RSIF PASET | Climate Change Archives - The PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund

RSIF Delegation Visits Haramaya University

Posted on October 11, 2024October 11, 2024 by Janet Otieno

The Regional Scholarship Innovation Fund (Rsif) Regional Coordination Unit International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) conducted a physical monitoring and evaluation field visit to Haramaya University, located in Eastern Ethiopia. Haramaya is one of the 15 Rsif African Host Universities (AHU).

The visit’s purpose was to discuss the ongoing selection and shortlisting process of Rsif cohort 6 scholarship applications, implementation status and progress of the ongoing PASET-Rsif funded PhD students at the university’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation (ACE Climate SABC).

The AHUs host Rsif sponsored PhD scholars in five priority thematic areas, including ICT including big data and artificial intelligence, Food security and agri-business, Minerals, mining and materials engineering, Energy including renewables and Climate change within the universities.

The team led by Dr Evelyn Nguku who is the capacity-building specialist, met the President of Haramaya University, Dr Jamal Yousuf (Associate Professor) and discussed the progress of Rsif scholars undertaking PhD in Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Management. They also discussed the development of future collaboration, including research and innovation projects.

Speaking during the occasion, Dr Yousuf stated that Haramaya University offers quality education and cutting-edge research and the university has received requests for collaboration in research from institutions across the world.

“We are happy the collaboration with Rsif programme has enabled several Ethiopian students to benefit from this scholarship,” he stated.

He added that education is a priority in Ethiopia and hopefully the Ethiopian Government will join other African countries as a contributing nation to the Rsif Project.

Rsif team led by Dr Evelyn Nguku who is the capacity-building specialist met the President of Haramaya University, Dr Jamal Yousuf — Rsif team led by Dr Evelyn Nguku, the capacity-building specialist, met the President of Haramaya University, Dr Jamal Yousuf.

The delegates participated in a campus tour to various laboratories led by Dr Tesfaye Lemma Tefera, Associate Professor of Rural Development and Agriculture Extension and the Rsif co-coordinator at Haramaya University, Dr Bobe Bedadi, the Deputy Centre Leader and Training Research Head and Dr Mulugeta Damie Watabaji, Project Manager at ACE Climate SABC.

On his part, Dr Tefera said the university has so far received two cohorts of Rsif scholars and all have successfully finished their coursework and defended their proposals.

Dr Bedadi took the Rsif delegation through a brief overview of Haramaya University’s milestones and mentioned that they are ensuring that they produce competent graduates. He also stated that the collaboration with Rsif has enabled them to have students from West Africa. “Initially, we had students coming from Eastern and Southern parts of Africa, but because of Rsif Programme, we now have students from Western Africa,” he stated.

Dr Watabaji said the university has several well-equipped laboratories that support various research projects undertaken by the students.

On her part, Dr Nguku mentioned Rsif’s objective of bridging the PhD gap in Africa in the Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (ASET) to support the broader objective of the continent.

“Rsif is contributing to the wider vision of PASET of producing 10,000 doctoral graduates in a decade,” Dr Nguku stated.

“We look at the quality of graduates, timely completion of the PhD programme and fostering partnerships between universities and the private sector/industries to find solutions to local challenges,” Dr Nguku stated and added that the laboratories at Haramaya University are undertaking cutting-edge research, and Rsif is confident its scholars will be mentored and be competent in their specific research areas.

Dr Nguku and the Rsif delegation also had the opportunity to meet Kenyan graduate students studying in the university’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation.

More similar visits are being conducted across other AHUs.

Shaping the Future: Experts Unite in Mozambique to Strengthen PhD Programmes for Food Security and Climate Action

Posted on September 27, 2024September 27, 2024 by Janet Otieno

Maputo, Mozambique – A pivotal symposium was recently held at the University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, to address the urgent need to strengthen PhD programmes and research collaborations aimed at tackling escalating food insecurity exacerbated by climate change.

The event which was organised by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) – the Regional Coordination Unit for the Africa Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund for Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (Rsif) – in collaboration with UEM’s African Centre of Excellence in Agri-Food Systems and Nutrition, brought together leading scholars, researchers and policy makers across Africa.

