October 12, 2023, Benguerir, Morocco – The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and CGIAR, the world’s largest publicly funded agricultural research organization, are proud to unveil two major initiatives – the African Scholarship Program and the One CGIAR Capacity Development Hub at UM6P — aimed at shaping the future of capacity development in agricultural and environmental sciences in Africa.
The “African Scholarship Program” will offer doctoral and post-doctoral scholarships to enable young Africans to conduct relevant research addressing food security, adaptation to climate change, improved natural resource management, and sustainable agriculture intensification. The program will leverage the comparative advantages and research networks of UM6P and CGIAR Research Centers, ensuring doctoral and post-doctoral research in various African countries. It will also emphasize the employability of young researchers in both the public and private sectors and provide support at the outset of their careers.
Quote from UMP6 Chancellor
The “CGIAR-UM6P Capacity Development Hub” aims to establish a framework for agricultural research and development in Africa. Its mission is to strengthen research, facilitate education, encourage collaborative research projects, and joint funding, promote industry engagement, and address critical issues related to food security, sustainable agriculture, and socioeconomic development in Africa.
“A pillar of CGIAR’s global agricultural development is nurturing today’s promising students to become tomorrow’s experts, armed with innovative techniques and fresh ideas to advance and drive our cutting-edge research,” says Dr. Simeon Ehui, CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa and Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Both initiatives were launched during a high-level event held at UM6P, Benguerir Campus, in the presence of Dr Bruno Gerard, Dean of the College for Agriculture and Environmental Science, UM6P, as well as Dr. Ehui, and Mr. Aly Abousabaa, CGIAR Regional Director of Central and West Asia and North Africa and Director General of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, (ICARDA).
This was followed by a signing ceremony to formalize the implementation of both the Scholarship Program and the Capacity Development Hub. This event marks an important step in advancing research, strengthening skills, and promoting sustainable development on the African continent.
This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of CGIAR and UM6P to promote academic excellence and the role of research in the field of agriculture in Africa. It constitutes a significant contribution to a more sustainable and prosperous future for the continent.
About Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P)
The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is a non-profit Moroccan research university. Its main campus is in Benguerir, near Marrakech, with branches in Rabat, Laayoune, and Paris. The university is focused on applied research and innovation, committed to economic and human development, with a focus on Africa.
UM6P prioritizes research and innovation relevant to Morocco and Africa, with a focus on topics such as industrialization, food security, sustainability, mining, behavioral and social sciences.
It brings together several schools and research institutes, covering various fields including science and technology (agriculture, mining, energy, medicine, chemistry, computer science…), social sciences, and business administration.
The University welcomed its first cohort of students in 2013 before being officially inaugurated on January 12, 2017. Since then, it has continued to expand and has become a leading research institution dedicated to collaboration between Africa and the rest of the world. In this regard, UM6P has established numerous partnerships with universities in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
About CGIAR:
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. Its research is carried out by 13 CGIAR Centers/Alliances in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations and the private sector.
We would like to thank all Funders who support this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund.
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