Marion Dönhoff Fellowship

Within the Marion Dönhoff Fellowship programme the Succow Foundation offers young conservationists, scientists and activists from countries of the post-Soviet region and Central Asia a study or research stay in Germany.

The Marion Dönhoff Foundation therefore funds a fellowship programme of the Succow Foundation: It supports open and critical debates in the areas of environmental journalism, political ecology and sustainable development.

The Marion Dönhoff Fellowship at the Succow Foundation sponsors persons and organisations involved in these areas in former Soviet countries. In the spirit of Marion Dönhoff the aim is to strengthen proactive behaviour and individuals’ awareness to be jointly responsible for common welfare.

Programme Goals

• The integration of human rights-related issues into the environmental dialogue is explicitly sought.
• During their stay in Germany, the fellows are to work on a topic of their own choice in accordance with the programme’s goals independently but with the support of the Succow Foundation.
• The results of the stay and of their research are to be published afterwards. The publication is part of the funding conditions

Focus Areas

• Promoting the critical analysis and debate about issues relevant for sustainability and the environment
• Supporting a critical East-Western dialogue on environment and sustainability
• Fostering the media debate on these issues
• Supporting regional and international networks

Duration

• The fellowship lasts up to five months for a study and work stay in Germany. Up to four individuals are sponsored annually.

Eligibility Criteria

• The fellowship is aimed at post-graduate students with professional experience as well as activists of civil society networks and groups from the fields of environmental journalism, political ecology and sustainable development from the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Russia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
• Applicants should be between 25 and 38 years old. A good written and spoken knowledge of English or German is required. In individual cases and if the applicant(s) is/are highly qualified, applications in Russian can be accepted.

Document Requirements

• The application documents (all in English or German) must include the following:
  • Letter of motivation (one page)
  • Project description of the topic to be worked on (maximum three pages)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Proof of language skills
  • Copy/Scan of the passport

For more information, visit Succow Foundation.