Apply for PhD and MSc Graduate Scholarships in the Cassava value chain, under the
Project “Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa”
(SARD-SC), funded by the African Development Bank
(SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT NOTICE - SPN)
This invitation for applications follows the general procurement notice AfDB43-04/12 for this
project that was published in UN Development Business online on 27 April, 2013.
Cassava is a major food crop in sub-Sahara Africa and one of the most important sources for
carbohydrates. It is a major source of income for the farmers and a raw material for local
industries. In the past years, cassava production and processing have been facing a lot of
challenges such as no supply chain structures for the commercialization of cassava products,
high cost of the production versus low yields as well as production orientation towards
subsistence and not commercialization.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ( and its SARD-SC project
partners is working to develop new technologies and innovations to improve cassava production,processing and marketing so as to improve on food security and contribute to poverty reductionof target countries through a value chain approach. These new technologies and innovations willbe developed and promoted through platforms comprised of stakeholders from participatingcountries (DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Sierra Leone) and focusing on one of five mainintervention areas: breeding, agronomy, agribusiness, gender, postharvest and policy. Genderissues will be considered and incorporated through all these areas. The SARD-SC project isaligned with national agricultural development plans and processes as smallholder cassavabusinesses in each country are already primed to boost productivity through their priorparticipation with other cassava projects.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and its partners AfricaRice and the
International Center for Agricultural Research for the Dry Areas (ICARDA) have received a
grant of about US$ 64 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance the
project “Support to Agricultural Research for development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARDSC)”.
The strategic crops within the context of the project are cassava, maize, rice and wheat.
The overall objective of SARD-SC is to enhance food and nutrition and contribute to poverty
reduction in AfDB’s low-income member Countries (RMCs). Its specific objective is to enhancethe productivity and income of four CAADP’s priority value chains (cassava, maize, rice andwheat) on a sustainable basis.
Under this project, AfDB has made a contribution to IITA to execute a 5-year sub-project, whichaims to upgrade the cassava value chain in Africa through the (i) generation of agriculturaltechnologies and innovations; (ii) sustainable dissemination and adoption of agriculturaltechnologies and innovations across the value chain; and (iii) sustainable capacity strengtheningof project stakeholders.
As part of its human capacity building component, the project is offering up to ten (10) MSc andseven (7) PhD scholarships at African universities from 2013 onwards. Scholarships will becomprehensive and include stipend, research costs, tuition, travel and insurance.
Areas of research
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is offering scholarships related to the cassavavalue chain, in the field of Agronomy/Natural Resource Management; Postharvest,
Mechanization; Gender; Agribusiness; Marketing; or any other closely related field. The researchwill comprise in-depth study of a relevant topic conducted in one of the SARD
-SC cassava targetcountries. Suggested topics are detailed below, although the recruitment panel invites othertopics related to the cassava value chain.
DR Congo
S/N / MSc or PhD degree in the following disciplines / Any of the following priority areas of research study1 / Plant Breeding (PhD) / Breeding/Conventional and molecular assisted breeding
2 / Natural Resource Management (PhD) / Development of soil (micro) biological implements to reinforce ISFM interventions
3 / Natural Resource Management (MSc) / Integration between soil fertility and soil-borne pest and disease management
4 / Agronomy (MSc) / Effects of different cropping systems on cassava (ManihotesculentaCrantz) production and productivity in some agro ecologies of DRC
5 / Agronomy/Physiology
(MSc) / Cassava root and leaves yields depend on the genotypic variation in the source and sink capacities and their efficiency in translocation
6 / Socio economic (MSc) / Assessment of cassava value chain in some regions of DRC
Study of cassava based product commercialization in DRC
7 / Post harvest (MSc) / Assessment au the nutritive value of cassava leaves and roots
Qualifications
Candidates must satisfy the target university’s admission requirements for MSc or PhD studies.
Candidates must have identified a supervisory Professor at a reputable target University in one of
the eligible countries, who must have agreed to the research proposal written by the applicant.
Strong preference is given to candidates already enrolled at a University, and who have finished
all or most of the coursework requirements.
Media for the thesis research program will be English, except for candidates from DR Congo
where French may be used.
Eligible countries
The scholarships are open to nationals from any African countries.
Enrolment can be in any reputable African university.
Application procedure
Completed application should be forwarded to . Please identify which SARD-SC position for which you are applying. All applicants are required to include:
(1) Bio data;
(2) BSc or MSc Certificate;
(3) A brief proposal of the research (one-page maximum);
(4) Endorsement letter by a supervisory Professor;
(5) Where applicable, proof of enrolment (Admission letter) at a reputable University;
(6) Where applicable, transcripts of MSc or PhD coursework at a reputable University.
(7) A completed version of the Cassava Value Chain – application form.
Closing date
Please note that this is a repeat announcement. New closing date is 30th November 2013.
Screening of applications will begin shortly afterwards and will continue till positions are filled. IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from women candidates. All applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
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