2026 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers: Up to EUR 3,000
Open 2026 mobility grants support doctoral candidates from sub-Saharan Africa for a one- to two-month research stay in another sub-Saharan African country. Awards range from EUR 2,300 to EUR 3,000; applications close 16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
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2026 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers: Up to EUR 3,000
Status: 2026 call open
The African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) is accepting applications for its 2026 Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for Junior Researchers. The deadline is 16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT. The grants support a one- to two-month doctoral research stay at a university or research institute in a sub-Saharan African country other than the applicant’s own, working with an experienced scientific host. AGNES will hold its selection meeting in December 2026, and only selected candidates will be notified. Awarded stays may begin no earlier than 1 March 2027 and must finish by 31 July 2027.
There are two tracks. The general mobility grant is open to male and female candidates; the special mobility grant is for female candidates. Female applicants may apply to either or both tracks, but may receive at most one award. Male applicants may apply to the general track. AGNES welcomes applications in sciences, humanities, law, and social sciences. The call is for this particular 2026 round; applicants should use the official call page and form linked below for its full instructions and any updates.
What the grant supports
The award enables a doctoral candidate to spend one or two months at a university or research institute in another sub-Saharan African country, collaborating with an experienced researcher who serves as scientific host. The proposed work must form part of the applicant’s doctoral research. The call gives bench work, laboratory studies, library research, and writing up a thesis or part of a thesis as examples of eligible activities. The research should contribute to the development of the applicant’s home country in sub-Saharan Africa, and the application must explain why it cannot be conducted in the applicant’s home country.
AGNES describes the grant as covering travel and subsistence, with an allowance to the host institute available on request to contribute to research expenses. The total amount depends on the length of stay and includes all expenses, including any host fee. It is a once-off grant and cannot pay retroactively for a stay that has already taken place. Applicants should plan a feasible research visit and cost it carefully rather than assuming that the maximum award is a separate stipend on top of travel or institutional costs.
Grant amounts and host fees
The 2026 call gives these maximum totals:
| Stay length | Maximum grant |
|---|---|
| 1 month | EUR 2,300 |
| 1.5 months | EUR 2,650 |
| 2 months | EUR 3,000 |
The maximum is an overall budget for the stay, not simply living money. It is intended to cover travel and subsistence and can include a research cost allowance paid to the host institute if requested. The call specifies that EUR 100 per month is deducted from the total for Humanities and Social Sciences, and EUR 200 per month for Natural and Life Sciences and Engineering Sciences, for bench fees. The host’s invitation letter must make a binding declaration of the requested allowance. Ask the host about this charge before setting the final length and budget for a visit.
Applicants must provide two quotes for return travel from their country of residence to the host country, by land or economy-class flight. They should also estimate rent, meals, local transport, and health insurance at the host institute. A valid health insurance policy for the research stay is expected. AGNES expects hosts and host institutions to help applicants find affordable accommodation and prepare realistic subsistence estimates. The proposal, travel plan, host fee, and living-cost estimate should describe the same visit and dates.
Who can apply
Applicants must meet the conditions in the 2026 call:
- Be a national of a sub-Saharan African country.
- Be officially registered for a doctoral degree at a university or tertiary institution in sub-Saharan Africa when applying. The call limits eligibility to current doctoral students.
- Have at least one paper already published from thesis work in a non-predatory journal. AGNES says it considers journals indexed by SCOPUS and Web of Science; applicants should document the indexing clearly.
- Propose doctoral research relevant to development in sub-Saharan African countries and explain why the work cannot be carried out in the home country.
- Identify an experienced scientific host at a university or research institute in another sub-Saharan African country. The applicant and host must agree on the proposal and work schedule.
All academic fields are eligible. AGNES says there is no geographic quota among eligible sub-Saharan African countries, while especially welcoming eligible applications from a list of countries it describes as under-represented. That list is published in the official call and includes countries across West, Central, East, and Southern Africa. Applicants should check the call directly to see the complete list and use the call’s country names when describing their eligibility.
The general and special grants have different applicant pools, but share the core research, registration, publication, and host requirements. Female candidates can submit for both if they meet the requirements, though only one award can be received. A male candidate is eligible for the general grant only. Neither track is an award for a completed PhD or for a visit unrelated to doctoral work.
Documents to prepare
The official application package has a combined maximum size of 12 MB. AGNES warns that applications missing a required document or not following the guidelines will be automatically rejected. Prepare a complete set in English before using the online form:
- Research or project proposal. Keep it to five pages maximum. Outline the work to be undertaken at the host institute and provide a schedule for achieving the aims. The scientific host must agree to the proposal and timetable in writing.
- CV on the AGNES template. Use the template linked from the 2026 call page; the call does not invite applicants to substitute an unrelated CV format. Complete it in English.
- Proof of doctoral registration. Provide official proof that you are currently registered for the postgraduate degree.
