Rsif doctoral training impact
Between January – June 2024, 18 Rsif PhD scholars completed their dissertations, contributing to the Fund’s vision to build a sustainable pan-African science base, while advancing global knowledge and scientific research that addresses critical challenges in Africa. Selected examples:
Climate change: Fenet Belay (Ethiopia); registered at Bayero University Kano, Nigeria (African Host University – AHU), sandwich placement at Greenwich University Institute of Natural Resource Management, UK (International Partner Institution – IPI) demonstrated how smallholder farmers in her home country can adapt to climate change through improved crop varieties, irrigation technology, and crop diversification. She is currently working as a lecturer, researcher, and community server in the College of Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine at Jimma University, Ethiopia.
Yéfoungnigui Souleymane Yeo (Côte d’Ivoire); registered at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Côte d’Ivoire (AHU) with sandwich placement at French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, France (IPI) focused on addressing the challenges faced by mango farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. His research findings support the development of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that can be adapted to local soil and climatic conditions.
Mwende Mbilo (Kenya) who was registered at the University of Nairobi, Kenya (AHU) with sandwich placement at Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), South Korea (IPI) advanced solar energy technology with her work on organic solar cells. She is currently pursuing a course at the African Leadership Academy in South Africa.
Minerals, mining and materials engineering: Jonas Bayuo (Ghana); registered at The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIS, Tanzania (AHU) with sandwich placement at the Institute of Green BioScience & Technology, Seoul National University, South Korea (IPI), developed innovative methods to remove toxic substances from water, contributing to public health and environmental protection. Jonas is currently a lecturer and researcher at the C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Ghana. He is the lead researcher in a recently awarded project funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York, USA under the Rsif Junior Investigator Research Award (JIRA).
Ruth Lorivi Moirana (Tanzania), registered at NM-AIST, Tanzania (AHU) with sandwich placement at the University of Greenwich Natural Resources Institute (NRI), UK (IPI), researched soil contamination, offering solutions to improve agriculture around Mount Meru. She is currently a Lecturer in Material Science and Engineering at NM-AIST, Tanzania and the current lead researcher in a project funded by PASET-Rsif under the Junior Investigator Research Award (JIRA).
Energy: Sami Florent (Burkina Faso); registered at the University of Nairobi, Kenya (AHU) with sandwich placement at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco (IPI), addressed his country’s load-shedding challenges through grid-connected photovoltaic systems. He is the President of the ‘Association pour le Développement et la Lutte contre le Changement Climatique (ADLCC)’, Burkina Faso, since 2021.
ICT including big data and artificial intelligence: Zakaria Sawadogo (Burkina Faso); registered at Gaston Berger University, Senegal (AHU) with sandwich placement at Greenwich University, UK (IPI), tackled mobile security with a focus on Android malware. As he seeks new career prospects, he offers considerable expertise in ICTs, focusing on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence as a Researcher.