The AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers 2026 are now open to eligible doctoral researchers from sub-Saharan Africa seeking financial support to undertake a short research stay at a university or research institute in another sub-Saharan African country.

Supported by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), the programme is designed to strengthen scientific capacity, research collaboration, networking, and knowledge exchange among young researchers across sub-Saharan Africa.

The grants enable eligible doctoral candidates to spend one to two months at a host university or research institution in another sub-Saharan African country while working with an experienced scientific host. The research stay must contribute directly to the applicant’s doctoral research.

For the 2026 call, applications must be submitted in English by 16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT.

What Are the AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants?

The AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants are research mobility opportunities designed to support junior researchers pursuing doctoral degrees in sub-Saharan Africa.

The programme allows doctoral candidates to temporarily move to another sub-Saharan African country to undertake research activities that cannot be conducted in their home country.

During the research stay, the researcher works with an identified scientific host at a university or research institute.

The programme aims to strengthen:

• Scientific research capacity
• Research collaboration between African institutions
• Professional networks among young researchers
• International scientific networking
• Knowledge and skills transfer
• Collaboration between doctoral researchers and experienced researchers
• Research that contributes to the development of sub-Saharan African countries

The programme is supported financially by BMZ and with support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Two AGNES Mobility Grant Programmes

The 2026 call provides two different mobility grant opportunities.

1. General AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant

The General AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant is generally open to both male and female candidates.

Eligible male and female doctoral researchers can apply for this grant provided they meet the programme requirements.

2. Special AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant

The Special AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant is specifically for female candidates.

Female researchers may apply for either the General Grant, the Special Grant, or both.

However, a female applicant can receive a maximum of one grant.

Male candidates are only eligible to apply for the General AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant.

AGNES also encourages applications from researchers across a wide range of disciplines, including:

• Sciences
• Humanities
• Law
• Social Sciences

No Geographical Quota

The 2026 call states that there is no geographical quota for AGNES grants within sub-Saharan Africa.

This means eligible candidates from sub-Saharan African countries can apply.

However, AGNES specifically welcomes applications from eligible candidates from countries described in the call as under-represented.

These include:

• Burkina Faso
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Liberia
• Mali
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Angola
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo Brazzaville
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Gabon
• Rwanda
• Zambia
• Uganda
• Tanzania
• Malawi
• Lesotho
• Botswana
• Mozambique
• Mauritius
• Mauritania
• Namibia
• Zimbabwe
• Cape Verde
• Sao Tome and Principe

Importantly, being from one of these countries is not presented as an exclusive eligibility requirement. The call states that all eligible candidates from sub-Saharan African countries can apply.

What Does the Grant Support?

The AGNES Mobility Grant enables a doctoral researcher to undertake a research stay lasting between one and two months at a university or research institute in another sub-Saharan African country.

The proposed research must form part of the applicant’s doctoral research.

Eligible activities may include:

• Laboratory research
• Bench work
• Research studies
• Library research
• Data or other research activities
• Writing part of the doctoral thesis
• Other activities directly related to the doctoral research

The proposed research should contribute meaningfully to the applicant’s doctoral work.

The applicant must also demonstrate why the research is relevant to the further development of their home country or other sub-Saharan African countries.

Research Must Not Be Possible in the Home Country

One of the important conditions is that the proposed research activity cannot be conducted in the applicant’s home country.

Applicants therefore need to demonstrate why the host institution provides research facilities, expertise, resources, or other conditions that are unavailable in the applicant’s home country.

This is an important consideration when preparing the research proposal.

Financial Support

The AGNES grant is intended to be financially comprehensive for the short research stay as far as reasonably possible.

The grant can support expenses associated with:

• Travel
• Subsistence
• Research-related expenses
• Host institution research costs, where applicable

The maximum grant depends on the length of the research stay.

Maximum Grant Amounts

These amounts represent the maximum overall budget, including the host fee.

Research Allowance for the Host Institution

A portion of the grant may be allocated to research costs at the host institution.

The call specifies the following deductions from the total grant:

• Humanities and Social Sciences: €100 per month
• Natural and Life Sciences and Engineering Sciences: €200 per month

The scientific host and host institution must request the relevant research cost allowance as part of the required documentation.

