Doctoral researchers across sub-Saharan Africa looking for funding to conduct part of their research in another African country can now apply for the 2026 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers.
The programme supports eligible doctoral candidates undertaking short-term research stays of one to two months at a university or research institute in another sub-Saharan African country.
Funding reaches up to:
€2,300 for one month
€2,650 for 1.5 months
and
€3,000 for two months.
The grant is intended to be as financially comprehensive as reasonably possible for a short research stay outside the applicant’s home country and covers travel and subsistence, while also allowing a research allowance for the host institution upon request.
Researchers from a wide variety of academic backgrounds are eligible, including candidates working in the:
Sciences
Humanities
Law
and
Social Sciences.
Applications must be submitted in English by:
16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
About the AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants
The African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) operates the Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers.
The 2026 programme is supported by the:
German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
and the:
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH).
The initiative seeks to strengthen scientific capacity and networking among young researchers in sub-Saharan Africa.
It promotes active cooperation between junior researchers and experienced researchers who can serve as scientific hosts and supervisors.
The programme also supports alumni of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in mentoring high-potential junior researchers and helping them access international networks of scientific excellence.
Two AGNES Mobility Grants Are Available
AGNES is operating two Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers under the 2026 call.
General AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant
The first is:
General AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant for Junior Researchers.
This opportunity is generally available to:
Male and female candidates.
Special AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant
The second is the:
Special AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant for Junior Researchers.
This opportunity is:
For female candidates only.
Female researchers can apply for either or both programmes.
However, an applicant can receive a maximum of one grant.
Male candidates can apply only for the General AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant.
AGNES Aims for Strong Female Representation
For the two grants, the AGNES Governing Board states that it will aspire to achieve:
50% inclusion of female researchers
based on merit.
The Special Mobility Grant therefore complements the general programme by creating an additional funding pathway specifically for women researchers.
All Research Fields Are Welcome
One of the most attractive aspects of this programme is its broad academic scope.
AGNES encourages applications from:
All research fields.
The official call specifically mentions:
Sciences.
Humanities.
Law.
Social Sciences.
Researchers should therefore not assume that the programme is restricted to laboratory sciences, medicine or engineering.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must satisfy several important eligibility requirements.
Candidates must be:
Nationals of a sub-Saharan African country
and must be:
Officially registered for a doctoral degree at a university or tertiary institution in sub-Saharan Africa at the time of application.
Only current doctoral students are eligible.
Applicants can come from any academic discipline.
Publication Requirement
Applicants must already have published:
At least one article from their thesis work.
The publication must appear in a:
Non-predatory journal.
AGNES makes this requirement particularly specific.
For this application, the organization states that it will consider journals indexed in:
SCOPUS
and
Web of Science.
This means doctoral candidates who have not yet published at least one qualifying article from their thesis work should carefully check their eligibility before preparing an application.
Research Must Contribute to Development in Africa
Candidates must clearly demonstrate how their work is relevant to:
Development in sub-Saharan African countries.
The programme is therefore not simply funding international academic travel.
Applicants need to demonstrate a meaningful relationship between their research and wider development needs within the region.
Why Must the Research Be Conducted Abroad?
Another important requirement is that the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed research:
Cannot be conducted in their home country.
Applicants should explain why access to the selected host institution is necessary.
Possible reasons will depend on the individual research project and may involve specialized facilities, expertise, resources or research materials.
The justification should come from the applicant’s actual project circumstances rather than being treated as a generic requirement.
Research Must Be Part of the Doctoral Project
The proposed mobility activity must form part of the applicant’s:
Doctoral research.
AGNES gives several examples of activities that may be supported, including:
Bench work.
Laboratory studies.
Use of library resources.
Writing up the thesis.
Writing up part of the thesis.
The research stay should therefore directly advance the applicant’s doctoral project.
Research Stay of 1–2 Months
The programme supports relatively short but focused research visits.
Successful doctoral candidates can spend:
One to two months
at a university or research institution in another sub-Saharan African country.
This makes the programme particularly suitable for researchers who need temporary access to specialized expertise, facilities or academic resources without relocating for an entire academic year.
Research Must Take Place in Another African Country
The programme is specifically an:
Intra-Africa mobility programme.
The applicant travels from their home country to a host institution located in:
Another sub-Saharan African country.
It should therefore not be described as funding research stays in Europe, Germany or other regions outside sub-Saharan Africa.
Scientific Host Required
Applicants must already have an:
Identified scientific host.
The applicant and scientific host must also have a:
Mutually agreed research proposal and work schedule.
