Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF)
RSIF offers a unique and historic opportunity for African countries to train new doctoral students in high quality PhD programmes in applied sciences, engineering and technology, at an affordable cost in competitively selected African universities partnered with international universities. Beyond doctoral training, RSIF systematically nurtures research capacity by fostering partnerships between universities and domestic and international firms to find solutions to local challenges.
RSIF is the flagship programme of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), an Africa-led, World Bank-affiliated initiative.
News & Features
RSIF scholarly publications and publication metrics
RSIF Scholars have made remarkable contribution to the body of knowledge by publishing their research work in high quality peer reviewed journal articles and presenting papers in international conferences. To…
Meet RSIF’s first PhD Graduate
Dr. Jean Nepomuscene Hakizimana, a Rwandese national who was among the 15 Cohort 1 RSIF PhD Scholarship recipients in 2018, successfully defended his PhD thesis on 30th September 2021 at…
Two International Partner Institutions join Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF)
Two more International Institutions have joined the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) as International Partner Institutions (IPIs), making it five IPIs since the start of 2021 and bringing the new…
Benefits to RSIF Contributing Governments
RSIF is unique in being an African government-led science fund for Africa. The program, which was initiated in 2015 has supported over 180 PhD students and provided 14 research and…
Four African universities join Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF)
Four more universities have joined the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) as African Host Universities (AHUs), bringing the new total to 15. RSIF AHUs are universities or research…
RSIF Cohort lll Orientation week was a good start for my PhD Journey
By Hellen Ngunya Mutua The eagerly awaited session since the reception of my congratulatory note from Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) was finally at hand. Our orientation as Cohort…
My dream is to mentor young scientists
Richard Kipyegon Koech is a Kenyan RSIF Scholarship recipient pursing a PhD in Material science and engineering at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja-Nigeria and currently at…
My Communication internship experience with RSIF
By Yvonne Ndegwa, Former communications research intern February-April 2021) at RSIF “…. This is the defining global health crisis of our time…” Words uttered by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros…
Thought piece on Decolonising Knowledge in Africa
We are pleased to share with you a Thought Leadership column by icipe Director General & CEO, Dr Segenet Kelemu, on the emerging movement around the ideology of Decolonising Knowledge. Published…
icipe holds orientation workshop for 102 newly recruited PASET-RSIF PhD Scholars
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), the Regional Coordination Unit for the PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund held a five-day orientation and training workshop between 28…
I am on a mission to improve cowpea breeding in Africa
The Republic of Benin in West Africa is his home country and Frejus SODEDJI, is a young male scientist and proud beneficiary of the RSIF Cohort one scholarships that were…
Nicknamed “Professseur” by my peers, I was inspired to pursue a PhD
Jean Baptiste HABINSHUTI from Rwanda is a PASET-RSIF Scholar in Material Science and Engineering at African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Nigeria. Being a recipient of RSIF PhD…
My knowledge and dreams are transformed into meaningful skills because of RSIF
What it meant to get scholarship for this PhD? Jeanne Pauline Munganyinka is a PASET/RSIF Scholar studying for a Ph.D at the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja…
The RSIF Scholarship salvaged my career dreams
Emmanuel Effah is Ghanaian by birth, male and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Computer Science at University Gaston Berger, Senegal. He has received a scholarship from PASET’s RSIF…
I will contribute to the fight against infectious diseases in Africa
Jean Nepomuscene Hakizimana is a Rwandan pursuing his Ph.D. studies in Food security and Agribusiness at the Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance (SACIDS Foundation for One Health) hosted…
RSIF Scholar Mabwi Humphrey desires to use his PhD to find solutions linked to food, nutrition and health
Mabwi Humphrey’s journey to his PhD studies began with his desire to join academia as a teaching and research -scientist. Upon completing his MSc degree in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry…
Technology and education are the foundation to bettering life in society
According to the Gender strategy of the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF), the program has set an ambitious target for women’s representation among its PhD scholars (50%) based on…
Building Innovative Systems and Adoption of ICTs for Agriculture in West Africa
The Inception meeting for the project on Accelerating inclusive green growth through agri-based digital innovation in West Africa (AGriDI) took place from 2-4 June 2021 in a hybrid style, at…
RSIF: An initiative on the rise
In May 2021, the Government of Mozambique signed an agreement with icipe, for the investment of USD 6 million in the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF). icipe is the…
RSIF 10th Webinar: Potential of underutilized food resources: Insects for food, feed and other uses
Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa region is highly biodiverse with large rural populations that are highly dependent on nature, livestock, agriculture as well as consumption of insects and wildlife products. This…
Face à l’explosion de la demande continentale, les gouvernements africains tiennent leurs promesses en matière de formation avancée en sciences appliquées et en technologie
Un total de sept gouvernements africains ont rejoint le Fonds régional pour les bourses d’études et l’innovation (RSIF), l’initiative naissante du continent pour soutenir la formation avancée en sciences appliquées,…
African governments make good their pledges for advanced training in applied sciences and technology, as continental demand soars
A total of seven African governments have joined the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF), the continent’s nascent initiative for bolstering advanced training in the applied sciences, engineering and technology….
