Author: Pauline Achoka
Africa has the power to harness winds of change
The emergence of the Digital Economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution are radically transforming the way the world works.
Governments and institutions are rapidly converting their public services to digital platforms and entrepreneurs can now access larger markets and capitalize on skills and services from larger networks.
This transformation is enabling many new jobs and generating a great demand for digital skills.
By 2050, 525 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa will be under the age of 24. With 11 million youth entering the labor force each year, Sub-Saharan Africa has an enormous opportunity to take advantage of the incredible potential of the digital economy. Read more…
The PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) is seeking international experts to review RSIF applications for African Host Universities, PhD scholarships, Research Grants & Innovation Grants
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) is an Africa led initiative to address fundamental gaps in skills and knowledge necessary for long-term, sustained economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa. PASET established a Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) to contribute towards the training of a critical mass of PhD and post-doctoral candidates, and support research and innovation in the following priority thematic areas: ICTs including big data; food security and agribusiness; minerals, mining and materials engineering; energy including renewables; and climate change.
In 2018, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) was competitively selected by the World Bank and PASET to house the Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) for the PASET-RSIF. The overall goal of RSIF is to strengthen Africa’s institutional capacity for quality and sustainable doctoral training, research and innovation in transformative technologies in SSA. The RCU is developing a roster of international experts to provide evaluation and review of RSIF applications for African Host Universities, PhD scholarships, Research Grants & Innovation Grants. The RCU is seeking reviewers who are subject matter experts in at least one of the following priority thematic areas: ICTs including big data and artificial intelligence; food security and agribusiness; climate change; minerals, mining and materials engineering and energy. Applications are invited from experienced researchers with a track record of peer review of scientific publications, grant applications, higher education and involvement in scientific innovation and enterprise.
Expert reviewers will evaluate applications submitted to the RCU for the following four windows:
- African Host Universities to host PhD Scholarships, Research and Innovation grants in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology
- Scholarships for PhD training to be awarded to nationals of any SSA country interested in pursuing a PhD degree in one of the five thematic areas. Priority will be given to young faculty without PhDs and women.
- Innovation grants to be awarded to RSIF scholars and faculty to support innovations and the uptake of research into practical implementation through collaborations with industry.
- Research grants to be awarded to faculty engaged in PhD training in host universities in SSA and to RSIF graduates who obtain a post-doctoral or permanent position in an academic institution or research centre in SSA.
Scope of Engagement
- To conduct remote desk review of individual applications submitted to the RCU for the following; (i) African Host Universities, (ii) PhD scholarships, (ii) Research Grants and, (iv) Innovation Grants;
- To complete written evaluations of applications based on selection criteria within a stipulated time and provide recommendations in collaboration with team of thematic experts;
- To participate in remote/physical meetings to deliberate applications alongside thematic area experts where necessary.
Eligibility
- Applicants should be subject matter experts in at least one of the five themes targeted by the RSIF calls. This expertise should be evidenced by applicant’s publications (in refereed journals, books, conference papers) as well as research excellence (projects, technologies and other inventions).
- Applicants should be PhD holders from recognized universities.
- Applicants interested in reviewing proposals for the innovation grants should exemplify experience in areas of enterprise development, intellectual property, impact investments and innovation.
- Applicants should have a record of peer review of scientific publications, grant proposals and graduate students’ supervision.
Application Process
Interested applicants are asked to submit their CV using this link: http://cbid.icipe.org/apps/cbid/forms/rsif_reviewers_apply_2019.php
All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
If you have any questions, please email RSIF Regional Coordination Unit: rsif@icipe.org
For more information on PASET-RSIF visit: https://www.rsif-paset.org/
Korea, World Bank Join Forces to Build World-Class Scientific Capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa
BUSAN, May 23, 2018 – Today, the World Bank and the Government of Korea reinforced their ongoing partnership to support Sub-Saharan Africa’s universities and research institutions in growing highly qualified local talent in areas important for Africa’s transformation, such as renewable energy, big data, artificial intelligence, and engineering.