- Academic transcripts. Include official transcripts for undergraduate and any postgraduate studies. If a transcript is in another language, add the official English explanation of the grading system.
- Publication record. Prepare a list of published articles in non-predatory journals and include SCOPUS or Web of Science links for each. Merge the list and an electronic copy of the first page of each article into one PDF. The first page of each article should show its title, authors, and abstract. Begin the combined document with a descriptive heading, followed by the publication list with the links, then the article pages.
- Travel quotes. Include two quotations for return travel between your country of residence and the host country. The call accepts land travel or economy-class flights.
- Living-cost estimate and insurance plan. Estimate rent, meals, local transport, and health insurance for the stay at the host institute. Confirm that you can arrange valid insurance for the research period and request accommodation guidance from the host.
- Host invitation letter. The letter must be in English, confirm that a place to work will be available for the indicated period, and include the host institution’s binding declaration of any requested research cost allowance.
Check that the combined PDFs and other uploads fit within the 12 MB cap, that names and dates are consistent across the form and attachments, and that the schedule matches the stay period the host has agreed to. In particular, the host fee in the invitation letter should be reflected in the budget, since it is deducted from the overall grant ceiling.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the form linked from the official 2026 call. The call provides this Google Form address: AGNES 2026 online application. Submit the complete application by 16 October 2026 at 23:59 GMT. The call states that applications must be in English and may be rejected automatically if a required item is missing or the instructions are not followed.
Before submitting, confirm you selected the correct track. Female candidates may apply to the general grant, the special female-only grant, or both, but cannot accept more than one award. Male candidates should select the general track. Make sure the form and proposal identify the same scientific host, host institute, visit length, activity plan, and travel period. Keep a copy of what you submitted and the supporting files.
AGNES will hold its selection meeting in December 2026, and only selected candidates will be notified. Applicants should use the contact details printed in the official call for questions about this round. A contact listed there is Joel Anthony, Programme Manager, at [email protected]. The call also lists AGNES Secretary Prof. Zachary Getenga at [email protected]. Check the source page for the full contact list and current instructions.
If selected, the awardee and scientific host must each email AGNES a signed acceptance letter and contractual agreement within two weeks of receiving the offer. After the research stay, both are expected to report on the progress and success of their collaboration within six months of its completion. These are post-selection and post-visit obligations, so applicants should make sure their proposed host is prepared to complete them as well.
Planning a focused research visit
A one- or two-month visit works best when the proposal names a concrete task that depends on access to the host’s facilities, expertise, collection, library, or research environment. Applicants can explain what they will complete during the visit, how the activity connects to their thesis, and what is unavailable at their home institution. A realistic schedule should allow time for induction, data collection or analysis, consultations with the host, and a clear output such as a defined set of measurements, an archive review, or a thesis section.
Discuss the scope with the host before finalizing the application. The host needs to agree in writing to the project and schedule, and their institution may request a monthly bench fee. Ask what equipment, workspace, data, or materials will actually be accessible during the visit. If the work depends on laboratory access, confirm that the relevant equipment and supervision will be available for the proposed dates. If the activity is library-based or focused on writing, specify which collections, resources, or research consultations make the host institution useful.
Budget the entire trip inside the applicable maximum. Obtain two return travel quotes, estimate living costs with the host, and include insurance. The requested bench fee reduces the funds left for travel and subsistence. A shorter stay may be more practical if a longer visit would exceed the award ceiling or cannot be completed during the approved period. Do not include costs for a past visit: AGNES says the award cannot be used retroactively.
The official call sets the expected research window: visits can commence from 1 March 2027 and must be completed by 31 July 2027. Proposals, invitation letters, budgets, and travel quotations should therefore be consistent with a stay in that period. The selection meeting is expected in December 2026; the call says only selected candidates will receive notification. These dates are specific to the 2026 call, so follow any direct instructions AGNES sends to applicants.
About AGNES and the funding
AGNES is the African-German Network of Excellence in Science. The mobility grant is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH). The programme aims to strengthen scientific capacity and networking among young researchers in sub-Saharan Africa. AGNES describes cooperation with experienced researchers, including potential AGNES members who may serve as supervisors, as part of the programme’s approach. The network also presents the grants as supporting AvH alumni in mentoring junior researchers and connecting them with wider scientific networks.
The mobility grant is one of several AGNES programmes, so applicants should make sure they are following the mobility call rather than another award’s rules. The 2026 call is specifically for doctoral candidates seeking a short research stay in another sub-Saharan African country. It is distinct from the AGNES Junior Research Grant and the AGNES-BAYER Science Foundation Research Grant, which have separate scopes and application requirements.
For the full official rules, the CV template, the online form, and any updates to the application instructions, use the AGNES 2026 Intra-Africa Mobility Grants call page. The AGNES programme page also displays the current deadline and summary at agnes-h.org/intra-africa-mobility-grant.