German Federal Ministry for the Environment

With the International Climate Protection Fellowships, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables prospective leaders in academia and industry to implement a research-based proposal in the field of climate protection or climate-related resource conservation during a one- year stay in Germany. Up to 20 International Climate Protection Fellowships are granted annually, funded under the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety’s (BMUB) International Climate Initiative.

The fellowships target prospective leaders from non-European transition and developing countries (see list of countries). Candidates draw up their own research-based proposal which they then implement in collaboration with a host in Germany . The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation runs the programme in cooperation with the Federation of German Industry (BDI),the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies in Environmental Management (CIPSEM) at TU Dresden, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC).

Target Group

Submit an application, if you

• are a future leader from a non-European transition or developing country (see list of countries)
• are active in any of the following areas: scientific, engineering-based, legal, economic, health-related or social aspects of climate change
• are interested in spending a year working with a host of your choice in Germany on a research-based project you have developed yourself in the field of climate protection and climate-related resource conservation

Application requirements:

• First university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), completed less than 12 years previously, counting back from the end of the application period (1 March 2019);
• Leadership skills demonstrated by initial experience in leadership positions and/or appropriate references;
• Extensive work experience (at least 48 months at the time of application) or a successfully completed doctorate in the field of climate protection or climate-related resource conservation;
• Scientific publications (for post-doctoral applicants) in peer-reviewed journals according to international standards;
• A detailed statement by a host in Germany, including a mentoring agreement; details of the proposal must be discussed with the prospective host prior to application;
• Citizenship of a non-European transition or developing country (see list of countries) which is also the applicant’s habitual residence 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 as well as his/her leadership potential.

Benefits:

• a monthly fellowship of between €2,150 and €2,650, depending on your qualifications
• individual mentoring during your stay in Germany
• additional financial support for items such as family members accompanying you, travel expenses or a German language course
• a three-week introductory phase, during which you will have the opportunity to make contact with other climate protection fellows and visit companies, research institutions and cultural events in Germany
• extensive alumni sponsorship, particularly to help you sustain contact with collaborative partners in Germany during your entire professional career

Fellowship specifications:

The monthly fellowship amount – depending on career stage –is €2,150 or €2,450 for fellows without a doctorate and €2,650 for postdoctoral researchers. This includes a mobility lump sum and a contribution towards health and liability insurance.

Common programme activities allow fellows to gain an overview of specialist topics and important players in the fields of climate protection and climate-related resource conservation. The following mandatory timetable is designed to facilitate networking amongst the fellows:

Fellowships may be extended by up to three months.

Additional benefits:

• Allowance for research costs amounting to €800 per month for research-based proposals in the natural and engineering sciences and €500 for proposals in the humanities and social sciences;
• Language fellowship for a one- to two-month intensive German language course in Germany immediately prior to the fellowship. When a fellowship has been granted, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation may provide financial support for improving fellows’ existing German 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 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 research-based project in question;
• Family allowances for visits by family members staying at least three months (up to €326 per month for the marital partner and up to €240 EUR per month for each child);
• Allowances for single parents accompanied by children under the age of 18 who are staying at least three months (€400 per month for the first child, €100 per month for every additional child);
• Extension of the fellowship by up to three months if children under the age of 12 accompany the fellow to Germany;
• Extensive alumni funding after successfully completing the initial stay in Germany, especially support for networking with collaborative partners in Germany during the fellow’s entire career.

Application procedure:

Applications must be completed online. The completed application form including all the necessary additional documents must be submitted by the closing date for applications (1 March 2019). Additional information on online applications, all the documentation required and access to the online application procedure can be found on the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s website (www.humboldt-foundation.de/icf). Immediately after submitting the documents, the applicant will receive a confirmation.