Themed “Building Resilient Agrifood Systems and Climate Action in Mozambique,” the symposium convened academics and researchers from Mozambique and Rsif African Host Universities (AHUs) with PhD programmes in food security – Sokoine University of Agriculture ( Tanzania), University of Ghana (Ghana), Makerere University (Uganda), and Haramaya University (Ethiopia) – to collectively share climate mitigation and adaptation strategies to improve food production, pest control, and environmental sustainability. Rsif has enrolled 282 PhD students since 2018 in 15 AHUs, with 33.69 % undertaking PhD studies in food security and climate change.

With a report from Food and Agriculture Organisation raising a red flag that over 282 million people across Africa are facing food insecurity, worsened by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, initiatives like Rsif play an important role in building resilient agrifood systems and addressing Africa’s skills gap in agriculture and climate science.

Keynote Insights and Future Directions

Dr. Rachida Mamade, Director of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, highlighted that Mozambique’s Government, through the MozSkills project, has pledged substantial resources to PhD training and innovation in agriculture, aiming to foster a skilled workforce capable of driving agricultural transformation.

Dr. Mamade remarked, “The support from Rsif and MozSkills is pivotal in creating sustainable solutions for Mozambique’s future.”

The symposium showcased UEM’s recent PhD programmes, focusing on pest management, microbial contamination in crops, and nutritional enhancements in soybeans and maize – all important for strengthening Mozambique’s agricultural resilience which in turn would boost food security for the citizenry.

On her part, Dr Ana Menezes, from The World Bank hailed the efforts of Rsif and the MozSkills project in advancing doctoral training and research capacity in Mozambique.

“The collaboration between Rsif African Host Universities and Mozambican institutions like the University Eduardo Mondlane is critical for addressing pressing challenges in food security and climate resilience. By working together, we can build stronger research ecosystems that not only benefit Mozambique but also contribute to sustainable development across Africa,” Dr Menezes said.

Dr Julius Ecuru, Manager, Research and Innovation Coordination Units at icipe, underscored the crucial role of such partnerships in equipping students with the skills needed to become independent scientists who contribute to their countries’ development. “With access to top facilities and diverse academic cultures, our students are globally competitive and can make significant contributions upon returning home,” Dr Ecuru stated.

The participants at the symposium also pointed out critical challenges in PhD training, including delayed graduation due to weak student- supervisor relationships, weak mentorship, low employability of PhD graduates and few post-doctoral programmes.

In tackling the challenges mentioned, the symposium participants proposed various recommendations to establish capacity building workshops, continuous mile stone tracking for the purpose of accountability and supervisor seminars to improve PhD completion timeline.

Besides a proposal to buttress university incubation centres to help PhD students commercialize their research, employers were also urged to recognize the diverse skillset PhD graduates have. Furthermore, participants highlighted the need for dedicated resources to establish postdoctoral and mentorship programmes and emphasized the importance of enhancing student and faculty mobility through international research collaborations.

The symposium discussed and agreed to work together to address challenges in fostering research collaboration, particularly poor research infrastructure and the weak link between research and industry needs. Universities were urged to allocate more funds to improve research facilities and leverage development grants to procure essential equipment. It was recommended that PhD programmes aim to solve real-world industry problems, with curricula updated to align with industry demands. Strengthening partnerships with industry and technical vocational institutes (TVETs) was also emphasized to enhance mentorship and provide PhD students with access to specialised resources and equipment.

Looking Ahead

The symposium set a strong foundation for continued collaboration between Rsif AHUs and UEM, aiming to grow this into a formidable network of African universities with globally recognised PhD programmes in agricultural and food systems and climate action.

The event provided a clear roadmap for strengthening doctoral training and promoting regional cooperation to build resilient agrifood systems in the face of growing climate adversity.

Cameroonian Female Scientist Pioneers Hydrogen Fuel Models with Less Carbon Emission

Posted on September 16, 2024September 18, 2024 by Janet Otieno

As the world marks International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, we highlight the work of Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche, a Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) scholar, recognised for her contributions to sustainability at COP28 in Dubai. The 28-year-old Cameroonian is pursuing a Ph.D. in renewable energy at the University of Nairobi, with a research placement at the Korea Institute of Energy Research. RSIF is the flagship program of the Partnership for Skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology (PASET), an Africa-led, World Bank-affiliated initiative.

