Call for Applications: ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships 2026 – Global South Opportunities

The Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre (ABCD-Centre) invites applications for the Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships 2026, a prestigious doctoral research opportunity designed to empower emerging scholars from the Global South.
Hosted collaboratively by RWTH Aachen University, United Nations University – Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), and Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), this initiative supports outstanding doctoral students who are dedicated to advancing innovative research in environmental management, water security, and climate adaptation.
Applications for the 2026 intake are open until 15 November 2025.
The Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre – Aachen, Bangkok, Chennai, Dresden (ABCD-Centre) is a transcontinental partnership that integrates research, education, and knowledge transfer to address the urgent global challenges of climate change and sustainable water management.
By connecting leading academic and research institutions across Europe and Asia, the ABCD-Centre fosters scientific collaboration and policy-relevant research that promotes resilience in the face of accelerating environmental change. The Centre’s work aligns with global sustainability frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—with a strong focus on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The Future Environmental Leaders Scholarships provide doctoral students from the Global South with the opportunity to pursue nine months of advanced research and training at one of the Centre’s partner institutions in Germany—RWTH Aachen University, UNU-FLORES, or TU Dresden.
The program is designed to build capacity among early-career researchers who are addressing the multifaceted impacts of climate change on water systems, urban environments, agriculture, and natural resources.
Through interdisciplinary research and academic exchange, scholarship recipients will gain the skills and expertise needed to lead innovative environmental solutions in their home regions.
The scholarships aim to:
Applicants are encouraged to align their proposed research with the ABCD-Centre’s thematic priorities, which include:
The Centre strongly values interdisciplinary approaches that combine scientific innovation with social, economic, and policy perspectives.
The scholarships are open to doctoral students from countries in the Global South who are currently enrolled in or affiliated with recognized research institutions. Applicants must demonstrate:
Applicants are expected to submit:
All materials should be submitted electronically by 15 November 2025 to the official ABCD-Centre email contacts listed below.
Selected scholars will benefit from access to world-class research facilities, mentorship from leading academics, and opportunities to participate in international conferences and interdisciplinary training programs.
The nine-month scholarship includes:
Beyond academic advancement, the program emphasizes knowledge transfer, equipping scholars with practical tools to apply research outcomes within policy and community contexts in their home countries.
Together, these institutions form a global network dedicated to addressing environmental challenges through science, education, and collaborative action.
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the scholarship organization. For any inquiries, please contact yhe official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

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