The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation awards PhD scholarships to applicants from West Africa to pursue doctoral studies at a university in Germany.
The RLS is a German institution for political education, a forum for critical thinking and political alternatives, and a research centre for progressive social development. Through its regional office in Dakar, it works with West African civil society organisations, NGOs and universities on the following topics:
• Peace and security
• Economy, labour and social justice
• Climate justice
• Feminism
• Migration
Anyone who has been admitted to a PhD programme at a public or government-recognised university in Germany may apply, regardless of their field of study or the topic of their dissertation. Here you will find information on how to obtain this admission:
Admission to a PhD programme at a German university generally requires an above-average Master degree (or equivalent). The minimum grade required is often 2.5 on the German grading scale. For this purpose, your final grade will be converted to its equivalent on the German grading scale. Before you can apply, you must find a university professor who is willing to supervise your doctoral project as your supervisor. You must identify a potential supervisor yourself and submit a research proposal (exposé) to her/him. If you do not yet have the necessary contacts at a German university, we recommend asking the academic staff at your own university for relevant contacts. These may have been established through academic collaboration or participation in conferences. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) can also provide assistance. It is represented at some universities in West Africa either through an office or a lecturer and is usually found in the Department of German Studies. You will find the contacts known to us below:
· Ghana: https://www.daad-ghana.org/en/
· Côte d’Ivoire: Katja Jacobs abidjan.univ-fhb at daad-lektorat.de
· Togo: Marie-Charlotte Zongo lome.univ-lome at daad-lektorat.de
· Benin: Maria Löffler cotonou.abomey-calavi at daad-lektorat.de
· Nigeria: PD Dr. Gerald Heusing lagos.unilag at daad-lektorat.de ; Charlotte Sophie Meyn ibadan.ui at daad-lektorat.de
Guidance on drafting the research proposal and further information on the application process can be found in the applicant’s handbook.
In addition to admission to the doctoral programme, the following are required:
· An excellent academic degree;
· Social commitment to social causes in accordance with the values of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation;
· As a rule, applicants should provide proof of German language proficiency at B1 level. Alternatively, English language at B1 level or native-speaker proficiency may suffice;
· Applicants should, where possible, acquire or improve their German language skills before leaving their home country. We can fund the relevant courses, e.g. at the Goethe-Institut. This also applies if the dissertation is written in English or French;
· You must reside in Germany for the duration of the funding;
· The maximum funding period is three years;
· Applicants who have already received a scholarship or doctoral funding from another institution may only continue to receive funding from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation if this previous funding lasted for less than 1.5 years. Any previous funding is counted towards the total duration, meaning it is deducted from the maximum funding period of three years. No scholarships are awarded for the completion of a doctorate;
· Private stays abroad in the applicant’s country of origin or in third countries are not eligible for funding;
· Dual funding with other public funds (e.g. simultaneous receipt of other scholarships from public funds or receipt of unemployment benefit and a scholarship) is excluded; different scholarships are offset against one another.
Applications are accepted exclusively via the application portal. It is open from 20 August until 1 October 2026, 23:59 Central European Summer Time. The documents required for an application are listed here again in German and English.
The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation awards Master scholarships to applicants from West Africa to pursue a Master’s programme or equivalent at a university in Germany.
The RLS is a German institution for political education, a forum for critical thinking and political alternatives, and a research centre for progressive social development. Through its regional office in Dakar, it works with West African civil society organisations, NGOs and universities on the following topics:
• Peace and security
• Economy, labour and social justice
• Climate justice
• Feminism
• Migration
Anyone who is enrolled or has been admitted to a Master’s programme or an equivalent at a public or government-recognised university in Germany may apply, regardless of their field of study. You will find information on how to obtain this admission on the Uni-Assist website. For many universities, you must also apply via this portal.
We also recommend asking the lecturers at your university about contacts with German universities. These may have been established through academic collaboration or participation in conferences. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) can also provide assistance. It is represented at some universities in West Africa either through an office or a lecturer and is usually found in the Department of German Studies. Please find the contacts known to us below:
· Ghana: https://www.daad-ghana.org/en/
· Côte d’Ivoire: Katja Jacobs abidjan.univ-fhb at daad-lektorat.de
· Togo: Marie-Charlotte Zongo lome.univ-lome at daad-lektorat.de
· Benin: Maria Löffler cotonou.abomey-calavi at daad-lektorat.de
· Nigeria: PD Dr. Gerald Heusing lagos.unilag at daad-lektorat.de ; Charlotte Sophie Meyn ibadan.ui at daad-lektorat.de
In addition to enrolment or admission to the degree programme, the following are required:
· Proof of a completed Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
· An excellent academic degree
· Social commitment to social causes in accordance with the values of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
· As a rule, applicants should provide proof of German language proficiency at B1 level. Alternatively, English language at B1 level or native-speaker proficiency may suffice. Applicants should, where possible, acquire or improve their German language skills before leaving their home country. We can fund the relevant courses, e.g. at the Goethe-Institut. This also applies if the selected programme does not use German as a teaching language
· You must reside in Germany for the duration of the funding
Applications are accepted exclusively via the application portal. It is open from 20 August until 1 October 2026, 23:59 Central European Summer Time. The documents required for an application are listed here again in German and English.
