The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) is the doctoral and post-doctoral training pillar of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), an Africa-led initiative launched in 2013. This call funds full PhD study for citizens of Rwanda and Nigeria at one of the RSIF African Host Universities, with training organised around 5 priority thematic areas: ICT (including big data and artificial intelligence), food security and agribusiness, minerals and materials engineering, energy including renewables, and climate change. RSIF is financed by contributions from African governments, the World Bank and the Government of Korea, and is managed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya. Each award covers tuition, a monthly living stipend, medical insurance, research costs and a 6-12 month sandwich placement at an international partner institution. Preference goes to applicants aged 35 or younger, and scholars join a growing network of ASET specialists across sub-Saharan Africa. Award numbers vary by call, so confirm the exact stipend figures, host-university list and current deadline on the official RSIF page before you apply.
Applications are submitted through icipe's online platform. Applications sent by email or in hard copy are not considered.
Research goals must align with the RSIF priority thematic areas and contribute to Africa's development. Confirm the exact priority fields and host-university list for the current call on the official RSIF site.
Rwanda, Nigeria
Applications are reviewed for academic strength, the quality and feasibility of the research concept, alignment with RSIF priority thematic areas and development impact for sub-Saharan Africa. Preference is given to applicants aged 35 or younger, and RSIF works to address gender and disadvantaged-group imbalances in ASET fields, so eligible women are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) is the flagship funding mechanism of PASET, an Africa-led partnership launched in 2013 to build applied sciences, engineering and technology capacity in sub-Saharan Africa. RSIF is managed by icipe in Nairobi and trains PhD students and post-doctoral researchers at African Host Universities.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Citizens of Rwanda or Nigeria who hold a relevant master's degree in an RSIF priority thematic area and meet the admission requirements of an RSIF African Host University.
Yes. It covers tuition and fees, a monthly living stipend, research costs, medical insurance and a funded 6-12 month international sandwich placement.
RSIF pays a competitive monthly stipend, estimated at roughly $15,000-26,000 (est.) per year depending on the host country. Confirm the exact current figure on the official RSIF page.
ICT (including big data and AI), food security and agribusiness, minerals and materials engineering, energy including renewables, and climate change.
There is no hard cut-off, but preference is given to applicants who are 35 years of age or younger at the time of application.
Scholars spend 6-12 months at an international partner university, research institute or private company to strengthen their research, with travel and costs supported.
No. You must not hold another PhD scholarship at the time you apply for the RSIF PhD scholarship.
At one of the RSIF African Host Universities. You select your host university and PhD programme as part of the application; check the current list on the official site.
Applications are submitted online through icipe's platform linked from the official RSIF call page. Email or hard-copy applications are not accepted.
For the equivalent 2026/2027 cycle the deadline is estimated around 26 May 2026 (est.). Always confirm the exact date on the official RSIF call page.
Yes. RSIF actively works to address gender imbalances in applied sciences, engineering and technology fields, so eligible women are strongly encouraged to apply.
RSIF is funded by African governments, the World Bank and the Government of Korea, and is managed by icipe (the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology) in Nairobi, Kenya.