APPEAR is a joint programme of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and OeAD with the aim to implement its strategy for support of higher education and research for development on an academic institutional level in the ADA’s southern priority countries and key regions of the South Caucasus and Black Sea Region.

In the first ten years of APPEAR approximately EUR 20 million were disbursed in seven application rounds, resulting in a strong network of participating scientific institutions. So far, 43 partnerships between Austrian higher education institutions and universities and scientific institutions in 20 countries have been established within the framework of APPEAR. In total, 124 prospective students and scientists were able to complete master’s or PhD programmes at Austrian higher education institutions.

Until the end of the third programme phase in November 2027 another EUR 18.7 million will be invested in sustainable academic partnerships with a long-term impact. The latest call was launched on 1 March 2021 and will be open until the end of June 2021. Researchers at higher education institutions in Austria and in the priority countries of the Austrian Development Cooperation (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Bhutan, Palestine, Armenia, Georgia, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova) can submit their proposals for cooperation projects in research, teaching and higher education management. The research topics are oriented towards the goals of the Austrian development policy and include areas such as environmental and climate protection, poverty reduction, human rights, food security, economic development, and peace and security.

Further application rounds are already planned for the years 2022 to 2024. In total, the third programme phase will last seven years.

For more information visit the OeAD’s website.