The AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers 2025 support emerging scholars across sub-Saharan Africa by providing funding for short-term research mobility. Backed by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), this programme aims to build strong scientific networks and enhance research capacity among Africa’s next generation of scholars.
Applications for the 2025 cycle are now open, and all submissions must be completed in English.
About the AGNES Mobility Grants
AGNES (African-German Network of Excellence in Science) offers two types of mobility grants:
- General Intra-Africa Mobility Grant – Open to both male and female applicants
- Special Intra-Africa Mobility Grant – Exclusively for female researchers
Female applicants may apply for both programmes, but can only receive one award. All academic fields are welcome, including sciences, humanities, engineering, law, and social sciences.
AGNES operates without geographical quotas, but applications from underrepresented sub-Saharan countries are strongly encouraged.
Programme Purpose
The mobility grant helps doctoral candidates spend 1–2 months conducting research at another university or research institute in a different sub-Saharan African country.
The programme supports:
- Laboratory or bench work
- Access to specialized libraries and resources
- Thesis writing
- Collaborative research with an experienced host scientist
The initiative strengthens research collaboration across Africa and supports high-potential junior researchers who contribute to development-focused scientific advancement.
Also Apply For: Imperial Global Development Fellowship 2025/2026
Grant Value
AGNES provides financial support that covers travel, living expenses, and research-related costs:
- 1 month: up to EUR 2,300
- 1.5 months: up to EUR 2,650
- 2 months: up to EUR 3,000
A research allowance may be allocated to the host institution upon request.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a registered doctoral student at a recognized institution in sub-Saharan Africa
- Be a national of a sub-Saharan African country
- Have at least one published journal article from their thesis (indexed in SCOPUS or Web of Science)
- Demonstrate the importance of their research to African development
- Show that the research cannot be conducted in their home country
- Secure a scientific host and agree on a proposal and timeline
- Submit all required documents in English
Applicants from all disciplines are eligible.
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following (max file size: 12MB):
- Research proposal (max 5 pages) with work plan
- CV using the AGNES template
- Proof of PhD registration
- Academic transcripts
- List of publications + evidence of indexing
- Two travel quotes (round-trip)
- Estimated cost of living
- Letter of invitation from the host scientist, confirming workspace and bench fee request
Incomplete applications will be rejected automatically.
Deadline: 30 November 2025 at 23:59 GMT
Late submissions and non-compliant applications will not be considered.
Selection Timeline
- Selection meeting: January 2026
- Earliest start date: 30 April 2026
- Latest completion date: 30 September 2026
Successful candidates and their host supervisors must sign and return acceptance documents within two weeks.
For more information, visit the AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants.
