Call for Application: MSc. Programme on “Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces on Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Climate Change

Call for Application

Contents

1 Call for Application

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO THE CABES MSc. PROGRAMME on

“Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces on Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Climate Change – SPIBES”

Deadline is now extended till July 12th 2022!

Qualified candidates from Cabo Verde, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar and Sierra Leone are strongly encouraged to apply!

The CABES programme kicks off with the first call for applications to the SPIBES MSc. programme, offered by the Africa Center of Excellence on Climate Change Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture (CEA-CCBAD), University of Félix Houphouet-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (SPIBES MSc. Programme, West Africa).

The Master of Science (MSc.) programme on “Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces on Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Climate Change – SPIBES” is a two-year full-time interdisciplinary programme that aims to provide students across Western, Eastern and Central Africa with broad, high-quality knowledge and skills needed to seamlessly navigate science-policy interfaces for biodiversity conservation. The objective is to foster regional scientific collaborations and to build capacities of young experts to engage in science-policy interfaces such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on an international, regional, sub-regional and national level, specifically related to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES), policy-making and sustainable development pathways.

The programme specifically will:

provide the students with a general understanding of BES and their relevance from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives;
facilitate inter- and transdisciplinary thinking to create and enable a new generation of scientists to tackle global environmental challenges;
generate knowledge on the functioning and set-up of (inter)national policy processes and;
provide tools to translate research findings into policy-relevant outcomes to support decision making.

SPIBES is part of the CABES initiative – Capacity Development for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Experts in West, Central, & East Africa in support of IPBES. CABES continues the activities of WABES, which trained has trained thirty graduates on the science-policy interface for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Language of instruction

As an International MSc. programme, all courses of the SPIBES programme are taught in English. English proficiency is necessary.

What we offer – Language courses

At the start of the programme, successful candidates from francophone and lusophone countries will receive intensive English language training at the University Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), Côte d’Ivoire. Non-francophone students will be offered French language classes. These language courses are designed to provide our students with a thorough and practical understanding of both the English and French languages, as well as various cultures and traditions, so as to foster regional scientific collaborations and networking.

Scholarship and research support

The scholarship and research support will be provided following the criteria below:

Furthermore, SPIBES promises a learning environment with:

Who can apply?

The course is open to nationals from countries in West, Central, & East Africa with a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in natural and social sciences (biology, ecology, climate, economics, law, sociology, geography and equivalent disciplines). Candidates must be under 30 years old, unless they have established professional experience or female candidates that have children.

DEGREE-AWARDING INSTITUTION: The University of Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (SPIBES MSc. Programme, West Africa).

Document Requirement

A motivational letter, including information on academic and personal qualification(s) as well as interests in research in the Science-Policy Interface on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Development, and supporting the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A copy of University degree(s) and the Baccalaureate or equivalent secondary school certificate;
Provide the name and contact of a reference person in degree institution;

Application procedure and contact

Candidates MUST apply online via the CABES application portal (http://www.cabes.online). Applicants are expected to fill out the online application form and upload relevant application documents as a single PDF file (max file size: 6 MB).

For all enquiries, contact:

SPIBES MSc. Programme West Africa

Dr. Kouadio Kouakou (kouakou.kouadio34@ufhb.edu.ci) and cc: The CABES Secretariat (info@cabes.online)

Application deadline: July 12th, 2022.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview (via telephone, video conferencing or face-to-face). After the rounds of interviews, the final list of candidates will be published by July 31, 2022. Courses are scheduled to begin August 30th, 2022 for the 2022/23 academic year.

All selected candidates are required to complete the programme and need to sign a corresponding entry form. Successful candidates should note that the originals of certificates and other requisite documents MUST be presented at the time of registration at UFHB to validate admission decisions.

Click to download Application Details

There are limited number of spaces available,

Qualified candidates from Cabo Verde, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar and Sierra Leone are strongly encouraged to apply!