Applications without an identified scientific host will not be considered for the grant.
This means finding a host should be one of the first steps prospective applicants take.
What Is a Scientific Host?
The scientific host is an experienced researcher based at the institution where the applicant intends to undertake the mobility period.
The host is expected to collaborate with the junior researcher and support the proposed research stay.
The host must agree in writing to the:
Research proposal
and
Work schedule.
They must also provide a formal invitation letter.
Funding Available
The maximum total grant depends on the duration of the research stay.
One-Month Research Stay
Maximum grant:
€2,300
1.5-Month Research Stay
Maximum grant:
€2,650
Two-Month Research Stay
Maximum grant:
€3,000
These maximum figures include all expenses, including the applicable host fee.
What Does the Grant Cover?
The programme is designed to be financially comprehensive for a short-term international research stay within Africa.
The official call states that the grant covers:
Travel
and
Subsistence.
A research allowance for the host institute may also be included upon request to cover some research expenses.
Travel Costs
Applicants are required to obtain:
Two travel quotations
for the journey between their country of residence and the country containing their proposed host institution.
Travel can be:
By land
or
Economy-class flight.
The quotations must cover the return journey.
Living Expenses
Applicants must also estimate the cost of living at the host institution.
This should include:
Rent.
Meals.
Local transportation.
Health insurance.
Scientific hosts and host institutions are expected to help applicants find affordable accommodation and provide advice when estimating subsistence costs.
Health Insurance
Applicants are expected to arrange:
Valid health insurance
covering the period of their research stay.
Candidates should include the expected cost of this insurance when preparing their subsistence budget.
Research Allowance and Bench Fees
The host institution can request a research-cost allowance.
The official call specifies amounts that may be deducted from the overall grant to cover bench fees.
For:
Humanities and Social Sciences
the amount is:
€100 per month.
For:
Natural and Life Sciences and Engineering Sciences
the amount is:
€200 per month.
Applicants should remember that these amounts form part of the overall maximum grant rather than being automatically added on top of the €2,300–€3,000 maximum.
Countries Eligible to Apply
There is:
No geographical quota
for the award of AGNES grants within sub-Saharan Africa.
Eligible candidates from sub-Saharan African countries can apply.
However, AGNES states that it especially welcomes applications from candidates from several currently under-represented countries.
These include:
Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Angola, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Mauritania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Being from one of these countries does not mean an applicant automatically receives priority funding or is guaranteed selection.
AGNES describes them as under-represented countries from which applications are particularly welcomed.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit a complete application package.
The total maximum application size is:
12 MB.
Incomplete applications can be automatically rejected.
1. Research Proposal
Applicants must submit a short:
Research/project proposal.
It must be written in:
English
and cannot exceed:
Five pages.
The proposal should provide a concise outline of the research activity to be conducted and a work schedule explaining how the applicant intends to achieve the research objectives at the host institution.
The scientific host must provide written agreement to both the proposal and the timetable.
2. AGNES CV
Candidates must submit a standard:
Curriculum Vitae in English.
Applicants are required to use the:
AGNES CV template.
The official 2026 template is available through the programme announcement.
3. Proof of Doctoral Registration
Applicants must provide:
Official proof of registration for their postgraduate degree.
The programme emphasizes that:
Only current doctoral students are eligible.
4. Academic Transcripts
Candidates must submit copies of their:
Official academic transcripts.
The transcripts should show grades obtained during:
Undergraduate studies.
and
Postgraduate studies.
Where the transcript is issued in another language, applicants must provide an official explanation of the grading system in English.
5. Publication Evidence
Applicants must submit a list of their published articles in qualifying non-predatory journals.
Each publication should include:
SCOPUS or Web of Science link.
Applicants must also include an electronic copy of the first page of each publication showing:
Title.
Authors.
Abstract.
The publication list and first pages should be merged into:
One PDF document.
6. Travel Quotations
Applicants must supply:
Two travel quotations
covering the return journey between their country of residence and the country containing their host institution.
7. Cost-of-Living Estimate
Applicants need to provide estimates for:
Accommodation.
Food.
Local transportation.
Health insurance.
8. Invitation Letter
A formal:
Letter of invitation from the scientific host
must also be submitted.
The letter must be written in:
English.
The scientific host must confirm that an appropriate place to work will be available during the proposed research period.
The host institution must also provide a binding declaration concerning the requested research-cost allowance.
Application Language
All applications must be submitted in:
English.
Several specific documents, including the research proposal, CV, and host invitation letter, are explicitly required to be in English.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through:
Official online application form provided by AGNES.
