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). In February 2021, the Government of Benin signed an agreement with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), the Regional Coordination Unit of RSIF, joining Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal. Further investments have been provided by the World Bank, the Government of South Korea and the European Union.
“We believe that the objectives of RSIF / PASET are aligned with our strategies for building scientific, technical and innovation capacities in priority areas such as agriculture, environment, energy, digital, infrastructure and health. In addition, the intra-African partnership and that with the other continents as provided for in this program is essential for socio-economic development in Benin and in Sub-Saharan Africa“, declares Professor Eléonore YAYI LADEKAN, Minister of Higher Education and of Scientific Research of the Republic of Benin.
Read the full press release here
NEWS AND EVENTS
- Tel Aviv University and icipe presents: Celebrating the Food Planet Prize: Research and Development for a Better World. Webinar link here. Date: 25 March 2021 at 15:00 GMT
- (PASET-RSIF) This week, the RCU held a meeting with representatives of the Samsung Dream Scholarship Foundation. So far, the Foundation provides partial scholarships for RSIF PhD Students in Korea.
- (PASET-RSIF) The RCU met with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to explore RSIF partnership around entrepreneurship.
- (PASET-RSIF) EVENT: 9th RSIF Guest Webinar. Speaker: Dr. Rose M. Mutiso, CEO and co-founder of the Mawazo Institute. Topic: “Path to research and thought leadership for early career African scientists”. Register in advance here. Date: 31 March 2021
- (PASET-RSIF) Pre-call announcement for RSIF Calls for Proposals – Opening Soon:
We congratulate RSIF PhD student Emmanuel Kifaro, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania: ILRI CapDev Grand Challenge Winner in the BioSciences Category – 2nd place. He will get 10 months of training, in systems thinking, science communications, public speaking and engagement, negotiation, management and personal development.
RSIF Project of the Week
RSIF awards competitive research and innovation grants that complement the PhD training at African universities by supporting research that promotes scientific excellence and use of knowledge for development impact.
Controlling indoor air pollution in Sub-Saharan households. Case study: Rwanda
Project Title: Real time Assessment of the indoor air pollution in Sub-Saharan households (Case study: Rwanda rural and urban areas)
Grant Type: Research Award
University: University of Rwanda
Project Leader: Dr Frederic Nzanywayingoma
Collaborating partners: Makerere University, Uganda and Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)
Meet Three of RSIF’s 82 PhD Scholars
Name: Harriet Sibitenda
Nationality: Ugandan
African Host University: University of Gaston Berger (UGB), Senegal, Africa Centre of Excellence for Mathematics, Informatics and ICT (MITIC)
PASET Thematic Area: ICT including Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
Research Area: Analyzing African social networks data to identify development tracks for Africa
Name: Nduwayezu Anastase
Nationality: Rwandan
African Host University: University Félix Houphouët-Boigny (U-FHB), Côte d’Ivoire, Africa Center of Excellence for Climate Change Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture (CCBAD)
PASET Thematic Area: Climate Change
Research Area: The effect of climate change on potato crop: impact on intensity and yield, and farmer perceptions
Name: Safianu Omar
Nationality: Ghanaian
African Host University: University of Rwanda, Africa Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (ACEIoT)
PASET Thematic Area: ICT, including big data and artificial intelligence
Research Area: Post-harvest loss management of grain crops with data fusion and big data analytics
PUBLICATIONS
- (PASET-RSIF) Hakizimana, J.N.; Yona, C.; Kamana, O.; Nauwynck, H.; Misinzo, G. African Swine Fever Virus Circulation between Tanzania and Neighboring Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Viruses 2021, 13, 306. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13020306
- (PASET-RSIF) Fisher M, Nyabaro V, Mendum R, Osiru M (2020) Making it to the PhD: Gender and student performance in sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS ONE 15(12): e0241915. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241915
- (NEW) Beatrice W. Muriithi, Nancy Gathogo, Ivan Rwomushana, Gracious Diiro, Samira Mohamed Faris, Fathiya Khamis, Chrysantus Tanga & Sunday Ekesi (2021) Farmers’ knowledge and perceptions on fruit flies and willingness to pay for a fruit fly integrated pest management strategy in Gamo Gofa zone, Ethiopia, International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2021.1898178