Christelle’s work involves developing hydrogen fuels as a renewable energy for pioneering automobiles and transforming the transport sector in Cameroon to be sustainable. Her focus on hydrogen as a renewal energy source reduces carbon emissions. The buildup of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes warming of the earth, and a cooling effect in the stratosphere where ozone is found. According to scholars, this cooling effect of the stratosphere increases the depletion of the ozone layer.

Reducing carbon emissions

Carbon emissions from fossil fuels use lead to warming of the earth as she explains, “reliance on non-sustainable energy sources like fossil fuels contributes to ozone depletion.” Therefore, developing more sustainable solutions like hydrogen fuels reduces carbon emissions. Her journey into sustainability began four years ago when she learned about Rsif’s mission to build a skilled workforce in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), especially among women.

“Applying was the best decision of my life,” Christelle said. “The funding allowed me to develop my master’s research on clean, affordable, and reliable electricity in developing countries. Rsif opened doors for collaborations with African and global institutions like the Korea Institute of Energy Research. I have worked on cutting-edge projects in carbon neutrality and gained invaluable professional skills.”

Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche Participating-entrepreneurship-training-workshop-RSIF. Photo/Courtesy — *Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche participating in entrepreneurship training workshop organized by Rsif. Photo/Courtesy*

One of the challenges Christelle faced pursuing a Ph.D. in Cameroon was the lack of financial support. “Rsif not only provided the funding I needed but also access to high-tech equipment and software crucial to my research. I’ve presented at local and international conferences and collaborated with leading researchers, and publishing in high-impact journals has boosted my work’s credibility,” she stated.

Christelle’s research addresses the critical issue of Africa’s high carbon intensity in energy production. Despite being the fourth-largest greenhouse gas emitter globally, only 24.37 per cent of Africa’s energy comes from low-carbon sources.

Ozone depletion

“Cameroon’s transport sector is its largest source of CO2 emissions,” she noted. “While at the Korea Institute of Energy Research, I developed a power-to-mobility model using hydrogen to decarbonize transportation. Several studies have pointed out that transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions which can indirectly affect ozone depletion. Therefore, Christelle’s efforts in the long run aims to contribute to the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions while supporting Cameroon’s energy transition which aligns with the global efforts of climate change mitigation to protect the ozone layer.

“I aim to contribute data-driven insights for policymakers to develop climate solutions,” she said. “It’s crucial that my research translates into real-world impact, addressing climate change through practical policies.”

Christelle’s work addresses two key challenges facing Africa: lack of access to power and climate change. The energy sector is a significant contributor to climate change which can exacerbate ozone depletion. Her innovative solutions like designing three mini grids to meet the energy needs of 18,000 people in Garoua, Cameroon are designed to provide clean, affordable, and reliable electricity across sectors like healthcare and transportation industry. This contributes to stabilizing the climate, which is essential for the recovery and maintenance of the ozone layer.

“I’m contributing knowledge that can influence socio-economic growth and strengthen local research capacities,” she said. “By publishing in international journals, attending conferences, and collaborating with institutions, I’m helping place African science at the forefront.”

Looking ahead, Christelle believes Africa’s future in climate research lies in sectors like food security, renewable energy, and materials engineering. Protecting the ozone layer is essential for ensuring food security through stable agricultural production, while advancements in material engineering can promote sustainable practices that enhance food security and mitigate environmental impacts. “Rsif is supporting young scholars like me to tackle these critical areas.”

She concluded with a message for young African researchers: “Focus on solving relevant issues within your community, ground your work in science and technology, and engage with local stakeholders to ensure your research makes a difference. Stay resilient, because climate action to reduce ozone depletion require long-term commitment.”

