As part of its capacity-building programme for African players in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector (Africap), funded by USAID, the African Water and Sanitation Association is setting up research grants for young water and sanitation professionals. The target beneficiaries of these grants are Master's level students and engineers at the end of their training. Each grant, worth a maximum of USD 1,000 (one thousand), will be used to carry out a research project culminating in a scientific report on a topic in the water, hygiene and sanitation sector.

During the 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 academic years, the AAEA awarded sixty (60) scholarships to students from eleven (11) countries in West and Central Africa. Further scholarships will be awarded across Africa for a period of three years (2021-2024). For the academic year 2021-2022, fifteen (15) scholarships have been awarded to students from 13 countries. For the academic year 2022-2023, a further twenty (20) fellowships from 16 countries and, of the selected fellows, 15 were awarded by USAID as the usual Africap grants and 5 were awarded to young women by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through SAO CWIS to bridge the gender gap in water, sanitation and hygiene research. For the final academic year (2023-2024), 15 scholarships will be awarded to students across Africa.

Application process    

Applicants for a scholarship must formulate their research topics in relation to one of the themes proposed in this call for applications. To apply, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of a sub-Saharan African country eligible for USAID funding;
• Be in good academic standing with their institution;
• Submit an application including

1. Copy of student card or registration receipt for the current year (Master 2)
2. Licence diploma,
3. Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages),
4. Three letters of recommendation (one should be from the academic supervisor) attesting that the student is enrolled in Master 2,
5. The project form to download here 

In the selection process, priority will be given to students and young water professionals who are members of the AAEA.

Submission

Applicants must submit their application online by clicking on the application link.

For any questions regarding the application or submission, applicants can contact the following addresses: udjalia@afwasa.org and gdjagoun@afwasa.org..

Submission deadline

Students wishing to participate in the programme are requested to submit their full application by 15 April 2024 at the latest. The list of beneficiaries for the 2023-2024 academic year will be published no later than 15 June 2024.

List of research themes:

1. Approaches to reducing Unbilled Water in water companies
2. Improving water quality
3. Water services in low-income urban areas
4. Improving urban & peri-urban sanitation
5. Use of ICTs (digital tools) in water and sanitation services
6. Water Resource Management
7. Water, sanitation and gender

Financial aspects

Under this scholarship, the maximum amount allocated per beneficiary is 1,000 US Dollars. Sixty percent (60%) of this amount will be paid to the beneficiary once the detailed plan of the research project is finalised, approved by the research supervisor and received by the AAEA Research and Capacity Building Programme. The remaining forty percent (40%) will be paid once the beneficiary submits the electronic copy of the final research report.

Reporting conditions

Students awarded the AAEA research grant will be required to prepare and submit regular monthly progress reports and a final report at the end of the project.