CORAF 2023 Call for Scholarship Applications: Offers of 8 PhD scholarships

in the framework of the implementation of the Food Systems Resilience

Program (FSRP) in West Africa

1. Context
The Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) is a flagship regional investment program of more
than US$1 billion that aims to build food system resilience in West Africa through a strategic
regional approach. The program will fund investments in three mutually reinforcing thematic areas:
(1) Digital advisory services for the prevention and management of agricultural and food crises; (2)
Sustainability and resilience of the food system's productive base (sustainable land and watershed
management, agro-ecological approaches); and (3) Market integration and trade (regional staple
food value chain development). Each area will be led by a mandated regional institution
(AGRHYMET, CORAF, ECOWAS) to ensure coordination and build sustainable capacity.

The Program Development Objective (PDO) is to: "Strengthen the management of risks inherent
in regional food systems, improve the sustainability of the production base in targeted areas and
develop regional agricultural markets."

Specifically, the program will contribute to increasing the resilience of food systems in Burkina
Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo (Phase 1); and Ghana, Chad, and Sierra Leone (Phase 2) through
investments in regional risk management, basic food trade, and sustainability of the production
base.

Sub-component 2.1 provides for the consolidation of regional agricultural innovation systems
through the strengthening of national research systems and the deepening and expansion of
regional R&D networks. In order to contribute to the preparation of the succession of aging
research staff, the PRSA supports the awarding of MSc and PhD scholarships at both the national
and regional levels. At the regional level, CORAF, through its student sponsorship policy, plans to
recruit 8 students for PhD studies in 2023 on topics of regional interest covering the areas of crop
production (agronomy, agroforestry, agroecology, pest control, etc.), animal production (breeding,
breeding of new crops, etc.) and food security (food safety, nutrition, etc.). ), animal production
(breeding, fisheries and aquaculture, food and animal nutrition, etc.), food quality and safety, agro-
industry (processing of plant, animal and fishery products), agricultural product markets,
bioinformatics, prospective analysis, etc, which will eventually benefit the WCA.
Research activities will be conducted through the National Specialization Centers (NSCs) to
promote collaboration between universities and these centers. The NSCs are: (i) Root and Tuber
Crops in Ghana, (ii) Rainfed, Irrigated and Deep Submergence Rice in Mali; (iii) Dry Cereals in
Senegal; (iv) Fruits and Vegetables in Burkina Faso; (v) Plantain Banana in Cote d'Ivoire; (vi)
Aquaculture in Nigeria; (vii) Maize in Benin, (viii) Livestock in Niger and (ix) Mangrove Rice in
Sierra Leone.

Students must enroll in one of the universities in CORAF member countries. Within the
framework of this program, CORAF recommends the co-supervision of the students who will be
selected. Thus, the supervision of the student will be done by a teacher of the university where the
student will be registered, a researcher of one of the research centers of the National Agricultural
Research Systems (NARS) involved and/or the executive secretariat of CORAF.

Students will report administratively to the CORAF Executive Secretariat, and

academically/technically to the university and research center to which their supervisor belongs.
For their field work, they will be based in one of the NARS research centers with possible travel
to other CORAF countries.

Each candidate is expected to develop, under the guidance of his/her supervisors, a budgeted
research protocol on one of the topics/areas of regional interest (see attached table). Successful
applicants are also expected to contribute to the achievement of at least one of the outcomes of
the CORAF Strategic Plan 2018 - 2027, to publish scientific articles and to write a thesis upon
completion of the research.

The research proposals will be evaluated by CORAF's scientific and technical committee to select
the 8 best ones.

2 Requirements
To be eligible for this program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a national of one of the CORAF member countries;
- Be no more than 40 years old;
- Have a Master's degree in research related to the chosen field and theme;
- Have already identified a thesis supervisor;
- Have a demonstrated capacity for applied research, a willingness to learn and think across
disciplines and professions;
- Have a demonstrated interest in agricultural research for development;
- Ability to speak and write French or English fluently; a good working knowledge of the other
language would be an asset;
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
- Excellent communication skills.

3 Scholarship Allowance

The fellowship stipend will include: (i) registration and bench fees; (ii) a monthly living allowance;
(iii) field expenses including travel, surveys or labor related to the research activities, acquisition of
small research equipment and consumables; (iv) international travel expenses (conference
attendance, scientific visits); (v) and supervision expenses.

