Climate and resource protection scholarship programme for young professionals from developing and emerging countries (phase III)
With this scholarship programme, Germany is promoting the training and development of prospective leaders from emerging and developing countries who already have some expertise in the field of climate protection and climate-relevant resource conservation. Working with recognised experts, they carry out scientific projects in Germany relating to issues on the topic of climate protection and climate-relevant resource conservation. The knowledge gained and the newly acquired methods are then transferred to the target countries in order to support them in the battle against climate change and its effects. With the help of the Humboldt Foundation’s alumni work, long-term collaborations between the prospective leaders and German as well as international partners are established. This will deepen and consolidate cooperation with specialist colleagues in Germany over the long term.
- IKI funding
- 23,149,867.05 €
- Duration
- 05/2016 till 10/2030
- Status
- open
- Implementing organisation
- Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung - Deutschland
- Implementing Partner
-
- Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (BDI)
- Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM)
- Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
- Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V. (DAAD)
- Renewables Academy AG (RENAC)
State of implementation/results
- From 9 to 11 September 2025, the selection conference for the 2026/27 cohort took place as a hybrid event in Bonn. During the event, an alumna of the programme (Nonhlelo Zinhle Nomphilo Mathunjwa from Eswatini) spoke about her experiences as a scholarship holder and her activities following the completion of her scholarship. During the conference, 18 scholarship recipients were selected, 11 of whom were women. One recipient subsequently withdrew.
- In December 2025, the programme was re-advertised. To publicise this call for applications, various marketing activities were carried out, including a virtual information session on 7 January 2026. For further marketing measures, see below.
- By the application deadline on 10 February 2026, a total of 165 applications had been received, including 93 from women.
- The final seminar for the 2025/2026 cohort took place in Berlin from 26 to 30 January 2026. The ceremonial highlight was the reception at the Federal Foreign Office, where Minister of State Florian Hahn presented certificates to the scholarship holders.
- On 9 March 2026, the introductory events for the new scholarship holders of the 2026/27 cohort took place. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Simone Sandholz from the United Nations University (UNU-EHS) on the topic: “Urban Sustainability Transformation: Linking science, policy & locally-led action to weave desirable and just cities”.
- Since the programme’s inception, just under 290 emerging leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America have been supported. The following recurring activities were carried out:
- Planning and implementation of the annual selection process for applicants
- Support for scholarship holders during their stay
- Organisation and delivery of introductory seminars, study trips and final meetings
- Participation of scholarship holders in German language courses lasting several months
- Organisation of professional exchanges with German experts and opinion leaders from academia and public life in Germany
- Selected marketing activities: short clips and an ‘image’ video were shared on LinkedIn & Bluesky as part of the IKS call for applications, along with relevant information.
- IKS Fellows “image” video: youtu.be/…
- IKS Fellows short clips (11 in total): www.youtube.com/…;list=PLlVLZ4ok-osawPryDuuLuhEwWP-rJuT29
- Further information is available on the programme’s website at www.humboldt-foundation.de/…
Latest Update:
05/2026
Further links
Project relations
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