APPLY: USAID/AFWASA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR YOUNG WATER AND SANITATION PROFESSIONALS

As part of its capacity-building initiative for African professionals in the water-sanitation-hygiene sector (Africap), the African Water and Sanitation Association, funded by USAID, is establishing research grants for Young Water and Sanitation Professionals. These grants, the USAID/AFWASA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR YOUNG WATER AND SANITATION PROFESSIONALS valuer at a maximum of 1,000 USD each, will support research projects leading to scientific reports on various themes within the Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation sector.

In the academic years 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019, the AAEA granted sixty scholarships to students from eleven countries in West and Central Africa. Additional scholarships will be distributed across Africa over a three-year period (2021-2024). For the 2021-2022 academic year, fifteen scholarships were awarded to students from 13 countries. In the 2022-2023 academic year, twenty scholarships were granted to students from 16 countries, with 15 funded by USAID and 5 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through SAO CWIS to promote gender equality in water, sanitation, and hygiene research. In the final academic year (2023-2024), 15 scholarships will be given to students from various African countries.

The research themes for the 2023-2024 academic year include:

1. Approaches to reducing Unrevenue Water in water companies
2. Improvement of Water Quality
3. Water services in low-income urban areas
4. Improvement of urban & peri-urban sanitation
5. Use of ICT (digital tools) in water and sanitation services
6. Water Resource Management
7. Water, Sanitation, and Gender
8. Circular economy
9. Climate change.

Benefits of the USAID/AFWASA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR YOUNG WATER AND SANITATION PROFESSIONALS.

Under this scholarship program, each beneficiary is eligible to receive a maximum amount of 1,000 US Dollars. The distribution of this amount is as follows: 60% will be disbursed to the beneficiary upon finalization and approval of the detailed research project plan by the research supervisor and its submission to the AAEA Research and Capacity Building Program. The remaining 40% will be paid once the recipient submits the electronic copy of their final research report.

Application Process for the USAID/AFWASA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR YOUNG WATER AND SANITATION PROFESSIONALS.

Applicants for the scholarship must align their research topics with one of the themes specified in the call for applications. To be eligible, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Hold citizenship in a sub-Saharan African country eligible for USAID funding.
2. Maintain good academic standing with their institution.
3. Submit a complete application file, including the following documents:
– Copy of the student card or registration receipt for the current year (Master 2).
– Bachelor’s degree certificate.
– Curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages).
– Three letters of recommendation (one of which should be from the academic supervisor) confirming enrollment in Master 2.
– The project sheet, which can be downloaded from [insert link here].

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

Application for the USAID/AFWASA RESEARCH GRANTS FOR YOUNG WATER AND SANITATION PROFESSIONALS.

• For details visit the official webpage of the USAID research grants.
• Deadline April 15, 2024