To mark its 35th anniversary, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung presents a publication reflecting on its history, achievements, and future perspectives. Combining institutional history with personal stories and interviews, the brochure traces the foundation’s development from its beginnings in 1990 to its role today as an internationally connected left-wing think tank. It offers insights into the people, ideas, and networks that have shaped the foundation over the past three and a half decades, while looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities of the years to come.
Adopted in Palmarin, October 31, 2025, at the conclusion of the 5th Edition of the Climate School Carried by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation West Africa, in collaboration with its partners, Écologie Universelle and the National Platform of Actors for Climate Justice (PNAJC).
We are pleased to share this new publication by our colleagues at the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung offices in Johannesburg and Dakar.
Denkyema is a photo collection dedicated to African local knowledge systems — a visual exploration of the continent’s rich and diverse ways of knowing and living in relation to the natural world.
Contributors:
Dr. Ibrahima Thiam, Project Manager Climate Justice at RLS Dakar
Dr. Roland Nkwain Ngam, Project Manager Climate Justice at RLS Johannesburg
Explore the full collection at www.denkyema.com
We are seeking experienced translators to translate academic manuscripts in the fields of political and social sciences.
The ideal candidates will have proven experience in academic translation, an excellent command of both the source and target languages, and solid familiarity with political and social science terminology and concepts.
Scope of Work
Translation of scholarly articles, essays, and reports between English and French
Ensuring accuracy, clarity, and preservation of meaning and tone
Maintaining stylistic consistency and adherence to academic conventions
Providing constructive suggestions to improve readability in the target language
Requirements
Proven experience in academic translation, preferably in political or social sciences
Native or near-native proficiency in the target language and excellent command of the source language
(English ↔ French; German is a plus)
Ability to meet deadlines and communicate effectively
Application
Interested candidates are invited to submit:
A CV
A brief cover letter
Samples of previous academic translation work
📧 Please submit your CV, a brief cover letter, samples of previous academic translation work and detailed cost information to jenny.ouedraogo@rosalux.org by 15.02.2026.
We are seeking experienced proofreaders and editors to review and refine manuscripts in the fields of political and social sciences.
The ideal candidates will have a strong background in academic editing, an excellent command of English, and solid familiarity with political and social science terminology and concepts.
🔍 Scope of Work
- Proofreading and editing of scholarly articles, essays, and reports
- Ensuring clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy
- Improving stylistic consistency and adherence to academic standards
- Providing constructive suggestions to enhance language and readability
✅ Requirements
- Proven experience in academic proofreading and editing, preferably in political science or related disciplines
- Native or near-native proficiency in English
- Ability to meet deadlines and communicate effectively
📩 How to Apply
Please submit:
- Your CV
- A brief cover letter
- Samples of previous editing work in political sciences
📧 Please submit your CV, a brief cover letter, samples of previous editing work in political sciences and detailed cost information to jenny.ouedraogo@rosalux.org by 15.02.2026.
West Africa is undergoing profound geopolitical transformations. Military coups, the withdrawal of French troops and the growing influence of international actors such as Russia and China are reshaping the region. These shifts unfold against a backdrop of fragile states, stark social inequalities, relentless resource exploitation and the lingering shadows of colonial legacies.
We aim to explore these forces in a six-part podcast series on Geopolitics in West Africa – cutting through simplistic narratives, exposing the blind spots in popular discourse and elevating voices that grapple with the contradictions, tensions and overlooked complexities shaping the region.
We are looking for curious, investigative journalists who are eager to work with leading experts to uncover hidden dynamics, challenge prevailing assumptions and craft stories that bring nuance, depth and clarity to the debate.
Your tasks:
- Develop and host six podcast episodes (60–90 minutes each) in English and/or French
- Research and select compelling interviewees
- Conduct interviews that combine depth and accessibility
- Produce the podcast episodes, including post-production
You bring:
- Proven journalistic experience and enthusiasm (podcast experience is a plus)
- Experience in research, interview techniques, and storytelling
- Sensitivity to political and economic dynamics in Africa and beyond
- Ability to present complex topics in an engaging and understandable way
If you are interested in joining this project, please send your application including a brief overview of your journalistic experience (with samples), ideas for potential interviewees, and detailed cost information by 09.12.2025 to jenny.ouedraogo@rosalux.org.