IGAD Regional Scholarship Program for Refugees, Returnees, and IDPs

The IGAD Regional Scholarship Program is a flagship initiative of the IGAD Executive Secretary. The Program will provide financial assistance to 35 students admitted or enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education in their host community or place of origin. The Program aims to produce future leaders who can promote self-reliance and regional integration by providing them with quality education and training.

The IGAD Regional Scholarship Program aims to provide access to higher education for refugee, returnee, and IDP youth, promoting self-reliance and regional integration. As a flagship initiative of the IGAD Executive Secretary, the program will financially support 35 students admitted or enrolled in accredited higher education institutions in their host community or place of origin. By nurturing future leaders equipped with quality education and training, the program endeavors to promote self-reliance and regional integration.

Goal and Expected Outcomes 

• The program’s primary objective is to enhance the economic inclusion and livelihood opportunities of refugees, IDPs, returnees, and host communities, fostering their self-reliance. It seeks to support students in completing their post-secondary education, equipping them with relevant skills and promoting inclusive access to quality higher education.
• The Scholarship program aims to:
  • Identify and support academically talented refugee, returnee, and IDP youth pursuing higher education within the IGAD region.
  • Develop a pool of skilled young leaders and graduates equipped with the necessary skills to participate in livelihoods and economic opportunities.
  • Address gender and other disparities in refugees’, returnees’, and IDPs’ access to higher education in the IGAD region, particularly focusing on women and marginalized groups.
  • Promote sustained investment in the education and advancement of refugee, returnee, and IDP youth and their host communities.

Objectives 

• The program aims to provide financial assistance to post-secondary students, foster self-reliance, promote regional integration, and establish academic collaborations within the IGAD region.

Funding Information

• The Program will cover the financial costs of training (tuition, accommodation, subsistence, and medical cover) up to a maximum of Euros 3,189 per student per year.
• The exact amount of financial support will be determined based on the costs of training and living expenses.

Duration 

• The duration of the IGAD Scholarship is 3 to 4 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for the Scholarship, applicants must:
  • Belong to a displacement-affected community (refugees, returnees, IDPs) with formal documentation.
  • Be citizens of an IGAD member state, including those in refugee/displacement situations.
  • Be admitted or enrolled in an accredited institution in the IGAD region.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • Prioritization of women, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged populations, with at least 30% of scholarships reserved for female students. Special consideration will be given to applicants from Somalia and South Sudan, representing the largest long standing displaced populations in the region.

Ineligible

• The Scholarship does not cover the following:
  • Extra support for family members/dependents, including children and spouses.
  • Application costs to partner institutions, including certifying and equating certificates.

For more information, visit IGAD.