Graduate Scholarships for African Students; PhD and MSc Graduate Scholarships for African Students – Apply for PhD and MSc Graduate Scholarships in the Cassava value chain, under the project “Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa” (SARD-SC), funded by the African Development Bank.
Cassava is a major food crop in sub-Sahara Africa and one of the most important sources for carbohydrates.
It is a major source of income for the farmers and a raw material for local industries.
In the past years, cassava production and processing have been facing a lot of challenges such as no supply chain structures for the commercialization of cassava products, high cost of the production versus low yields as well as production orientation towards subsistence and not commercialization.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (www.iita.org) and its SARD-SC project partners is working to develop new technologies and innovations to improve cassava production, processing and marketing so as to improve on food security and contribute to poverty reduction of target countries through a value chain approach.
These new technologies and innovations will be developed and promoted through platforms comprised of stakeholders from participating countries (DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Sierra Leone) and focusing on one of five main intervention areas: breeding, agronomy, agribusiness, gender, postharvest and policy.
Gender issues will be considered and incorporated through all these areas.
The SARD-SC project is aligned with national agricultural development plans and processes as smallholder cassava businesses in each country are already primed to boost productivity through their prior participation with other cassava projects.
PhD and MSc Graduate Scholarships for African Students – Number of Fellowships
As part of its human capacity building component, the project is offering up to ten (10) MSc and seven (7) PhD scholarships at African universities.
Scholarships will be comprehensive and include stipend, research costs, tuition, travel and insurance.
PhD and MSc Graduate Scholarships for African Students – Areas of Research
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is offering scholarships related to the cassava value chain, in the field of Agronomy/Natural Resource Management; Postharvest, Mechanization; Gender; Agribusiness; Marketing; or any other closely related field.
The research will comprise in-depth study of a relevant topic conducted in one of the SARD-SC cassava target countries.
Suggested topics are indicated – see links below, although the recruitment panel invites other topics related to the cassava value chain.
PhD and MSc Graduate Scholarships for African Students – Qualifications
- Candidates must satisfy the target university’s admission requirements for MSc or PhD studies.
- Candidates must have identified a supervisory Professor at a reputable target University in one of the eligible countries, who must have agreed to the research proposal written by the applicant.
- Strong preference is given to candidates already enrolled at a University, and who have finished all or most of the coursework requirements.
- Media for the thesis research program will be English, except for candidates from DR Congo where French may be used.
Graduate Scholarships Africa – Eligible Countries
- The scholarships are open to nationals from any African countries.
- Enrolment can be in any reputable African university.
Graduate Scholarships Africa – Application procedure
Candidates should apply by sending an email to IITA. Please identify which SARD-SC position for which you are applying.
All applicants are required to include:
- Bio data;
- BSc or MSc Certificate;
- A brief proposal of the research (one-page maximum);
- Endorsement letter by a supervisory Professor;
- Where applicable, proof of enrolment (Admission letter) at a reputable University;
- Where applicable, transcripts of MSc or PhD coursework at a reputable University.
- A completed version of the IITA Graduate Research Training – application form.
Graduate Scholarships Africa – Closing date 30th August.
See the links for more information; Graduate Scholarships for African Students