Doctoral Research Programme on Climate Change and Disaster Risks Management

This programme, hosted at Université de Lomé, Togo, is part of the Capacity Building Programme of West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

WASCAL is a fully West African international organisation focused on academic and transdisciplinary research, aimed at building graduate-level scientific capacity and serving policy makers in West Africa with science-based advice on adaptation to Climate Change impacts and land use management. It collaborates with many agencies and universities across West Africa, creating a platform of excellence for knowledge exchange with its partners.

WASCAL’s mission is to offer information and knowledge services at local, national and regional levels to help West African member countries address the various challenges posed by Climate Change. This is achieved by providing capacity building support to young West African scholars in the fields of climate, natural and social sciences and by delivering climate and environmental services across its member countries.

Objectives

• The DRP-CC&DRM will educate international students to understand the threat and risks associated with Climate Change, get familiar with early warning systems and know ways and means to improve the coping capacity of populations who are affected. They will be exposed to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to assessing threats and work in multidisciplinary teams with affected groups in harnessing their inherent resilience to hazards. Upon completion of their study, the students are expected to be able to:
  • analyze with scientific tools and methods the threats and risks to society or communities to the impact of Climate Change;
  • synthesize knowledge regarding integrated management strategies to Climate Change effects, specifically to improve human safety; and
  • prepare background document and policy notes that offer options to deal with climate change; and assist communities in dealing with Climate Change hazards by adaptation and mitigation.

Eligibility Criteria

• The DRP-CC&DRM is opened for students and professionals having a Master’s degree (M.Sc.) with Mention “Assez-bien” or Second-class Upper division or equivalent, in relevant disciplines: Geography, Agronomy, Sociology, Environmental science, and other pertaining disciplines.
• Applicants should:
  • Be a citizen of one of the twelve member countries of WASCAL;
  • Hold a minimum master’s degree (M.Sc. with Mention “Assez-bien” or Second-class Upper division holder in the above cited disciplines)
  • Provide a motivation letter
  • Provide recommendation letters from three referees
  • Provide copy of birth certificate and passport
  • Provide all academic transcripts (from Baccalaureate to master’s degree)
  • Provide a copy of master’s diploma
  • Provide an updated curriculum vitae
  • Must have at least an intermediate level of English
  • Age limit: 35
• The DRP-CC&DRM is an English-speaking graduate programme. The following are the language requirements:
  • Basic Certificate in English Language; and Functional Certificate in English Language;
  • A four-month intensive English language training course will be offered at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana, for the selected Francophone and Lusophone students before courses start;
  • At the end of this English language course, students will have to pass an English language proficiency test;
  • Students from English speaking countries will also read French language for 4 months at CIREL, Village du Bénin, Lomé, Togo.

For more information, visit WASCAL.