“Investments in human capital have the power to transform the economic trajectory of nations and will be particularly powerful in Africa, which has the youngest population in the world. The Korea-Africa initiative aims to propel ongoing efforts by African governments to build a stronger homegrown workforce in the science and technology fields – a valuable asset in the face of rapidly evolving labor markets,” said Annette Dixon, Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the World Bank and Korea on the margins of the African Development Bank Annual Meetings. Under the MoU, the Government of Korea will set up a $10 million trust fund at the World Bank to support the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF).
“This partnership between Korea and the World Bank towards the Africa region will establish a new milestone of tripartite cooperation, helping Africa build human capital and capacity in science and technology, while also contributing to the innovative growth of African countries by setting the foundation for Africa’s industrialization,” said Ko Hyoung-kwon, First Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, Republic of Korea.
“This partnership between Korea and the World Bank towards the Africa region will establish a new milestone of tripartite cooperation, helping Africa build human capital and capacity in science and technology, while also contributing to the innovative growth of African countries by setting the foundation for Africa’s industrialization,” said Ko Hyoung-kwon, First Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance, Republic of Korea.
Specific initiatives envisioned for the program include:
- Scholarship and research support to students and university faculty working on relevant transformative technologies across Sub-Saharan Africa;
- Funding of “sandwich” PhD training programs (programs incorporating international and home-based study) for scholars from African universities; and
- Collaborative research between faculty in Sub-Saharan Africa universities and Korean universities in priority areas such as information and communication technology, solar energy, energy storage, and engineering with a focus on the innovative growth sectors.
Ministers of Finance from four countries that have taken the lead in seeding the RSIF – Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire – attended the MoU signing ceremony.
About PASET
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) was launched in 2013 in recognition of the critical need to strengthen science, and technology capability for the socio-economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa. The Partnership functions as a convening platform by bringing together African governments and the private sector as well as new partner countries who have been investing heavily in Africa. To learn more, visit www.worldbank.org/paset.
About RSIF
The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) was established in 2015 by African governments to help create a highly skilled, technical-scientific labor force to meet the national development agenda and accelerate Sub-Saharan Africa’s socio-economic transformation. The RSIF aims to create a strong pipeline of researchers in applied sciences, engineering and technology fields who can engage with development challenges and foster greater collaboration between African universities and local and foreign industries. The scholarship program has been designed considering best practices of international programs with technical assistance financed by the World Bank. The five countries that have taken the lead – Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal – and several other sub-Saharan African countries have expressed strong interest in contributing to the initiative. The initiative, as part of PASET, is facilitated by the World Bank.
PRESS RELEASE NO: 2018/132/AFR
Contacts
Media coverage in the Korean press:
http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=3653842&ref=A
http://news.newsway.co.kr/view.php?tp=1&ud=2018052320370798826&md=20180523203720_AO
http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2018/05/23/0200000000AKR20180523167300002.HTML?input=1195m
http://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20180523_0000316503&cID=10401&pID=10400
http://www.edaily.co.kr/news/news_detail.asp?newsId=04457526619211872&mediaCodeNo=257&OutLnkChk=Y
Press Release: PASET Welcomes First Cohort of Future African Leaders in Science & Technology
ACCRA, Ghana, May 16, 2018 – The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) announced today that the first cohort of 15 young African scholars – funded by its Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) – has officially embarked on ambitious PhD research programs at four renowned universities across the region.
The 15 researchers, four of whom are women, were selected to be in the first cohort. They will study at some of Africa’s most competitive programs in applied sciences, engineering and technology, focusing their research on some of the biggest challenges facing the African continent, including food security, information & communication technology, and materials, minerals and mining engineering. The young researchers will attend one of the RSIF’s four host universities: Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, University Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Cote d’Ivoire, African University of Science and Technology in Nigeria, and University of Gaston Berger in Senegal.
