Global Centres for Climate and Environment as well as for Health and Pandemic Prevention

Global challenges can only be mastered through cooperation, with international scientific collaboration being particularly important. Based on this belief, the DAAD is funding the Programme "Global Centres for climate/environment and health/pandemic prevention".

Since May 2021 and continuing until the end of 2030, the program has been supporting the establishment and operation of international centers with locations at German universities and those in the Global South. The centers focus on addressing the global challenges reflected in their names, through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary cooperation among academic institutions. These collaborations go beyond the university sector, also including non-university research institutions as well as stakeholders from politics, business, and civil society.

In this way, the program contributes, among other things, to building expertise and developing innovative, locally adapted solutions on the topics of climate and health in countries of the Global South as well as in Germany. For this purpose, the Federal Foreign Office (AA) provides the DAAD with funds from the cultural relations and education policy.
The programme's objectives are embedded in a results framework. In summary, those are:
- Offer academically and locally relevant study and qualification opportunities
- Promote qualification and networking of students, scientists, and professionals from the health/climate sector
- Promote knowledge generation, exchange, and application through science and non-university actors (from politics, society, business)
To achieve this, the centers, for example, establish and offer Master's and PhD programs, support students, provide qualification not only to scientists but also to professionals, make their research findings accessible to a broad (specialist) public, and use networks with both university and non-university actors to promote the application of knowledge.

Image Film of the Global Centres

Our short image film explains more about the programme.

Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre (ABCD)

The ABCD-Centre specialises in water security and is a project between Aachen, Dresden, Chennai and Bangkok.

Central African Infectious Disease and Epidemics Research Alliance (CAIDERA)

CAIDERA in Lambaréné will study emerging and re-emerging viral, bacterial and parasitic infectious diseases.

DAAD Climate Lecture Series in 2026

In 2026, we are once again offering a digital, four-part Climate Lecture Series! We welcome high-profile experts in the fields of climate and the environment.

DAAD Global Centres Symposiums 2026

Information on the Syposiums of both programme lines

The PACE-UP Mobile Laboratory: Rapid Response to Infections in Vietnam

Learn how the mobile laboratory of the DAAD-funded Global Centre PACE-UP strengthens the early detection of infectious diseases in remote regions and contributes to global pandemic preparedness.

Interview with Flavian Fukah Jam on his journey from (almost) becoming a taxi driver to a PhD fellow at CAIDERA

In an interview with the DAAD Journal, Flavian Fukah Jam explains how, despite the obstacles, he found his way into academia thanks to CAIDERA and is now pursuing a PhD in the field of infectious immunology.

Explore more DAAD Journal articles featuring the work and impact of the Global Centres:
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Section P22 - Transnational Education Projects & Cooperation Programmes in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America
- Petra Bogenschneider
  Head of Unit
  Tel.: +49 (0)228 882-4515
  Email: bogenschneider at daad.de
- Hanna Cornelius
  Programme Manager
  Tel.: +49 (0)228 882-8220
  Email: h.cornelius at daad.de
- Elif Keles
  Programme Administration
  Tel.: +49 (0)228 882-8222
  Email: keles at daad.de

Funded by:

About the Programme

Programme Objectives

More articles from the Global Centres

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