To encourage the participation of young African female students at postgraduate level, the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) in partnership with the World Bank has announced a two-year Fellowship Program for female students. This program aims to provide competitive Masters Scholarships to academically deserving future talents to promote regional female student mobility.

Eligible female applicants who can demonstrate interest to undertake postgraduate training in agriculture and related sciences are encouraged to apply for the 60 Fellowships available for the 2023/2024 academic year. The Fellowship Program is part of the additional financing of the Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence Project (ACE II AF), which is a collaboration between the World Bank and the Republics of Malawi and Mozambique.

The ACE II project has already made significant contributions to building the region's capacity in various priority economic sectors. However, there are still significant shortages in workers with high-level skills, particularly in the agriculture sector, which need to be addressed urgently. Furthermore, there are limitations in human resource capacity for undertaking applied research to increase agriculture productivity and food security in the region.

To address these challenges, the Fellowship Program aims to produce competent Masters and PhD holders for the regional market and improve the quality of teaching in higher education and quality of production and services in public and private sectors. The program seeks to encourage the participation of young African female students at postgraduate level and promote regional student mobility.

In order to be eligible for this Fellowship, the applicant must be a female national of one of the ACE II participating countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Burundi. The applicant must also be under the age of thirty-five (35) years, hold a Bachelor's Degree in agriculture and related fields from a reputable university at the level of Upper Second Class Honours, and have been admitted in any of the ACEs specialized in agriculture and related fields.

The Fellowship award provides financial support for each program, covering university tuition fees, stipends, research support, allowance, and air tickets. Candidates must complete all academic work within the specified period of the program as the scholarship cannot be extended beyond a maximum of 24 months.

This Fellowship Program is a great opportunity for young African female students who are interested in pursuing postgraduate training in agriculture and related sciences. It not only provides financial support but also promotes regional student mobility and helps to address the shortage of highly skilled labour in the region.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the Fellowship Program before the deadline set for June 15th 2023.

Photo courtesy / IUCEA

Article by Jed Mwangi

More details : https://www.iucea.org/call-for-masters-fellowship-applications-under-the-ace-ii-additional-financing-ace-ii-af-project/