The EU-ECOWAS Scholarship Programme for Sustainable Energy, funded and launched in September 2022 by the European Union in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS and delivered by the British Council, is celebrating the achievements of its first cohort of scholars, whose research is already contributing to the region's green-energy transition.
The programme offers fully funded master's degrees in sustainable energy at nine specialised higher-education institutions across Cape Verde, Cte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. Demand for the programme has been exceptionally high. From 10,442 applications, 72 academically outstanding candidates from 11 ECOWAS member states were awarded scholarships, with women representing over 40 of recipients.
Its core aim is to strengthen human capital in West Africa's electricity sector by supporting postgraduate training and enhancing the capacity of higher-education institutions to deliver industry-relevant education in sustainable energy and energy-efficiency systems. Alongside rigorous academic study, scholars receive research support and mentorship to advance innovations that directly benefit the region.
