Africa Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund for Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology

active

The objective of the Africa Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund for Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology Project is to strengthen the institutional capacity for quality and sustainable doctoral training, research and innovation in transformative technologies in sub-Saharan Africa. There are two components to the project, the first component being capacity development for the operation and management of the scholarship, research and innovation fund. This component will support strengthening of the RCU to become a scientific, technological and innovation capacity builder for PhD programs and universities in SSA in the fields of applied sciences and engineering that support transformative technologies, to make it capable of operating and growing RSIF efficiently and sustainably. This component includes four subcomponents: capacity building for managing and growing the RSIF general fund and setting up a RSIF permanent fund, capacity development for the operation and management of doctoral training scholarships in selected African universities and research grants in ASET fields, capacity development for improving quality of PhD programs and research in ASET fields, and capacity development for the operation and management of innovation grants. The second component is the Scholarships and Research Grants for ASET. This component, financed by a US$9 million22 contribution from the Government of Korea administered by the Bank, will provide financing for scholarships and research grants in ASET fields in Sub-Saharan Africa. SSA countries have shown interest in contributing funds to RSIF either through their own resources or through national/regional IDA credit. Some of these contributions may also be channeled through regional IDA projects, for instance the third ACE, which is currently under preparation. This component includes two subcomponents: doctoral training in ASET fields in selected SSA host Universities and international partner universities, and research grants.