Hon. Minister Mary Teuw Niane, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Senegal and Chairperson of the PASET Board of Directors, said: “We are delighted to welcome the first cohort of the RSIF scholars after an extremely rigorous and selective process. We are confident that they will lead the way for African science, research and innovation and will be strong ambassadors for the program. We wish them the best for the journey ahead and look forward to hearing of their success.”
The scholars are being funded by several African governments who have come together to seed the pan-African RSIF, demonstrating their willingness to pool efforts to build the technical-scientific capability of Africa. In addition, the Africa Center of Excellence, SACIDS, at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania also joined forces to fund the 16th scholar under this cohort. The scholarship not only covers tuition and living expenses for up to four years, but will also offer scholars the opportunity to participate in a “sandwich” program, allowing them to conduct part of their research alongside global researchers at a leading international partner institution such as the Korea Institute of Science and Technology. Upon completion of their PhD program, scholars will also be eligible to receive further support for ongoing research and innovation initiatives.
More than 1,000 candidates applied to the scholarship program, and underwent a rigorous two-stage selection process that included an assessment by the host universities as well as subsequent interviews by an independent international evaluation committee.
About PASET
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) was launched in 2013 in recognition of the critical need to strengthen science and technology capacity for the socio-economic development of sub-Saharan Africa. The Partnership, which is facilitated by the World Bank, functions as a convening platform by bringing together African governments and the private sector as well as new partner countries who have been investing heavily in Africa. To learn more, visit www.worldbank.org/paset
About RSIF
The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) was established in 2015 by African governments to help create a highly skilled, technical-scientific labor force to meet the national development agenda and accelerate sub-Saharan Africa’s socio-economic transformation. The RSIF aims to create a strong pipeline of researchers in applied sciences, engineering and technology fields who can engage with development challenges and foster greater collaboration between African universities and local and foreign industries. The scholarship program was designed taking into account best practices of other scholarship programs, including technical assistance from the Institute of International Education (which administers the Fulbright scholars program). The countries that have currently made firm commitments to the RSIF and who are represented on the PASET Board are Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal and others have expressed strong interest in participating in this initiative. To learn more, visit https://www.rsif-paset.org/
Contacts:
In Ghana: Osondu Joshua Onwuzuruigbo, +233-30-277-4495 / 761588, paset@aau.org
In Washington: Saori Imaizumi, +1-202-458-8090, simaizumi@worldbank.org
For more information about the PASET program visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/paset
News Release
2018/001/AFR
PASET RSIF Call for PhD Applications
The 2017 PASET RSIF Call for PhD Applications has been closed!
Download PASET RSIF Call for PhD Applications Flyer
To learn more click here
Application deadline was July 31, 2017 by 5pm GMT.
PASET RSIF Call for University Selection
The Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET) is an Africa-led initiative with the objective of strengthening the science, technology and engineering capability in sub-Saharan Africa to further its socio-economic transformation. The PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) will contribute towards training 10,000 PhDs in the fields of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (ASET) for priority sectors in 10 years, and building the capacity of a core of African universities to provide these trainings. The RSIF will be implemented through competitively selected universities in sub-Saharan Africa, which have the capacity to offer PhD programs in the selected thematic areas. The RSIF has been seeded by contributions from the Governments of Senegal, Rwanda and Ethiopia. The Association of African Universities (AAU) has been selected to administer the RSIF.
In RSIF’s first phase, the Africa Centers of Excellence (ACEs) that were selected for financing under the World Bank project will be invited to submit proposals for PhD programs to be included in the RSIF. Proposals are to be submitted to AAU and will be independently evaluated by expert committees. Between 4-6 Centers will be selected to be host institutions for the RSIF. These Centers will invite PhD applications according to the admission criteria and eligibility criteria laid down by RSIF. In the first phase, PhD programs in the following four thematic areas will be considered: Energy, Information & Communications Technology, Food security, and Mining, Minerals & Materials Sciences. The scholarship covers full tuition costs, stipend to cover living expenses, textbooks and research materials. About 60 PhD students will be financed in the first cohort (about 15 per center). Read full story at AAU.org >