Deadline: 15 June, 2020
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) is an African-led initiative with the goal of strengthening skills in applied sciences, engineering and technology (ASET) to further socioeconomic transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) is the flagship programme of PASET. RSIF focuses on transformative technologies that have a far-reaching positive impact on society. It is funded by contributions from African governments, the World Bank and the Government of Korea and facilitated by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi, Kenya.
RSIF aims to train quality PhD students and post-doctoral researchers at selected African universities (African host universities) to address the human resource gap of highly qualified specialists in the fields of ASET and to contribute to improving research and innovation capacities in those fields in Sub-Saharan Africa. RSIF also supports the strengthening of research and innovation ecosystems at the host universities by providing funding through competitive grants.
RSIF supports training, research and innovation in five PASET Priority Thematic Areas: ICT, including big data and artificial intelligence; food security and agri-business; minerals, mining and materials engineering; energy, including renewables; and, climate change.
Benefits
- The RSIF PhD scholarship covers university tuition and related fees, competitive stipend to cover living expenses, travel, medical insurance, and research costs
- RSIF PhD scholars will be supported to spend six to 24 months in a sandwich training at an international partner university, research institute or private company
- RSIF PhD scholars become part of a growing network of emerging leaders in ASET fields in Sub-Saharan Africa
- RSIF PhD scholars will have access to RSIF competitive research grants upon completion of their PhD
Eligibility
To be eligible for the RSIF PhD Scholarship, applicants must:
- Have a relevant master’s degree, completed less than six years before 30 April, 2020
- Meet the specific admission requirements of the RSIF African host university where they would like to pursue a PhD
- Be a citizen of a Sub-Saharan Africa country
- Be willing to enroll full-time in a PhD programme at an RSIF African host university in the 2020–2021 academic year
- Be willing to spend about 24 months in a sandwich research placement at an international partner
- Demonstrate that their research goals are well aligned to the priority thematic areas and contribute to Africa’s development
- Priority will be given to women and young academic faculty who do not have a PhD
To apply and for more information, click here.
Photo source: Basheer Tome
