The Africa-Bavaria Tandem Mobility Grant aims to
strengthen cooperation in Research and Innovation (R&I) between researchers
in African countries and Bavaria. Funded by the Free State of Bavaria and
administered by the Scientific Coordination Office (WKS) Bavaria-Africa at the
Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR), the grant promotes collaborative academic
exchange. Deadline for submission is 06 August 2025.
The grantsupports advanced PhD candidates and postdocs at
public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in both Bavaria and in African
countries in co-creating research and networking stays. It covers travel
expenses and per diems for a tandem of two early-career researchers – one based
in Bavaria and one in Africa – who visit each other’s institutions to
collaborate on joint academic activities.
Each researcher will undertake a research stay at their
partner institution: the applicant based in Bavaria will travel to an African
HEI, and the applicant based in Africa will visit the Bavarian institution.
Each stay must last a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 31 days.
These reciprocal visits are intended to foster the creation
of new academic networks, strengthen existing collaborations, and support the
joint development of research projects. The program encourages participants to
utilise the resources available at both institutions – such as libraries,
laboratories, research sites – enhancing both their collaborative output and
their individual academic careers.
Who can apply?
Eligible for the Africa-Bavaria Tandem Mobility Grant are
applications from all disciplines submitted by
- advanced
PhD candidates (submission of dissertation scheduled for 2025 or 2026) or
postdocs/assistant professors (after dissertation defence and with a
temporary work contract/scholarship) of any nationality who are employed
by or are affiliated with a public HEI in Bavaria at the time of
application and during both travels.
- Junior,
associate and full professors in Bavaria with a tenure or permanent work
contract are not eligible for funding.
- advanced
PhD candidates (submission scheduled for 2025 or 2026) or
postdocs/assistant professor/lecturer at a HEI in an African country.
The application needs to be written and submitted by two
tandem partners – one based in Bavaria and one based in an African country-
together. Interdisciplinary tandem applications are possible. The academic
achievements of the early-career tandem partners should be balanced to have a
cooperation on eye-level instead of a supervisor-mentee relationship.
Applications by an individual are ineligible for funding.
Application Form
The grant application needs to address three areas:
(1) Networking activities between the tandem partners from a
Bavarian and an African HEI to strengthen their contact and create new
networks. Each applicant is supposed to give at least one presentation at the
visiting institution.
(2) research activities aimed at preparing future
collaborations, e.g. for a joint grant proposal.
(3) benefits for the individual careers of the two tandem
partners.
For each area, it needs to be demonstrated how the
activities are co-created, how responsibilities are shared, and benefits both
partners.
Mere conference and presentation trips are not eligible for
funding, but these activities can be integrated into the work plan of the
research and networking trips.
Travel Time
For each tandem partner, the visit at the partner
institution covers at least 14 days and at most 31 days. Both
journeys take place consecutively – there may be some time in between - so that
the hosting partner welcomes the guest researcher and is present to work
together on site.
Cost-neutral extension of the stay is possible, when
mentioned in the application form. Shorter stays need to be justified in the
application.
For administrative reasons, the earliest possible start of
the travel is after the grant is approved in the course of August and a grant
agreement has been signed by both partners.
Both travels need to be completed by 30 November
2025.
A final report about the activities that have been carried
out and proof of use of the budget has to be submitted to WKS Bavaria-Africa
by 01 December 2025.
Budget of the Tandem Grant
The maximum budget for which a tandem partner based in
Bavaria can apply is 3500 euros. The maximum budget for a tandem partner based
in Africa is 4500 euros. The budget consists of an allowance for travel costs
and per diems according to DAAD rates. In addition, travel allowances for
children travelling with their parent can be applied for if they are justified.
Double funding is not allowed, and it needs to be explained
in the application that no other funding source is available for the planned
activities.
The grant will be paid in three instalments:
After the grant agreement has been signed by both tandem
partners and the two hosting institutions have confirmed in a written statement
to support the tandem, a first instalment of the budget to cover the travel
costs is transferred to each of the tandem partner’s individual bank accounts.
After each tandem partner has submitted copies of a flight
ticket and visa to WKS Bavaria-Africa, a second rate of the budget (up to a
total of 80% of the approved grant per person) is transferred to each
individual.
The remaining 20% of the budget is paid after the tandem has
submitted their final report and WKS Bavaria-Africa has approved that it meets
the basic requirements.
Confirmation Letters by Host Institutions
In case the tandem application is selected for funding, both
host institutions need to confirm in a written statement their willingness to
support the tandem, to host the visiting partner, to agree to the travel of
their own staff member and to confirm the duration and time of both
travels.
Further, each institution declares to provide a workplace
and access to resources (library, lab, etc.) to the visiting researcher, as
needed by the tandem, and to support the tandem in administrative ways (visa
support letter, etc).
Application Process
Both tandem partners fill out
- Part
A (tandem project description)
- Part B (budget and timelines)
- Two CVs (max.
3 pages each)
All four documents are to be sent in one email
to: Bayern-Afrika@bayfor.org
Deadline for submission is 06 August 2025 at
11:59 pm (CEST).
The applicants will be notified in the course of August
about the outcome of the evaluation.
An online event for the tandems who will receive funding
will be planned for summer/autumn to briefly present their projects and to
connect with each other and with BayFOR and the WKS Bavaria-Africa.
Incomplete applications and those that do not adhere to the
page limit are not eligible for funding.
If the application is selected for funding and the travel
time, duration, and activities change substantially or if a trip cannot be
carried out at all or if a partner pulls out, the WKS Bavaria-Africa needs to
be informed immediately. How the grant can be adapted and whether the whole
grant or parts of it need to be paid back will be decided on an individual
basis.
FAQs – Call for Proposals: Africa-Bavaria Tandem Mobility Grant for Early-Career Researchers, 2025