COVID-19
- (PASET-RSIF) The ADVANCE Journal – Covid-19 Special Issue, focusing on how the pandemic is affecting women in higher education. Also featuring experiences of three RSIF scholars on studying abroad during the pandemic
- Elsevier’s Novel Coronavirus Information Center
- Coronavirus: Research, Commentary, and News – free content from the Science journals
- Coronavirus Funding Monitor
FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS AND AWARDS
- Nature Research Awards for Driving Global Impact Deadline: 21 March 2021
- Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (Japan Award) 2021 Deadline: 22 March 2021
- British Ecological Society Research Grant for Ecologists in Africa Deadline: 23 March 2021
- (NEW) IPCC Scholarship for PhD students Deadline: 28 March 2021
- L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents – Sub-Saharan Africa program Deadline: 29 March 2021
- Future Food Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers – A Swiss Research Initiative launched by ETH Zurich and EPFL Deadline: 31 March 2021
- UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences Deadline: 31 March 2021
- 2021 UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences Deadline: 31 March 2021
- ICGEB Arturo Falaschi Fellowship Programmes, PhD and Postdoctoral awards Deadline: 31 March 2021
- Eisenhower Fellowships 2021 Africa Program for regional leaders fighting climate change Deadline: 31 March 2021
- LEAP-RE Call for AU-EU Collaborative Research and Innovation projects on Renewable Energy Deadline: 1 April 2021
- Organic Farming Innovation Award 2021 Deadline: 1 April 2021
- Volkswagen Stiftung Freigeist Fellowships Deadline: 1 April 2021
- Afrika Kommt Fellowship – an initiative of German industry for future leaders from Africa Deadline: 2 April 2021
- Managing Organization (Hub) for Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action Innovation Research Network in Africa Deadline: 5 April 2021
- Open Africa Power 2021 program for African students Deadline: 6 April 2021
- TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences (Individuals) Deadline: 14 April 2021
- TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences (Groups) Deadline: 14 April 2021
- OWSD PhD Fellowships Deadline: 15 April 2021
- IMU – Simons African Fellowship Program Deadline: 15 April 2021
- Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme for young African researchers Deadline: 16 April 2021
- UM6P/EPFL EXAF 100 PhDs for Africa Deadline: 20 April 2021
- Google PhD Fellowship Program Computer Science Deadline: 21 April 2021
- (NEW) Engineering for Development (E4D) Doctoral Scholarship Programme at ETH Zurich Deadline: 30 April 2021
- Siemens Stiftung E-Mobility Innovation Call 2021: “Electric Mobility Made in Africa for Africa” Deadline: 30 April 2021
- 2021 AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants for junior researchers Deadline: 30 April 2021
- The World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program Deadline: 30 April 2021
- 3rd cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award Deadline: 30 April 2021
- World Food Prize 2022 Deadline: 1 May 2021
- Zayed Sustainability Prize Deadline: 6 May 2021
- TWAS─Atta-ur-Rahman Award in Chemistry Deadline: 12 May 2021
- TWAS─Abdool Karim Award in Biological Sciences Deadline: 12 May 2021
- TWAS─Samira Omar Innovation for Sustainability Award Deadline: 12 May 2021
- TWAS-CAS Young Scientists Award for Frontier Science Deadline: 12 May 2021
- Einstein Fellowship Deadline: 15 May 2021
- Africa Food Prize 2021 Deadline: 25 May 2021
- NORPART – Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation Deadline: 27 May 2021
- Bonn SDG Fellowships Deadline: 31 May 2021
- Argelander Scholarships for doctoral candidates from universities in the Global South Deadline: 31 May 2021
- TWAS-SN Bose Postgraduate Fellowship Programme Deadline: 31 May 2021
- TWAS-SN Bose Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme Deadline: 31 May 2021
- Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) – PhD Deadline: 1 June 2021
- The Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application Deadline: 15 June 2021
- MIT Solve – Resilient Ecosystems Deadline: 16 June 2021
- MIT Solve – Digital Inclusion Deadline: 16 June 2021
- MIT Solve – Health Security & Pandemics Challenge Deadline: 16 June 2021
- GBIF Young Researchers Award Deadline: 21 June 2021
- TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme Deadline: 31 July 2021
- TWAS-CSIR Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme Deadline: 31 July 2021
- SPIRIT – Swiss Programme for International Research by Scientific Investigation Teams Deadline: 2 November 2021
