The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation invites applications for its International Climate Protection Fellowship, aimed at individuals from non-European developing or transition countries engaged in climate protection or resource conservation. The fellowship supports prospective leaders with a one-year research project in Germany and postdocs with 12-24 months of long-term academic research. Focus areas include climate change mitigation, adaptation strategies, ecosystem and biodiversity preservation, and sustainable use of marine resources. The Foundation emphasizes diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups, including women. Up to 15 fellowships are awarded annually to prospective leaders and up to five to postdocs. The fellowships are funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) under the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

The next application round is scheduled to begin in September 2024. Register to stay informed.

The Joint Funding Scheme (JFS) is launching a new call. It promotes cooperation between researchers in Southeast Asia and Europe who are interested in joint research topics. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is participating in this call. The aim is to pool resources multilaterally to promote collaborative research projects. This multilateral call “Climate Change Adaptation and Local Resilience” focuses on the following topics:

• Waste water treatment and reuse (industrial & municipal)
• Underwater and above-water biomass farms working with renewable energy
• Assessment and remediation of contaminated inorganic and organic soils

The call is aimed at researchers from all disciplines. To be eligible for application, the project must fall under one of the above-mentioned subject areas. At least three partners from three different countries must participate in each consortium; one of them must be based in Southeast Asia. In addition, applicants strongly advised to consult the guidelines for cross-border research partnerships (KFPE principles) regarding their planned projects.

Submission deadline: 20 January 2025

The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) announces a research fellowship with a focus on Africa. The fellowship is available through WCRP’s new Global South Fellowship program.

The objective of the Global South Fellowship program is to give early to mid-career researchers* from the Global South the benefit to develop their own WCRP related research activity, thereby boosting climate research activities in their own region. Fellowship topics can address a wide range of scientific questions outlined in the WCRP Science and Implementation Plan as formulated through priorities of WCRP activities (Core Projects and Lighthouse Activities).

For this 2024 call, WCRP is soliciting research proposals from early to mid-career candidates from the African continent. Such proposals must be supported by a host institution guaranteeing that a successful candidate will undertake the fellowship project full-time during the agreed period of the fellowship at the institution. Successful projects should address aspects of critical gaps in WCRP related African climate research, enhance climate action for and in Africa, help build a community of practice, and create the potential for leaving a strong legacy to build upon in the longer-term. As an example, proposals could catalyze development of community of practice for the climate-policy interface. Another example would be thematic idea of climate literacy, or the non-congruence of climate information for policy makers and different stakeholders. Successful projects should propose research that has the clear potential to be transformative and a develop a foundation for African researchers to lead a WCRP (legacy) project. The proposal should include links to relevant WCRP core activities, where appropriate.

The WCRP leadership has allocated CHF 50K.

Application deadline: 30 September 2024

Disasters caused by climate hazards are striking more frequently and more intensely around the world. In order to mitigate the worst consequences, countermeasures with risk management instruments need to be taken. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is of particular importance. UNDRR and the Munich Re Foundation are putting the RISK Award at the service of disaster risk reduction and are launching the 2025 RISK Award – Call for Applications.

The winner(s) of the 2025 RISK Award will be officially announced at the Global Platform for DRR in June 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The project funding is of up to €100,000.

The application phase runs from 1 July to 13 October 2024.

Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. Recipients are selected by the awarding body, the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are aimed at young researchers from abroad who have completed a master’s degree or PhD and at foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree.

For further information, please visit the webpage.