4 Composition of the application

To apply for this program, the application must include:
- A letter of motivation demonstrating the applicant's suitability and motivation and specifying
his/her availability;
- Diplomas and transcripts (Master's and Bachelor's degrees);
- A curriculum vitae (Maximum 5 pages);
- Two letters of recommendation from supervisors with their addresses;
- A letter of commitment from each identified supervisor (university and research center)
- A budgeted thesis research proposal on one of the research topics covering one of CORAF's
priority areas (proposals attached). The research proposal must specify the doctoral school or
university of registration, the name and full address of the supervisors (Co-Directors of the
thesis).
Please submit your application by email to recrutement.etudiants@coraf.org with a copy to
n.lamien@coraf.org, no later than May 17, 2023. The subject line of the email should clearly
state "Doctoral Program - CORAF 2023". Shortlisted students will be interviewed online.
Results will be announced in July with a likely start date of September 2023.
ANNEX : Suggested research topics

Domain Research topics

N°
Plant protection 1-Endogenous knowledge, climatic impacts and prospective
1 analysis of the integrated management of the Fall Armyworm
(FAW) in West and Central Africa.
2-Inventory of fungal diseases of plantations (cashew/citrus) and
development of integrated control methods
3-Identification of pathways and integrated control methods for
bacterial wilt diseases (Ralstonia solanacearum) of vegetable crops.
Breeding and 4-Evaluation of morphological and molecular techniques for the
2 selection of varieties development of Striga resistant maize varieties.
5-Use of bioinformatics methods for the selection of corn
varieties against the Fall armyworm (FAW).
6-Integrated genotype and phenotype genes sequencing for
establishing bioinformatic resources (e.g.: genes databases;
breeding platforms)
7-Characterization and development of cassava varieties
resistant to diseases (African cassava mosaic or cassava vascular
bacterial disease or cassava brown streak) West and Central
Africa.
Seed Science and 8-Analysis (characterization, evaluation, value chain study, etc.)
3 Technology of the seed system in West and Central Africa (WCA): ways to
harmonize seed production and testing protocols.
Post-harvest 9- Evaluation of post-harvest losses and development of means
4 to control Sesame or Soybean or Pigeonpea (or combination of
2 or 3 crops).
10- Evaluation of endogenous practices of post-harvest
treatment and food processing of roots and tubers and
development of some means of improvement.
11- Evaluation of post-harvest losses and co-construction of
means of processing and preservation of vegetables (leaves
and/or fruits).
Nutrition and food 12- Influence of processing practices on the physicochemical and
5 technology technological characteristics of local rice varieties and evaluation
of their suitability for processing.
13-Micro-nutrient deficiency in women and children:
contribution of local foods and edible insects with high
nutritional values to the development of infant foods.
Climate Change and 14-Technology packages and agricultural innovations: what
6 Policy approach to inventory evidence-based off-the-shelf options?
15-Integrating CORAF innovations into agricultural
development policies: cost-effectiveness for priority value
chains.
 16- Understanding the relationship between climate, fragility and
conflict in West and Central Africa and solutions for sustainable
peace and natural resource management.
Animal production 17-Availability and quality of feed in WCA and technical and
7 economic performance.
18-Impact of extreme climatic events (thermal amplitude,
hygrometry, etc.) on the zootechnical performance of domestic
ruminants.
19- Quantification and recovery of slaughterhouse waste.
20- Biosecurity practices in animal production: Use of natural
herbs and spices to prevent disease outbreaks.
21- Assessment of the nutritional and climate-sensitive capacities
of livestock practices/techniques in West and Central Africa.
Socio-economics 22- Integrated landscape management in West and Central
8 Africa: typology and socio-economic analysis of landscape units.
23- Evaluation of scaling-up mechanisms (innovation platforms,
technology parks, public-private partnerships, etc.) and analysis
of the factors of adoption of agricultural technologies and
innovations in West and Central Africa.

24- Determinants of the functioning of cross-border markets for

vegetables/livestock in WCA.
25- Determinants of the competitiveness of the local milk sector
in WCA.
Integrated Research 26- Determinants of the functionality and sustainability of a
9 Approach for multi-actor innovation platform.
Agricultural
Development
(IAR4D)