- NRF One Call for Proposals 2021/2022 Deadline: varies by programme as detailed in the general application guide here
- Seeding Labs Instrumental Access
- Mobility grants for research stays at Danish universities and other research institutions – open until 2020 funds exhausted
SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAINING
- (NEW) Google Career Certificates to help African learn new skills for digital jobs Deadline: ongoing
- DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses Master’s Scholarships in the framework of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation Deadline: varies
- An Open Call to Higher & Tertiary Education Institutions in Africa to Apply for the 2021 AAU Facilitated Institutional Workshops
- (NEW) DeepMind Masters Scholarships in AI at Makerere University – opening soon
- Young Entrepreneurs in Science Webinar ‘Start-up and make it social’ – apply in advance Date: 22 March 2021
- Invest your talent in Italy scholarships, Master in Italy Deadline: 26 March 2021
- Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) West Africa Cohort 12, online Deadline: 26 March 2021
- Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships Programme Deadline: 26 March 2021
- ANSO Scholarship for Young Talents, MSc or PhD in China, Deadline: 31 March 2021
- MCI – The Entrepreneurial School, Ban-Ki Moon Scholarship on SDGs, Masters Deadline: 31 March 2021
- AIMS Structured Master’s Program Deadline: 31 March 2021
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Deadline: 9 April 2021
- UNU-IAS Degree programmes in sustainability, MSc and PhD in Japan Deadline: 9 April 2021
- Eni-MEDEA Master scholarship in Energy for study in Italy Deadline: 18 April 2021
- WASCAL Scholarship International Master in Energy and Green Hydrogen Deadline: 30 April 2021
- Loughborough Development Trust Africa Scholarships Deadline: 30 April 2021
- TechWomen 2022 – US Government programme for women in STEM to study in the US Deadline: 6 May 2021
- Mauritius Africa Scholarships Scheme 2021 Deadline: 14 May 2021
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Deadline: 31 May 2021
- DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme Sub-Saharan Africa, Masters and PhD Deadline: 15 June 2021 Please note, universities set their own internal deadlines!
- FAO Fellows Programme Deadline: 8 August 2021
- Japanese government MEXT scholarships for study in Japan 2021
- Call for NRF Postgraduate Scholarships 2021
- Knowledge for Tomorrow – Cooperative Research Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa with German partner – Workshops, Symposia and Summer Schools in Africa Deadline: apply any time
- Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) • DAAD Deadlines: see list
CALL FOR PAPERS AND CONFERENCES
- 15th AAU General Conference & 21st Conference of Rectors, VCs & Presidents of African Universities, 5-8 July 2021. Call for submission of abstracts on “The Future of African Higher Education” Deadline: 31 March 2021
- GAPSYM14: Africa and its ecologies: people and nature in the age of climate change 10 December 2021, Call for papers. Deadline for abstract submission: 1 May 2021
- Call for papers to the Special Issue on Achieving sustainability in family farming in Current Research in Environmental Sustainability. Deadline: 31 May 2021
- Going Global 2021, Reimagining International Higher Education for a post-pandemic world, virtual, Date: 15-17 June 2021.
- Call for rapid fire manuscripts in Global Food Security on foodborne zoonotic pathogens: what do we know and how can we do better? 3000 words or less for rapid review.
ONLINE RESOURCES AND DISTANCE LEARNING
- Gender Mainstreaming in Higher Education Toolkit by inasp
- EVENT: 9th RSIF Guest Webinar. Speaker: Dr. Rose M. Mutiso, CEO and co-founder of the Mawazo Institute. Topic: “Path to research and thought leadership for early career African scientists”. Register in advance here. Date: 31 March 2021
- (PASET-RSIF) “How to increase the value of intellectual assets in an academic and research setting” Recording of the 6th RSIF Monthly Webinar Series with Dr Julius Ecuru, Head BioInnovate, icipe
- (PASET-RSIF) Solution Session: Continue Teaching Your Course Online during the Covid-19 Crisis
- Facilitating Events and Courses in an Online World Free Moodle by inasp
- African Scientists Directory – Connecting African scientists globally
- Mawazo Learning Exchange (MLEx): a professional development platform for African researchers
- UNESCO portal of distance learning solutions.
JOBS AND CONSULTANCIES
- Expression of interest – Virtual workshop delivery – Commonwealth Futures Climate Research cohort. Workshops in Research leadership, Knowledge exchange and Research-to-action. Open for ACU universities. Deadlines: 19 March, 2 April and 16 April 2021
- ESSA, AAU and WEG launch the African Jobs Board