UNESCO-ERAIFT Regional Masters Scholarships for Africans

Deadline: 28 February 2022

The Regional Post-Graduate Training School on Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands (ERAIFT) has issued its 4th international call for applications for enrolment in its regional Masters degree programme, in the framework of its activities on Capacity building of biodiversity practitioners, scientists and policy makers for the sustainable management of protected areas and forest ecosystems in Africa.

ERAIFT is an education and research institute located in the University Campus of Kinshasa. It began in 1999 as a regional project under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme (MAB) and has since grown steadily to become a Centre of excellence under the auspices of UNESCO with a regional focus (UNESCO Category 2 Centre). Through research, capacity building and knowledge sharing, ERAIFT provides valuable and unique contributions to implement operational planning strategies for tropical forest management and UNESCO’s strategic programme objectives for the benefit of Member States. ERAIFT aims to train a new generation of specialists to develop and manage tropical forests and lands by applying a systemic approach.

The regional masters programme is linked to the LMD system and it covers a period of 24 months divided into 4 semesters. The scholarship aims at supporting interested candidates studying in the field of forest ecosystems in Africa.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Regional Masters Scholarships applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Hold at least a degree equivalent to BAC + 3 in natural sciences (Biology, Ecology, Botany, Zoology, Environment, Geography, etc.); in engineering sciences (agronomy engineer, forestry engineer, bio-engineer, rural engineering engineer, etc.), geomatics, demography, veterinary and/or human medicine, social sciences and humanities (Sociology, Administrative and Political Sciences, Economics, Anthropology, Law, Psychology, Communication, etc.).
• Be under 40 years of age at the time of application selection.
• Have sufficient knowledge of basic computer skills.
• Have sufficient skills in qualitative and quantitative data analysis
• Be proactive and autonomous, and able to work in a multicultural and sometimes difficult environment.
• Be able to live in a community and adapt to the varying conditions of the study environment.
• Successfully pass the French, English, mathematics and computer tests which will be organised and compulsory for all candidates who meet the administrative and academic selection criteria.
• To be of good ethical and moral values.
• Be in good health and present a certificate of vaccination against the COVID 19 virus within the last 6 months (for successful applicants only).
• At least 3 years of professional experience in the forestry and environmental sector would be an asset.

Application procedure

• A duly completed and signed application form (to be requested from ERAIFT or downloaded from its website: eraift-rdc.org.
• A letter of motivation addressed to the Director of ERAIFT and President of the Academic and Research Council, requesting enrolment in the 4 th class of this regional programme. This letter must be handwritten, written in French and English, maximum one page each.
• Various certificates are usually requested and legalised: a birth certificate, a current physical fitness certificate (issued in less than 6 months of the analysis of the application files), a recent medical certificate from a clinic of international renown, a vaccination card against the current emerging pandemics (Covid-19, etc.); a certificate of nationality, a certificate of good conduct or equivalent.
• Certified copies of previously obtained university diplomas and photocopies of transcripts for each academic year (original diplomas must be presented for confirmation of enrolment at ERAIFT).
• For the civil servant candidate, a certificate of availability from the employer for the duration of the training at ERAIFT is required (24 months of training).
• Three letters of recommendations.
• A summary of the updated curriculum vitae of maximum 3 pages, showing especially the applicant’s competences, references of scientific productions (list of publications and scans of the first page of the publication; etc.).
• Three recent passport photos (one of which should be attached to the application form).
• Scan of the first two pages of the passport valid for at least two years.
• A handwritten and signed declaration on honour, attesting that once enrolled in this Master programme, the candidate undertakes to scrupulously respect the study and examination regulations of ERAIFT.

All applications should be sent to ERAIFT digitally in a single pdf file, via email: recrutement@eraift-rdc.org, with a copy to h.mishidi@eraift-rdc.org with the subject line: “My application to the Regional Masters Programme, 4th class”.

Application Registration Deadline: 28th February, 2022

To Apply: Click here

Official Website: Click here