Candidates should complete the form and upload all required documents according to the instructions in the official call.
Applicants should carefully review the document requirements before submitting because AGNES explicitly warns that applications that fail to follow the guidelines or have missing documents will:
Automatically be rejected.
Application Deadline
The deadline is:
16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Applicants should aim to submit significantly earlier because several required documents depend on third parties, particularly:
The scientific host.
Host institution.
Travel providers.
University administration.
Selection Process
AGNES plans to hold the:
Selection meeting in December 2026.
Only candidates selected for funding will be notified.
When Can the Research Stay Begin?
The earliest research stays can begin is:
1 March 2027.
The research stay must be completed no later than:
31 July 2027.
Applicants should therefore develop their proposed work schedule within this implementation window.
Can the Grant Fund Previous Research Travel?
No.
The AGNES Mobility Grant is a:
Once-off grant
and cannot be used to fund research stays:
Retroactively.
Researchers who have already completed their proposed mobility period cannot apply simply to recover those expenses.
Requirements After Selection
Successful recipients and their scientific hosts must each send a:
Signed letter of acceptance and contractual agreement
to the AGNES Governing Board after receiving the offer.
After completing the research stay, both the grant recipient and scientific host are expected to report to AGNES on the:
Progress and success of the collaboration.
The reporting must take place within six months after completion of the research stay.
Important Details at a Glance
Programme: 2026 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers
Organization: African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES)
Supported By: BMZ and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Target Group: Current doctoral researchers
Nationality: Sub-Saharan African country
Study Location: Applicant must be registered at a university/tertiary institution in sub-Saharan Africa
Research Fields: All academic disciplines
Mobility: Another sub-Saharan African country
Duration: 1–2 months
Maximum 1-Month Grant: €2,300
Maximum 1.5-Month Grant: €2,650
Maximum 2-Month Grant: €3,000
Funding: Travel, subsistence and eligible research allowance
Publication Requirement: At least one thesis-related article in a qualifying journal indexed by SCOPUS or Web of Science
Scientific Host: Required
Proposal: Maximum five pages
Application Language: English
Deadline: 16 October 2026, 23:59 GMT
Selection Meeting: December 2026
Earliest Research Start: 1 March 2027
Latest Completion: 31 July 2027
Is the AGNES Mobility Grant Fully Funded?
The official call describes the grant as aiming to be:
“as financially comprehensive as is reasonably possible”
for a short stay outside the applicant’s home country.
It specifically covers travel and subsistence and can include a research allowance for the host institution.
However, the funding is capped at €2,300–€3,000, depending on the duration.
For accuracy, it is therefore better to describe this as a comprehensive mobility grant of up to €3,000 rather than implying unlimited coverage of every possible expense.
Why This Opportunity Is Significant
Many doctoral researchers in Africa need access to scientific infrastructure, specialized expertise, libraries, laboratories or research environments that may not be available at their home institutions.
The AGNES programme directly addresses this challenge through short-term:
Intra-African research mobility.
Instead of requiring researchers to leave Africa for Europe or North America, the programme strengthens collaboration between institutions and researchers within sub-Saharan Africa.
The funding also spans all academic disciplines, making the programme relevant to researchers in science and engineering as well as humanities, law and social sciences.
Tips Before Applying
The scientific host requirement makes early preparation particularly important.
Applicants should identify a suitable researcher and host institution before preparing the final application.
The proposed research should clearly demonstrate:
Why the research activity is essential to the applicant’s doctorate.
Why it cannot be completed in the home country.
Why the selected host institution is appropriate.
How the research contributes to development in sub-Saharan Africa.
What can realistically be accomplished within one or two months.
Candidates should also verify that their qualifying thesis publication is indexed by SCOPUS or Web of Science before investing substantial time in the application.
Final Considerations
The 2026 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers provide doctoral candidates from sub-Saharan Africa with funding to conduct short-term research in another country within the region.
Eligible researchers can receive up to:
€2,300 for one month
€2,650 for 1.5 months
or
€3,000 for two months.
The grant supports travel and subsistence and may include a research allowance for the host institution.
Applicants must be nationals of sub-Saharan African countries, currently registered for doctoral studies at institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, and have at least one thesis-related publication in a qualifying journal indexed by SCOPUS or Web of Science.
Candidates also need to secure an experienced scientific host in another sub-Saharan African country and agree on a research proposal and work schedule before applying.
Applications from all academic disciplines are encouraged.
The deadline for submitting a complete English-language application is:
16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Successful candidates are expected to undertake their research stays between 1 March and 31 July 2027.
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