Rsif scholars recognized for their research contribution to a sustainable future

Posted on December 15, 2023December 19, 2023 by Sakina Kahindi

During global talks on climate change mitigation and adaptation at the recently concluded COP28 in Dubai, Rsif scholars Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche and Rehema Mrutu were recognized for their research contribution to a sustainable future. Christelle (28 years) is a Cameroonian national pursuing a PhD in renewable energy at the Department of Physics, University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenya with research placement to the Korea Institute of Energy Research in Korea and Rehema (33 years) is a Tanzanian national pursuing a PhD in Natural Resource Management and Climate Change at the Centre of Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University Kano, Nigeria with research placement at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in USA. Rehema was selected as a winning candidate at the Climate, Food and Farming Global Research Alliance Development (CLIFF-GRADS) award at the COP28 in Dubai. CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative of the Mitigate+: Research for Low Emissions Food Systems of the CGIAR and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

Rehema is developing a CRISPR engineered strain to cut down methane emissions in cows and improve meat and milk production. The award aims to advance one of her research objectives on developing cheap and efficient means to divert the key substrate “hydrogen” in methane production to acetic acid, which is a by-product that can be used by the cow to improve meat and milk production. Rehema believes these data are urgently needed for researchers to decide on which microorganisms in the rumen needs manipulation to both develop long term methane mitigations measures and ensure food security. The CLIFF-GRADS award comes with a grant of USD 14,000 for a 4-6 months research stay at The University of Connecticut, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology in USA.

Christelle on the other hand received a Best Paper Award for outstanding contribution to the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Renewable Energy (AFORE), held in Jeju, South Korea from 7-11 November 2023 with Theme: Pathways to Carbon Neutrality 2050. Her presentation was on Techno-Economic Comparative Analysis of Photovoltaic Panel/Wind Turbine/ Hydrogen Storage, Photovoltaic Panel/Wind Turbine/Battery Systems for Powering a Simulated House including Hydrogen Vehicle Load at Jeju Island (published in MDPI’s Energies journal here). Christelle is financed by the Government of Korea through a PASET-Rsif scholarship, and her research placement is at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) in South Korea.

Christelle’s PhD research work has also been published in the Journal Energy Conversion and Management (Impact factor of 10:4) here. One of the causes of frequent power outages in developing countries is the global mismatch between supply and demand, which can have devastating effects. The study highlights the techno-economic and environmental significance of using a supercapacitor (SC) as a backup in contrast to a diesel generator (DG), as well as the validation of its compatibility with storage batteries because of the provision of a robust energy management approach.

Christelle hopes that her research will provide insights into reducing frequent load shedding in Cameroon, which often leads to power surges that destroy equipment, cause fires, disrupt education services and the proper functioning of health care services.

“In Africa, our journey towards clean energy is not just a possibility; it’s an imperative. Our rich natural resources are the key to sustainable, accessible energy for all, shaping a greener, brighter future. I believe we can do it. “ – Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche, Rsif scholar in Energy including renewables.

Christelle’s PhD supervisory team includes Prof. Bernard Aduda (UoN), Dr. Hanki Kim (KIER), Prof. Sebastian Waita (UoN) and Dr. Peter Moses Musau (South Eastern Kenya University).

Korea contributes to the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif) of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), since 2018. Its contribution of USD 9 million is to train Sub-Saharan African PhD students and to provide grants for research and innovation projects in strategic high potential sectors. Through PASET-Rsif Korea builds strong institutions and future science leaders to drive a science and technology-led growth and development to the mutual benefit of Africa, Korea and the world. The strong partnership between the Government of Korea, universities and PASET-Rsif contributes to boost exchange between African and Korean universities, researchers and faculties in the science and technology area.

Rsif combines intra-Africa academic exchange and international partnerships for world-class doctoral training. Research placement at an advanced institution gives exposure to cutting-edge technologies and nurtures connections with global research networks. Moreover, Rsif promotes Africa regional integration, strengthening centers of excellence and innovation ecosystems. The design of Rsif as a Pan-African partnership and a jointly pooled science fund gives better economies of scale and is professionally managed by the Rsif Regional Coordination Unit at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe).

Photos: (1) Rsif scholar Christelle Arielle Mbouteu Megaptche (on the right) received a Best Paper Award at the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Renewable Energy (AFORE) in Jeju, South Korea; (2) Rsif scholar Rehema Mrutu (in the lab) received a CLIFF-GRADS award during COP28 in Dubai.