With the International Climate Protection Fellowships the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables prospective leaders to conduct a research-related project in the field of climate protection and resource conservation during a one-year stay in Germany. Up to twenty International Climate Protection Fellowships will be granted annually, funded under the Federal Environment Ministry's (BMU) International Climate Protection Initiative. The fellowships target prospective leaders from non-European threshold and developing countries (see list of countries) who are engaged in the field of climate protection and resource conservation in academia, business and administration in their countries. The research-related projects are carried out in cooperation with hosts in Germany. Candidates choose their own projects and their hosts in Germany. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is running the programme, which is currently scheduled to last until 2012/2013, in cooperation with the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies in Environmental Management (CIPSEM) at TU Dresden, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC).

Programme objectives:

The global challenge posed by climate change can only be met by cross-border international collaborations. This programme makes a contribution to this by enabling future decision-makers and multipliers to conduct a research-related project in cooperation with specialist colleagues in Germany. Funding is available for project proposals which address issues relating to climate protection and resource conservation as well as adaptation to climate change. The project should facilitate the mutual exchange of knowledge, methods and techniques between the fellows and their hosts in Germany, taking into account the question of practical applicability in the fellows’ countries. Contacts to various institutions in different sectors (universities, research institutes, ministries, environmental authorities, companies, NGOs etc.) in the context of the
project are expressly welcomed.

In addition to financing the project, the fellowship aims to facilitate and promote the development of long-term contacts and collaborations with colleagues in Germany. In the course of group programme events (introductory seminar, training courses, final meeting) during the fellowship year, fellows should gain an overview of climate protection and resource conservation as well as the important actors in these fields in Germany. Another objective of the programme is to create cross-border, cross-disciplinary networks amongst the fellows as a precondition for building up an international expert network on climate protection and resource conservation. As a long term objective networking should be extended to include scientists working in these fields in the respective countries who are members of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s network of excellence.

Target group:

Applicants must provide a clearly visible leadership potential either by experience in a first leadership position or be able to provide appropriate references. They must also have completed their first university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) less than 12 years prior to the start of the fellowship (1 September 2011) with outstanding results. They must also hold a further academic or professional qualification (Master’s, PhD, LL.M., MBA etc.) or have extensive professional experience in a leadership role (at least 48 months at the time of
application). Furthermore, they are expected to have gained initial practical experience through involvement in projects related to climate protection and resource conservation.

In addition to applicants who have been trained in the natural and engineering sciences, candidates who have been engaged in legal, economic and societal issues relating to climate change are encouraged to apply for this programme.

Graduates who are interested in spending time studying or training in Germany should apply to the programmes offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or other funding organisations. Post-doctoral researchers wishing to pursue an academic research project should apply to the Georg Forster or Humboldt Research Fellowship Programme for Post- doctoral Researchers (up to four years after completion of doctorate) or for Experienced Researchers (up to 12 years after completion of the doctorate).

Fellowship specifications:

The fellowship amount reflects the fellow’s academic and professional qualifications, current position and professional experience and is currently set at 2,150 EUR, 2,450 EUR or 2,750 EUR per month. This includes a mobility lump sum and a contribution towards health and liability insurance.

The following timetable for the one-year stay in Germany is designed to facilitate networking amongst the fellows and is mandatory for everyone:

July, August 2011: intensive language course in Germany (optional)
September 2011: introductory seminar
October 2011 – August 2012: work on project at host institutes in Germany
Spring 2012: two-week training course
June 2012: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Annual Meeting including reception held by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany
July/August 2012: final week including reception held by the leadership of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

Fellowships may be extended by up to three months on application.

Additional benefits:

Allowance for research costs to be paid to the hosts in Germany amounting to 800 EUR per month (for projects in the natural and engineering sciences) and 500 EUR (for projects in the humanities and social sciences).

Language fellowship for a one to two-month intensive language course in Germany immediately prior to the start of the fellowship. When a fellowship has been granted, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation may provide financial support for improving fellows’ language skills while they are still in their own countries. Fellows with little or no knowledge of German are strongly advised to take a two-month intensive language course in Germany.

Lump sum for the fellow’s travel expenses if the costs are not borne by a third party

Family allowances for visits by family members lasting at least three months (up to 326 EUR per month for the marital partner and up to 234 EUR per month for each child)

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Selection Department
Jean-Paul-Str. 12, 53173 Bonn, Germany

Application requirements:

1. First university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent), completed less than 12 years prior to the start of the fellowship (1 September 2011);

2. A further academic or professional qualification (Master’s, PhD, LL.M., MBA etc.) or extensive professional experience in a leadership role (at least 48 months at the time of application) in the field of climate protection and resource conservation;

3. Initial practical experience (at least 12 months at the time of application) through involvement in projects related to climate protection and resource conservation (possibly already during studies);

4. Leadership potential demonstrated by initial experience in a leadership position and/or appropriate references (see no. 8);

5. A detailed statement by a host in Germany, including a mentoring agreement; details of the proposed project must be discussed with the prospective host prior to application;

6. Citizenship of a non-European threshold or developing country (see list of countries) which is also the fellow’s habitual abode and place of work;

7. Very good knowledge of English and/or German, documented by appropriate language certificates;

8. Three expert references by individuals qualified to comment on the candidate’s professional, personal and, if applicable, academic eligibility and his / her leadership potential.

Potential applicants who have spent more than six months in Germany or more than 12 months in a country that is not on the list of countries at the time of or shortly before application should contact the Humboldt Foundation (info@avh.de) before submitting an application as they may be ineligible on formal grounds.

Applicants who have already received sponsorship from the Humboldt Foundation in the form of a fellowship or award are not entitled to apply to this programme but should turn to the appropriate alumni sponsorship programmes. Those sponsored in the context of this programme are excluded from applying for other fellowships of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at a later date.

Application procedure:

Complete applications must reach the following address by 15 December 2010 (a call for sponsorship beginning in 2012 is currently planned):

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all the necessary documents have been submitted. The confidential statement from the proposed host in Germany should be sent by him or her to the Humboldt Foundation directly by the closing date at the latest. Upon receipt of the application package, applicants will be sent an acknowledgement. Applications can only be processed if they are complete and arrive by the closing date. It may not be possible to include late submissions or incomplete applications in the selection procedure.

Only the currently valid application package should be used for applications. It can be downloaded from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s website. The guidelines for completing the application that are attached to the application form indicate which documents are required for the application.

After reviewing the applications, an independent selection committee will meet, probably at the end of March, to select candidates who will be invited to participate in a selection meeting in Germany lasting several days. This selection meeting will probably take place at the beginning of May, and applicants will then be given the opportunity to outline their project to the selection committee and the other applicants as well as to attend individual interviews held by the selection committee. At the end of the meeting the selection results will be announced. Further information on the selection procedure can be found in the FAQs on the Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation's website.

Visit the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s website (www.humboldt-foundation.de/icf) for more information and the application package.