We would like to inform you that BEAF's PostDoc programme is being transferred to CIM's Integrated Expert Programme. Please note that any PostDoc application planned for submission to BEAF must in future be sent to CIM as a placement application.

The Advisory Service on Agricultural Research for Development (BEAF) supports the deployment of scientists from Germany in international agricultural research institutes. This improves links between these institutes and German agricultural research and makes German agricultural research expertise internationally accessible. It includes not only agriculture, but also related and allied subjects: forestry, fishing, food science, ecology, veterinary medicine and dissciplines involving more fundamental research in the field of development issues relevant to the tropics, subtropics and countries in transition .

The research projects supported should preferably involve German scientists or research institutes as cooperation partners. Universities often send doctoral students to work on these projects.This gives young scientists an opportunity to gain initial experience of working in developing countries.  

In conjunction with the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM),  BEAF promotes employment of qualified integrated experts from Germany and other European Union countries. Contracts have a term of two years with the option to extend for two to four more years. The special feature of the system is that the professionals (postdoctoral students, integrated experts) are integrated into local structures. That means that they are employed by the international agricultural research centers, which work closely with GIZ's programmes and projects in the partner countries.

BEAF also arranges for students at German universities to spend three to six months stay at international agricultural research centres, conducting research for a diploma or Master's thesis. Applications may be submitted by individual students, their university supervisors or the centres in the partner country . Financing is arranged on the basis of a GIZ internship contract.

Promotion of young academics

• Thesis research at International Agricultural Research Centers
  gtz2011-1-en-beaf-students.pdf, 0.03 MB (English)