponsorship programs. Those sponsored in the context of this program are excluded from applying for other fellowships offered the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at a later date.
Application procedure:
Applications must be completed online. The completed application form including all the necessary additional documentation must be submitted by the closing date for applications (15 March 2014). Additional information on online applications, all the documentation required and access to the online application procedure are available on the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s website (http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/icf). Immediately after submitting the documents, the applicant will receive a confirmation.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all the necessary documents have been submitted. Incomplete applications may be excluded from the selection procedure.
The proposed host in Germany should send his/her confidential statement directly to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation by the closing date at the latest.
After reviewing the applications, an independent selection committee will decide, probably by the beginning of July 2014, which candidates will be invited to participate in a selection meeting in Germany lasting several days. This selection meeting will take place from 16 to 19 September 2014 and applicants will be given the opportunity to outline their project to the selection committee and the other applicants as well as to attend individual interviews held by the selection committee. At the end of the meeting the selection results will be announced. Further information on the selection procedure can be found in the FAQs on the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s website.
Application Deadline: 15 March 2014
For further information: International Climate Protection Fellowships