Travel Support

Applicants must provide two travel quotations for their journey.

The quotes should cover return travel between:

• The applicant’s country of residence; and
• The country where the host institution is located.

Travel may be by:

• Land transportation; or
• Economy-class flight

Applicants should therefore research the expected cost of their return journey before submitting the application.

Cost of Living

Applicants must also provide an estimate of their expected cost of living during the research stay.

This should take into account expenses such as:

• Accommodation or rent
• Meals
• Local transportation
• Health insurance

Applicants are expected to obtain valid health insurance for the duration of their research stay.

The scientific host and host institution are expected to assist applicants in finding affordable accommodation and preparing realistic subsistence estimates.

APPLY HERE

Who Can Apply?

The programme is specifically aimed at junior researchers who are currently pursuing doctoral degrees in sub-Saharan Africa.

Applicants must meet several eligibility requirements.

1. Must Be a Doctoral Student

The applicant must be officially registered for a doctoral degree at a university or tertiary institution in sub-Saharan Africa at the time of application.

Current doctoral students are eligible.

The call specifically states that applicants must provide official proof of registration for their postgraduate degree.

2. Must Be a National of a Sub-Saharan African Country

Applicants must be nationals of a sub-Saharan African country.

The programme therefore focuses specifically on researchers from sub-Saharan Africa.

3. Must Have at Least One Published Research Article

Applicants must have at least one published article from their thesis work.

The article must have been published in a non-predatory journal.

The call specifies that only journals indexed by:

• SCOPUS, or
• Web of Science

will be considered.

Applicants therefore need to provide evidence that their publication meets these requirements.

4. Research Must Be Relevant to Development

The applicant must clearly demonstrate how their research contributes to the development of sub-Saharan African countries.

The proposal should therefore explain the broader relevance and potential development contribution of the research.

5. Research Must Require the Host Institution

The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed research cannot be conducted in their home country.

This requirement helps ensure that the mobility component of the grant is necessary for the proposed research.

6. Identified Scientific Host Required

Applicants must already have an identified scientific host.

The applicant and scientific host must agree on:

• The research proposal
• The research activities
• The work schedule
• The timing of the research stay

Applications without an identified scientific host and mutually agreed proposal/work schedule will not be considered.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit a complete application containing all required documents.

The maximum total application size is 12 MB.

1. Research or Project Proposal

Applicants must prepare a short research/project proposal.

The proposal:

• Must be written in English.
• Must not exceed five pages.
• Must outline the proposed research activity.
• Must explain the research objectives.
• Must include a work schedule.
• Must explain how the research will be undertaken at the host institution.

The scientific host must agree in writing to the proposal and proposed schedule.

2. Standard CV

Applicants must submit a standard CV using the AGNES CV template.

The CV must be written in English.

The official 2026 AGNES Mobility CV template is provided as part of the application information.

3. Proof of Doctoral Registration

Applicants must provide official proof that they are currently registered for their doctoral degree.

This is an important requirement because the programme is specifically intended for current doctoral students.

4. Academic Transcripts

Applicants must submit official academic transcripts showing grades obtained during:

• Undergraduate studies
• Postgraduate studies, where applicable

If the transcript is written in a language other than English, applicants must also provide an official explanation of the grading system in English.

5. List of Publications

Applicants must provide a list of their published articles in eligible non-predatory journals.

The publication list must include SCOPUS or Web of Science links for each publication.

Applicants must also include an electronic copy of the first page of each publication showing:

• Article title
• Authors
• Abstract

The publication list and first pages of the publications must be combined into one PDF document.

The document should begin with a descriptive title, such as:

“LIST OF PUBLICATIONS FOR [APPLICANT’S NAME]”

The publication list should then be followed by the first page of each publication.

6. Travel Quotations

Applicants must provide two travel quotations for return travel between their country of residence and the host institution’s country.

The quotes can cover:

• Land travel; or
• Economy-class air travel

7. Estimated Cost of Living

Applicants must provide an estimated budget for their stay.

The estimate should cover:

• Rent/accommodation
• Meals
• Local transportation
• Health insurance

8. Letter of Invitation From the Scientific Host

The scientific host must provide a letter of invitation written in English.

