How to apply?

How to apply

To apply to this call, students should have proficiency in Plant breeding, Biotechnology, Nutrition and Food Technologies or related fields. Students showing interest of applying digital technologies to above mentioned fields are encouraged to apply. In addition, to be eligible for a scholarship ‘’students’’ must comply with the below criteria at the time of the application for a scholarship:
Students are invited to develop their research proposal on a selected crop listed in Table 1. We will develop cross-country and cross region collaboration with these focal areas: grains (Finger millet), Legumes (Bambara groundnut), roots and tubers (Taro, yam), Leafy greens (Amaranth) and oil crops (sesame).  Learn more...

Target group

At the time they apply for a scholarship, candidates must be national of and resident in an African country. 
be registered/admitted in or having obtained a degree in a HEI  from:

b-1) one of the HEIs included in the ORPHAN consortium (Target group 1). This target group includes students from all partner universities as follows:

• University of Nangui Abrogoua, Côte d’Ivoire
• University of Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
• Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
• Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
• University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

 b-2) HEI not included in the ORPHAN consortium but established in an EACEA eligible country (Target group 2). This target group includes students registered/admitted in or having obtained a degree from another HEI other than University of Nangui Abrogoua, University of Abomey-Calavi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Ebonyi State University, University of Zimbabwe, but established in Africa.

c-) Have sufficient knowledge of the language of the courses in the host countries. 

d-) Should also meet the enrolment criteria of the university he/she would want to apply to.  

The consortium involves Francophone and Anglophone countries and will promote bilingual aptitude in students throughout the implementation of the project. Language courses will be offered to help students improve their skills. 

Students having benefited from scholarship(s) under the previous intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme are eligible to receive scholarship under this current call. 

Number of available scholarships for this first call

The ORPHAN project is opened to all students from the partner universities (Target Group 1) and those from other African universities (Target Group 2). Currently, twelve (12) PhDs, and sixteen (16) MSc are available.

Submission

The Scholarship application form (here lien à créer vers Scholarship application form fichier 3 ) together with other required documents should be sent as a unique PDF attachment to emails indicated below. Other required documents are listed in the application form and include:

1. Cover letter
2. Student research proposal or detailed research concept note (for PhD and MSc)
3. National ID or copy of passport data page 
4. Certificate of previous degree(s) /or a proof that the degree(s) has been completed
5. All transcripts/academic records (please note that all selected candidates will receive final admission after they have provided suitable transcripts)
6. Proof of enrolment or eligibility for enrolment for MSc degree (that is research component of MSc) from home institution (for MSc applicants)
7. A support letter from home HEIs (from an authority of the University, Vice chancellor or Dean or Vice Dean or Head of Department/School)
8. Two recommendation letters
9. Curriculum Vitae.
10. Certificate of English or French language skills if any
11. Proof of socio-economic vulnerability (if relevant) attested by an authority of the home HEI. The letter should be on the HEI letterhead with email and contact of the signatory person.
12. Any other supporting documents

In order to meet the general selection requirements for MSc Mobility Grant (maximum 12 months’ scholarship mainly for research), the applicant must have completed the first two semesters of a Master of Science course in Plant breeding, Biotechnology, Nutrition and Food Technology or related fields in his home country. It is obligatory that the students have their first year MSc recognition and academic transcripts and a proof that he/she has completed the course work of the MSc before proceeding on the scholarship. 
For PhD degree, applicants should hold an MSc degree in either Plant breeding, Biotechnology or Nutrition, Food Technology or related fields.
For the choice of the host university, the students are allowed to only apply for the University of Nangui Abrogoua (Côte d’Ivoire), University of Abomey-Calavi (Republic of Benin), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya), Ebonyi State University (Nigeria), University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)