The African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) has opened its 2026 call for the Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers. The programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH).
Application deadline: 16 October 2026, 23:59 GMT
About the grant
The grant helps doctoral candidates in sub-Saharan Africa spend a research stay of one to two months at a university or research institute in another sub-Saharan African country. During the stay, they work with an experienced researcher who acts as their scientific host. The research must form part of the applicant’s doctoral work, such as laboratory work, use of library resources, or writing up the thesis or part of it.
The grant aims to strengthen the scientific capacity and networks of young African researchers. Applicants must show that their work is relevant to the development of sub-Saharan Africa and cannot be carried out in their home country.
Two grants available
- General grant: open to male and female candidates.
- Special grant: open to female candidates only.
Female candidates may apply for both grants but can receive only one. Applications are welcome from all fields, including the sciences, humanities, law and social sciences. AGNES aims for 50% female participation, based on merit.
There is no geographical quota, but AGNES especially encourages applications from under-represented countries, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. The full list is on the AGNES call page.
Funding
The grant covers travel and subsistence, with a research allowance to the host institution on request. Maximum amounts, including the host fee, are:
| Length of stay | Maximum grant |
|---|---|
| 1 month | EUR 2,300 |
| 1.5 months | EUR 2,650 |
| 2 months | EUR 3,000 |
A bench fee is deducted from the total for the host institution: EUR 100 per month for Humanities and Social Sciences, and EUR 200 per month for Natural, Life and Engineering Sciences.
Who can apply
Applicants must:
- be officially registered for a doctoral degree at a university or tertiary institution in sub-Saharan Africa at the time of application;
- be a national of a sub-Saharan African country;
- have at least one article from their thesis work published in a non-predatory journal indexed in Scopus or Web of Science;
- have an identified scientific host and a mutually agreed proposal and work schedule.
Required documents
All documents must be in English, with a maximum size of 12MB:
- A research proposal of no more than 5 pages, with a work schedule, agreed in writing by the scientific host.
- A CV in the AGNES template.
- Official proof of doctoral registration.
- Official academic transcripts, with an English explanation of the grading system if needed.
- A merged PDF listing published articles with Scopus or Web of Science links, followed by the first page of each article.
- Two travel quotes (land or economy flight) for the return journey.
- An estimate of living costs at the host institution, including rent, meals, local transport and health insurance.
- A letter of invitation from the scientific host, confirming a place to work and the requested research allowance.
Applications that do not follow the guidelines or are missing a required document will be rejected automatically.
How to apply
Submit the online application form here: AGNES application form
Key dates
- Application deadline: 16 October 2026
- Selection meeting: December 2026 (only selected candidates will be notified)
- Research stays: from 1 March 2027, to be completed by 31 July 2027
Questions?
Contact Joel Anthony, Programme Manager, at info@agnes-h.org, or Prof. Zachary Getenga, Secretary of AGNES, at zgetenga@gmail.com.
Read the full call on the AGNES website: 2026 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers
ANIE encourages its members and partner institutions to share this opportunity with doctoral students and supervisors across the continent.