In a proactive move to bolster capacity and foster innovation in the water-sanitation-hygiene (WASH) sector, the African Water and Sanitation Association, under its Africap program, is rolling out research grants for Young Water and Sanitation Professionals. Supported by funding from USAID, these grants, valued at a maximum of USD 1,000 each, are specifically aimed at master's level students and engineers in the final stages of their training. The overarching goal of this initiative is to provide support for research projects culminating in scientific reports addressing key themes in the Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation sectors.
This scholarship program, which forms part of Africap's broader capacity-building efforts, has a commendable track record of success. During the academic years 2016-2019, it awarded sixty scholarships to students from eleven countries in West and Central Africa. The program is poised to extend its reach across the African continent for the period 2021-2024. Fifteen scholarships were granted for the 2021-2022 academic year, followed by an increase to twenty scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year. Notably, fifteen scholarships were generously provided by USAID, while five were contributed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through SAO CWIS to address the gender gap in WASH research.
Looking ahead to the upcoming academic year (2023-2024), fifteen scholarships will be up for grabs for students across Africa. The selected research themes encompass critical aspects of the WASH sector, spanning from innovative approaches to reducing Non-Revenue Water in water companies to the intersections of circular economy and climate change.
To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must be citizens of sub-Saharan African countries eligible for USAID funding. Complete applications must be submitted by April 15, 2024. The list of recipients for the 2023-2024 academic year will be unveiled by June 15, 2024, marking another milestone in the advancement of young professionals in the WASH sector across Africa.
Article by RB Reporter
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