Call for Proposals: Africa-Bavaria Tandem Mobility Grant for Early-Career Researchers 2025
10/07/2025
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@no-spam-pleasebayfor.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
