World Bank-funded Africa Centers of Excellence

The RSIF was established by African governments to help create a highly skilled labor force to propel Sub-Saharan Africa’s socioeconomic transformation. It funds PhD scholars in the fields of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (ASET) fields, to address the region’s acute gap in these fields. The RSIF is an initiative of the Africa-led Partnership for skills in

Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET). It is administered by the Association of African Universities.

Why Study:

• Study at some of Africa’s most competitive ASET programmes
• Receive a competitive stipend for living expenses and part of the tuition cost
• Opportunity to travel abroad to work with global researchers at premier international institutions
• Further support for post-PhD, development-focused research & innovation.
• The first RSIF PhD cohort begins by Oct. 2017.

Requirements:

• Citizens of a Sub-Saharan African country willing to enroll full-time in a PhD programme
• Current applicants to at least one of RSIF’s Host University in one of these areas: – Information Communications Technology – Food security – Mining, materials and minerals engineering
• Master’s degree holders in a relevant field of study.
• Note: Priority given to junior faculty members with 1-5 years of research experience

Institutions:

• UNIVERSITY OF GASTON BERGER SENEGAL Africa Center of Excellence for Mathematics, Informatics, and ICT (MITIC)
• UNIVERSITY OF FÉLIX HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY-BOG- CÔTE D’IVOIRE Africa Center of Excellence for Climate Change Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture (CCBAD)
• SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE TANZANIA Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans & Animals in Southern & Eastern Africa (SACIDS)
• AFRICAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NIGERIA Pan African Materials Institute (PAMI)

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Are junior African faculty/academic staff with 1-5 years of teaching/research experience but no PhD
• Have a compelling life history and academic trajectory
• Demonstrate a commitment to pursuing an academic career beyond the scholarship period
• Demonstrate leadership potential, such as community service in areas related to PASET RSIF fields of study
• Are women or ethnic minorities; have physical disabilities

Application Process

1. Call for application begins.
2. Students apply directly to the RSIF host Africa Centers of Excellence (ACEs) for admission, adhering to the centers’ own application procedures
3. In parallel, the applicants apply online for the RSIF scholarship.
4. Host centers review applications and admit qualified candidates into their programs.
5. From the admitted candidates, host centers nominate prospective scholars to the RSIF Implementation Unit (RIU) based on RSIF specific academic criteria.
6. The RIU then conducts initial screening of applications of nominated scholars and holds interviews (overseen by Executive Committee).
7. Following a final screening of scholars shortlisted by the interview committee, selected scholars are notified.
8. The RIU organizes an orientation for the successful candidates.
9. Scholars enroll and begin program based on the host center’s academic year calendar.

Application Documents Required

1. 1. Statement of purpose (750 words)
   2. Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcript
   3. Master’s degree certificate and transcript
   4. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
   5. Recommendation Letters (submit emails of two references)

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the PASET Regional Scholarship & Innovation Fund 2017