IWD 2021 – Future Women Leaders. Spaces, Time and Temperature
Susan Ojochide (Nigeria), talks about her research that will contribute to tackling one of Africa’s worst enemies: Drought. Tell us about yourself. Where were you born and where did you…
IWD 2021 – Future Women Leaders. Agriculture 4.0
Fatoumata THIAM (Senegal), talks about her groundbreaking research on Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence in agriculture, with broader implications for Africa’s ambitions to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Tell…
IWD 2021 – Future Women Leaders. Crops for Health
Sylvia Wairimu Maina (Kenya), talks about her PhD research on the nutritional and health benefits of the African cabbage. Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you born and…
Intellectual Property Rights Management Underpinning Successful International Collaboration
As countries seek new ways to strengthen their economies including through diversification, the need for increased local, regional and global collaborations in scientific research, technological development and innovation has become…
Celebrating #WomenInScience and our first 30 female RSIF PhD Students
Addressing imbalances in the number of women and disadvantaged groups in applied sciences, engineering and technology fields in Africa – This is one of the targets of the Regional Scholarship…
icipe led consortium wins funding to “unlock” the transformative potential of digital technologies
icipe, the Regional Coordination Unit for the Regional Scholarships and Innovation Fund has been selected by the European Union financed ACP Innovation Fund for “Accelerating inclusive green growth through agri-based…
President Kenyatta calls for Increased Investment for Research and Development in Africa
Speaking at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi on the 20 November 2020, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta applauded icipe…
RSIF measures to ensure implementation continuity and student support during the COVID-19 pandemic
The entire higher education, science and technology community has been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. The RSIF Regional Coordination Unit’s response has been enabled by a closer engagement with students…
Her Journey to the PhD: Petronille Dusingizimana
Ms. Petronille Dusingizimana comes from Rwanda and is pursuing her PhD in climate change, bioversity and sustainable agriculture at the University Felix Houphouët-Boigny in Cote D’ Ivoire. She narrates her…
Jean Baptiste Habinshuti’s experience during COVID-19 Crisis
I am on sandwich program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), USA. The first time that I heard about the outbreak of Covid-19 was in December 2019. It was spreading from…
Call for Applications from Universities/Africa Centers of Excellence in sub-Saharan Africa to become PASET-RSIF Host Universities
Opening date: 25th September 2020 Closing date for applications: 23rd November 2020 The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) – Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF)…
My Experience as an RSIF PhD Scholar at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology by Waema Maxwell Wambua
When I received the official invitation for PhD sandwich placement at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), I was not sure what to expect. After arriving in KIST,…
Promoting Doctoral Training for Prosperity in Africa
Eusebius J. Mukhwana, PhD Director General and CEO Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Nairobi, Kenya After decades of decline, African higher education is now arguably in a new era of…
Life, study and research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST): RSIF PhD scholar Sylvia Wairimu Maina’s story
My research title is “Deciphering Biosynthesis of Bioactive compounds in African Cabbage (Cleome gynandra)”. I am working on this local orphan crop that is used both as a vegetable and…
Icipe holds a Seminar on Enhancing Women’s Participation in PhD Programs and Research in Africa
Women’s participation in research remains low in Africa, with women making up only 30% of the science community. This is similar within the tertiary education sector in many countries. Some…
Life, study and research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST): RSIF PhD Scholar Noel Gahamanyi’s story.
As soon as I completed my field work and portion of my laboratory work that I could do at Sokoine University of Agriculture’s Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance…
RSIF Holds Orientation Training Workshop for Cohort II scholars
The Regional Scholarship and Innovation fund (RSIF) is organizing a six-day orientation and training workshop between 2-9 June 2020 for the recently selected 69 second cohort RSIF doctoral scholars. The…
Welcome to the RSIF Weekly Newsletters
Dear RSIF Stakeholders, We are indeed pleased to share with you our maiden issue of the RSIF Weekly Newsletter. We hope that the newsletter will be informative and help to…
Press Release: Major scholarship opportunity for African scientists
PASET-RSIF, Africa’s first Pan African Fund to support doctoral training, research and innovation, announces a Call for PhD funding. This is the third RSIF Call for PhD Students 30 April…
Meet Africa’s Future Leaders in Science, Engineering & Technology
March 5th, a lunch was organized at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington DC, as a showcase for the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) RSIF…
Postponement of RSIF Technical Annual Learning Meeting
After reviewing the current prevailing circumstances on the evolving Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic and the implications on the health and safety of participants, as well as emerging and potential difficulties…
Significant milestone for doctoral training, research and innovation in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, 7 October 2019: The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), in its capacity as the Coordination Unit of the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF),…
Very little beats tertiary education as a poverty-reducing investment, but it needs to be done right
Achieving the NDP’s higher education targets could lift more than 20% out of poverty by 2030. The extra resources can be understood as an important investment only if there is…
Media Invitation: Forum to deliberate strengthening of ASET training in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya – On Monday, 7 October, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), will host a high level discussion forum on strengthening Africa’s capacity in applied sciences,…
African Host Universities visit Keio University’s Graduate School of System Design and Management
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) Regional Coordination Unit, together with the World Bank organised a visit for representatives…
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
RSIF Institutional Capacity Building Program (RSIF- ICBP) The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) is an Africa-led initiative to strengthen skills in ASET fields in order…
Delegation from the German Bundestang (Federal Parliament) visits icipe
On July 11, 2019, icipe was honored to host members of the Committee of Education, Research and Technology Assessment of the German Federal Parliament. icipe has several collaborations with Germany…
Scholarship Opportunity for African Scientists
Press Release 26 June 2019 Major scholarship opportunity for African scientists PASET-RSIF, Africa’s most innovative doctoral training initiative, announces Call for PhD funding This opportunity is provided by the Regional…
Africa has the power to harness winds of change
The emergence of the Digital Economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution are radically transforming the way the world works. Governments and institutions are rapidly converting their public services to digital…
The PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) is seeking international experts to review RSIF applications for African Host Universities, PhD scholarships, Research Grants & Innovation Grants
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) is an Africa led initiative to address fundamental gaps in skills and knowledge necessary for long-term, sustained economic…