Entries now open for the CLIFF-GRADS Fellowship Programme
Applications are now open for Round 7 of the Climate, Food and Farming, Global Research Alliance Development Scholarships CLIFF-GRADS Fellowship Programme—an acclaimed international initiative that equips promising PhD students from developing countries with cutting-edge skills in agricultural greenhouse-gas science.
Jointly supported by the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), the Global Methane Hub, and CGIAR’s Accelerate for Impact Platform, CLIFF-GRADS offers fully funded, short-term research fellowships lasting 4–6 months at leading universities, research institutes, and national agricultural research systems worldwide. Fellows work side-by-side with world-class scientists on real-world projects that measure, model, quantify, or mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) and enhance carbon sequestration in farming systems, with a strong focus on solutions that also strengthen food security in the Global South.
Since 2017, more than 200 young scientists from over 40 developing countries have completed CLIFF-GRADS fellowships, producing peer-reviewed publications, influencing national climate policies, and building lifelong professional networks that continue to drive low-emission agriculture across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific.
What the Fellowship Covers
Successful applicants receive:
- Round-trip airfare and visa costs
- Living and research allowances during the 4–6 month placement
- Health insurance
- Access to state-of-the-art laboratories, field sites, and modelling platforms
- Mentorship from internationally recognised experts in livestock, rice, soil carbon, nitrous oxide, and methane research
- Opportunities to present findings at global conferences and co-author high-impact publications
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a citizen of a developing country (as defined by the World Bank low- and middle-income classifications)
- Currently enrolled in a PhD programme at a university located in a developing country
- Not have previously received a CLIFF-GRADS award
- Conducting PhD research directly relevant to greenhouse-gas quantification or mitigation in agricultural systems
- Applications from students who wish to undertake their fellowship outside their home country or country of PhD study are strongly encouraged
Application Requirements (all in English)
Applicants must submit a single PDF containing: a. A one-page motivation letter explaining your research background, the chosen host project, and how the fellowship will advance both your scientific skills and career b. A concise one-page CV including contact details, education, publications, and research experience c. A signed letter of support from your current PhD supervisor confirming your enrolment and approving the 4–6 month research stay
Incomplete applications or those in languages other than English will not be considered.
Selection Process
Applicants are evaluated on three core criteria:
- Depth and quality of prior research experience
- Clear alignment of PhD thesis (or existing work) with CLIFF-GRADS goals and the selected host project
- Strength of the motivation letter in describing how the fellowship will build scientific capacity and contribute to long-term career impact in low-emission food systems
Successful candidates will be matched with one of the pre-identified 2026 host projects and notified by email no later than 21 April 2026.
About the CLIFF-GRADS Fellowship Programme
Launched in 2017 by the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) and CGIAR (formerly CCAFS), CLIFF-GRADS has become one of the most effective capacity-building mechanisms in climate-smart agriculture. The programme deliberately targets PhD students from developing countries—who often face the greatest barriers to accessing advanced training and international networks—ensuring that the next generation of agricultural GHG scientists reflects the diversity of the farming communities most affected by climate change.
To date, alumni have returned home to lead national measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, advise ministries of agriculture and environment, secure faculty positions, and establish start-ups commercialising low-emission technologies. Many continue collaborating with their former host institutions long after the fellowship ends, creating enduring South-South and North-South research partnerships that directly inform Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and global food-security strategies under the UNFCCC and the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture.
