With the International Climate Protection Fellowships, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
enables prospective leaders working practically 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 15 International Climate Protection Fellowships are granted annually, funded under the
International Climate Initiative (IKI)1. The fellowships target prospective leaders from non-
European transition and developing countries (see list of countries), who possess extensive work
experience outside academia. 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 Centre for International Postgraduate Studies in
Environmental Management (CIPSEM) at TU Dresden, the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt
(DBU), the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC), the Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Federation of
German Industry (BDI).
Programme objectives:
The global challenge posed by climate change can only be met by cross-border international
collaborations. By enabling future decision-makers and multipliers to share knowledge, methods,
and techniques with specialist colleagues in Germany the programme promotes this objective,
particularly by taking account of issues relating to practical applicability in the fellows’ own
countries. In the spirit of the Agenda 2030 and the related Sustainable Development Goals, the
programme seeks to contribute to the achievement of these goals by fostering prospective leaders
with their undertakings and projects to combat climate change, to develop and implement
adaptation strategies, to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity and to foster the sustainable use
of the oceans and seas. Furthermore, it addresses sustainability topics relating to natural
resources, resource-efficient consumption and urban development. The programme promotes the
development of long-term contacts and collaboration with colleagues in Germany.
Target group:
Those applying for this programme must be working in the field of climate protection or climate
related resource conservation; they should have proven leadership skills, which must be
convincingly demonstrated in the application and supported by appropriate references. In addition
to applicants with a background in the natural and engineering sciences, candidates who have
been engaged in legal, economic, health-related and societal issues relating to climate change
are encouraged to apply for this programme.
1The International Climate Initiative (IKI) became the responsibility of the Federal Ministry for Economic
Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) in 2022. The IKI programme cooperates with its founding ministry, the
Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV),
as well as the Federal Foreign Office.
Stand: 8/2023
Fellowship specifications:
Additionally to the monthly fellowship amount – depending on career stage – €2,000, €2,300
or €2,500, the following benefits can be granted:
• Mobility lump sum as a subsidy for expenses in connection with necessary conference
and research trips, archive and library stays, etc. in Germany and abroad;
• Subsidy towards the cost of medical and liability insurance;
• Lump sum for travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party;
• 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;
• Family allowances for visits by family members staying at least three months;
• For single parents: flat-rate allowance for accompanying children (under the age of 18)
for stays of at least three months;
• Extension of the fellowship by up to three months if children under the age of 12
accompany the fellow to Germany;
• Europe allowance for a maximum of one to two months spent 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;
• 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;
• 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.
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 in Germany.
Participation is obligatory. The following mandatory timetable is designed to facilitate networking
amongst the fellows:
January, February 2025: intensive German language course in Bonn (optional)
March 2025: three-week introductory seminar at several locations in
Germany
April 2025 – February 2026: work on research-based projects
June 2025: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Annual Meeting,
including reception held by the President of the Federal
Republic of Germany in Berlin (optional)
Autumn 2025: two-week study tour through Germany
January/February 2026: final week and reception
For further information on the fellowship and the research stay abroad, please refer to the
Guidelines and Guidelines and Information for International Climate Protection Fellows. The
Humboldt Foundation assumes that candidates will abide the Rules of Good Scientific Practice
and the legally binding principles of scientific ethics during the application and sponsorship
periods.
Stand: 8/2023
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 February 2024);
• Leadership skills demonstrated by initial experience in leadership positions and/or
appropriate references;
• Extensive work experience (at least 48 months at the application deadline) in the field
of climate protection or climate-related resource conservation;
• Choice of a research-based project in the field of climate protection or climate
related resource conversation;
• 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;
• 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;
• 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.
Eligible applicants must have lived and worked in an eligible country (see list of countries) for at
least 12 months during the last 18 months prior to the application deadline. All stays outside the
eligible countries (including Germany) are taken into account, regardless of their duration and
reason. Any person who, regardless of their country of residence, has supported themselves for
more than six out of the last 18 months with financing from a German institution or who has worked
on a doctoral project or studied at an institution in Germany in the last 18 months also is not
eligible to apply.
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 programme but should turn to the appropriate
alumni sponsorship programmes. Those sponsored in the context of the International Climate
Protection Fellowships are excluded from applying for other fellowships offered by the Alexander
von Humboldt Foundation.
Selection criteria:
• Academic and professional career to date (mobility, determination, expertise, academic
success);
• Leadership skills (initial experience in leadership positions and/or appropriate
references);
• Quality, originality and relevance of the research-based proposal (convincing
selection of methods, clear focus and feasibility, relevance to climate protection or
climate-related resource conservation, viability of both the host institution chosen and
the concomitant communication strategy);
• Future potential (further development in academia and industry, career prospects).
Graduates who are interested in completing postgraduate studies, a doctoral dissertation or a
training period in Germany should apply to the programmes offered by the German Academic
Exchange Service (DAAD) or other funding organisations.
Stand: 8/2023
Application and selection procedure:
Applications can only be submitted online. The completed application form, including the
necessary additional documents, must be submitted not later than 1 February 2024.
Visit the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s website for further information on the online
application process and all necessary documents as well as access to the online application
system. A confirmation of receipt will be issued immediately after the application has been
submitted.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their documents are complete. Incomplete
applications will be excluded from the selection procedure.
The expert reviews and the host's confidential statement must be uploaded by their authors
directly to the applicant's online application form. The applicant will send the link needed to access
the application form via e-mail to the designated persons. It is only possible to submit the
application once all documents have been uploaded completely.
After reviewing the applications, an independent selection committee will decide, by the end of
June 2024, which candidates will be invited to participate virtually in a selection meeting in
Germany lasting several days. The committee is composed of academics and practitioners
working in the relevant fields. The selection meeting will take place in September 2024 and
applicants will be given the opportunity to outline their proposal to the selection committee and
the other applicants as well as to attend individual interviews held by the selection committee.
The selection results will be announced at the end of the meeting. Further information on the
selection procedure can be found in the FAQs on the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation's
website.