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WACWISA is sponsored by the Ghanaian government and the World Bank through the African Centers of Excellence Impact (ACE Impact) project, and it also partners with other funding organizations to explore new and emerging pathways for advancing knowledge. The West African Centre for Water, Irrigation, and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) Masters and PhD Scholarships 2021/2022 are now open for applications. The Scholarship is provided by the Ghanaian government and the World Bank (WB) to assist promising African students in pursuing Masters (MSC/MPhil) and PhD study programs in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Environmental Management and Sustainability, and related research in the West African sub-region in particular and the Africa Region in general.

About the Scholarship:

The University for Development Studies (UDS) established the West African Centre for Water, Irrigation, and Sustainable Agriculture (WACWISA) in 2019 as a semi-autonomous Centre of Excellence to conduct cutting-edge research and training in irrigation, drainage, water resources management, sustainable agriculture, climate change, and food and nutrition security. WACWISA’s vision is to “become a leading world-class academic and research center specializing in irrigation, water resources, sustainable agriculture, and climate change,” and its mission is to “develop the skills and knowledge of young men and women to provide practical and sustainable solutions to Africa’s water resources, irrigation, agricultural development, and climate change challenges.”

WACWISA, with the tagline “Building Capacities for Sustainable Solutions,” develops the capacity of trainees and graduate students through short courses, Masters, PhD, and post-doctoral level programs, as well as conducting applied and advanced research and developing sustainable localized technologies in water resources, irrigation, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and food and nutrition. Our training and research programs are strengthened by long-standing collaborations with academic institutions and industrial partners in Ghana, Africa, and around the world. The training system places an emphasis on practical skills and answers to industrial challenges, and it promotes quality and capacity growth for students.

Enrolled students will be assisted in gaining foreign experience at one or more of the laboratories and field stations of the WACWISA’s international partners. Given the concerns of water shortage and the necessity for the development of functional and efficient irrigation infrastructure, the demand for highly trained competent people is critical.

Scholarship Sponsor(s):  West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable

Host Country(s):  Ghana

Scholarship Worth: $3000

Study Level:  Undergraduate / Masters

Nationality:  African Students

Scholarship Offer:

The scholarship is valid at the University for Development Studies, School of Engineering, and it will pay the following expenses:

1. Tuition, research, and education expenses

The scholarship will cover official University tuition for Masters (24-month) and PhD (36-month) students at the University for Development Studies, School of Engineering. Tuition, registration, examination, matriculation, Student Identity Card, ICT, and library services will be included. These should be made out to the University for Development Studies.

2. Stipend per month

The scholarship gives a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, health insurance, and other personal miscellaneous needs.

3. Research Fees

This research budget will cover transportation, field data gathering, software, and other student project expenses.

Costs of International Placement/Mobility

Students may be sponsored and placed in foreign laboratories of partner institutions to perform research as needed, as well as to expose them to an international atmosphere in order to get international experience. This will cover the cost of a round-trip economy class ticket as well as living expenses for a period of three (3) to six (6) months.

Eligibility for Scholarship

1. English is the required language.
2. Eligible Countries: All African countries in the world.

Applicants for WACWISA should:

1. Fulfill the normal University for Development Studies Admission requirement for both domestic and international students.
2. Apply to the University for Development Studies’ Masters/Doctor of Philosophy program in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering.
3. Submit an official/certified academic transcript from your former university of study, as well as a certified copy of your academic certificates, with an official English translation if necessary.
4. Candidates for the Masters program must have the following qualifications: MPhil Irrigation and Drainage Engineering – A Bachelor’s degree (honours) or equivalent with at least a Second-Class Upper Division in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation and Management, Horticulture, Agronomy, Hydrology and Watershed Management and Engineering, Agricultural Technology, Soil Science, or a related field is required.
5. MSc/MPhil Environmental Management and Sustainability – A Bachelor’s degree (honours) or equivalent with a Second-Class Upper Division in Natural Resources Science and Management, Biology, Agriculture, Development Studies, Geography, Environmental Studies/Science, or a related discipline.
6. Candidates for the PhD program must have the following minimal qualifications: PhD in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering — A research-based master’s degree or equivalent in a comparable subject is required (Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Soil and Water Conservation and Management, Horticulture, Agronomy, Hydrology and Watershed Management and Engineering, Agricultural Technology, Soil Science).
7. PhD in Environmental Management and Sustainability – A research-based Masters degree or equivalent in Natural Resources Science and Management, Biology, Agriculture, Development Studies, Geography, or Environmental Studies/Science is required.
8. Practical field training/experience in irrigation and drainage-related operations is preferred.
9. Applicants must be under the age of 35 for the Masters program and under the age of 40 for the PhD program.
10. Be African nationals or residents.

Nationality

The  WACWISA 2022 Masters & PhD Scholarships for African Students is open to all African countries.

Documents Requirement

1. A two-page motivational statement detailing their suitability for the study program and the value of the training to their home nation and Africa in general.
2. Two (2) academic letters of recommendation and one (1) professional letter of recommendation
3. Curriculum vitae (CV) – no more than two (2) pages
4. Identity Card (ID) or National Passport Bio-data Page
5. Masters applicants must submit a three (3) page maximum research proposal, and PhD applicants must submit a five (5) page maximum research proposal that includes a study topic, background, issue description and rationale, objectives, materials and techniques, and projected outcomes.

The training language of the program is only English. Candidates who are Francophone and have demonstrated English proficiency are encouraged to apply.

However, prior to the commencement of the academic year, selected candidates will get ten (10) weeks of certificate language competency training (English and French).

Application Procedure

Applicants should send their complete application package to [email protected], with a copy to director [email protected], with the subject line “WACWISA Masters and PhD scholarships.”

All applicants must additionally apply for admission to the relevant programme at the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana, which can be found at www.uds.edu.gh.

Scholarship Deadline 

The application deadline for WACWISA 2022 Masters & PhD Scholarships for African Students is January 31, 2022