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) requests applications from Universities & Africa Centers of Excellence in sub-Saharan Africa to join the program as RSIF African Host Universities.
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), is an initiative by African governments to address fundamental gaps in skills and knowledge necessary for long-term, sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). PASET was launched in 2013 by the governments of Senegal, Ethiopia and Rwanda, while the governments of Kenya and Ivory Coast have since joined the partnership. PASET established a Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) to contribute towards the training of a critical mass of PhD and post-doctoral candidates, and support research and innovation in the following priority thematic areas: ICTs including big data and artificial intelligence; food security and agribusiness; minerals, mining and materials engineering; energy including renewables; and climate change. RSIF focuses on transformative technologies that have a far-reaching positive impact on society. It is currently funded by contributions from African governments, the World Bank and the Government of Korea; and implemented by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya, as the RSIF Regional Coordination Unit (RCU-icipe).
The RSIF is implemented through competitively-selected universities in SSA (‘RSIF African Host Universities’) that offer a PhD program in one of the priority thematic areas. Currently, there are 11 African Host Universities in the RSIF program.
African Host Universities train PhD students on full RSIF Scholarships and can apply for RSIF Research and Innovation Grants. African Host Universities also gain access to RSIF capacity building opportunities including student and faculty training, graduate program management, research management, ICT, and innovation hub development, and library strengthening. African Host Universities can also benefit from international collaboration with world-class institutions and universities outside the region to improve curricula, teaching and research methods, develop joint R&D and innovation projects, and arrange exchange visits. Through the RSIF, African Host Universities gain world-wide recognition as premier institutions for PhD programs in an ASET priority thematic area.
- The RSIF Regional Coordination Unit is seeking a further 4 Universities/PhD programs to join the RSIF program.
- Applications are welcome from existing RSIF African Host Universities and invited World Bank-funded Africa Centers of Excellence.
- Applications must focus on a PhD program at the university/center in one of the following eligible thematic areas: (1) ICTs including big data and artificial intelligence, (2) Food Security and agribusiness, (3) Energy including renewables, and (4) Climate change.
- Invited Africa Centers of Excellence are eligible to make one application in their relevant area.
- Existing African Host Universities are eligible to make one application in each of the eligible thematic areas except the area for which they were previously selected.
- Announcement of final selection: February-March 2021
Further information and how to apply:
Information for Applicants (English)
Information for Applicants (French) [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]