The letter must:

1. Confirm that a place to work will be available during the proposed research period.
2. Include a binding declaration from the host institution requesting the relevant research cost allowance.

The host institution should therefore be involved in the preparation of the application rather than being contacted only after the application is submitted.

Visit HERE to learn more about the AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants 2026

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online using the application form provided by AGNES.

The application form is:

https://forms.gle/t57E7k9gTTtd7R7XA

Applicants should carefully check their application before submitting it.

The call specifically warns that applications that:

• Do not follow the stated guidelines; or
• Are missing required documents

will be automatically rejected.

Applicants should therefore make sure that all required documents are complete, correctly formatted, written in the required language, and included before submission.

Application Language

All applications must be submitted in English.

This applies particularly to the research proposal, CV, scientific host invitation letter, and other documents where English is specifically required.

Applicants whose academic transcripts use another language must provide the required official explanation of the grading system in English.

Grant Acceptance and Reporting Requirements

The grant is a once-off award and cannot be used to finance research stays retrospectively.

If selected, both the grant recipient and the scientific host must provide:

• A signed letter of acceptance
• A contractual agreement

These documents must be emailed to the AGNES Governing Board within two weeks of receiving the offer, according to the call information.

Following completion of the research stay, both the grantee and scientific host are expected to report to AGNES on the progress and success of their collaboration.

This report is expected within six months after completion of the research stay.

Research Stay Timeline

The selection meeting is scheduled for December 2026.

Only selected candidates will be notified.

The earliest possible start date for research stays is:

1 March 2027

Research stays must be completed by:

31 July 2027

Applicants should therefore consider these dates when discussing the proposed research schedule with their scientific host.

Important Dates

Key Points Applicants Should Understand

Before applying, prospective applicants should pay particular attention to the following requirements:

1. You must currently be registered for a doctoral degree.
2. You must be a national of a sub-Saharan African country.
3. You must have at least one thesis-related article published in an eligible journal.
4. The journal must be indexed by SCOPUS or Web of Science.
5. You must identify a scientific host in another sub-Saharan African country.
6. Your host must agree to your proposal and work schedule.
7. The proposed research must contribute to your doctoral research.
8. The research must be relevant to development in sub-Saharan Africa.
9. The research activity must not be possible in your home country.
10. Your proposal must be written in English and must not exceed five pages.
11. Your CV must use the AGNES template.
12. You must provide academic transcripts.
13. You must provide evidence of your eligible publications.
14. You must provide two travel quotations.
15. You must provide an estimated cost of living.
16. You must provide a scientific host invitation letter.
17. The complete application must be submitted online before the deadline.
18. Missing documents or failure to follow the guidelines can result in automatic rejection.

Why the Programme Matters

The AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grant is structured around more than simply providing funding for a short research trip.

The programme aims to strengthen research connections within Africa by allowing doctoral researchers to work with institutions and experienced researchers in other sub-Saharan African countries.

This creates opportunities for researchers to gain access to expertise, facilities, research environments, and professional networks that may not be available at their home institutions.

The programme also places emphasis on research that can contribute to the development of sub-Saharan African countries, meaning applicants are expected to demonstrate the wider relevance of their doctoral research.

The involvement of scientific hosts also creates an opportunity for longer-term professional and research collaboration.

Conclusion

The AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers 2026 provide doctoral researchers from sub-Saharan Africa with an opportunity to undertake a one- to two-month research stay at another African university or research institution.

With grants of up to €3,000, the programme can contribute toward travel, subsistence, and research-related costs while giving researchers an opportunity to collaborate with experienced scientists and strengthen their professional networks.

The programme is open across academic disciplines, including Sciences, Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences, while the Special AGNES Mobility Grant provides an additional application route specifically for female researchers.

However, applicants must meet several specific requirements, particularly being current doctoral students, having at least one eligible published thesis-related article, identifying a scientific host, and demonstrating that the proposed research cannot be conducted in their home country.

Interested researchers should begin preparing their research proposal, publication evidence, host invitation, travel quotations, transcripts, and other required documents well before the deadline.

For more global grants, scholarships, fellowships, internships, jobs, conferences, competitions, and other career opportunities for young people, visit the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) website at www.opportunitiesforyouth.org.