Advancing the Key Sectors of Water, Energy and Climate Change in Africa: PAU Student Call 2017 Now Open

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Advancing the Key Sectors of Water, Energy and Climate Change in Africa: PAU Student Call 2017 Now Open:

The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change (PAUWES) (http://PAUWES.Univ-Tlemcen.dz) in Algeria contributes to promoting higher education and applied research in the fields of water, energy and climate change – a key contribution to sustainable development in Africa. The admissions process for its four master programs (engineering and policy) starting in September 2017 is now open. All AU citizens (including diaspora) are encouraged to apply, especially candidates from under-represented regions at PAUWES and women.

A new generation of African leaders who are capable and committed to face the challenges of the continent is crucial for Africa’s development. Themes such as secure water supply, renewable energy sources and climate change need to be addressed in order to ensure sustainable development. Higher education has an important role to play in fostering innovation systems and providing a highly skilled workforce. The Pan African University (PAU), a key initiative of the African Union Commission, is dedicated to this mission. The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES) is hosted by the University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd in Tlemcen, Algeria. Since its establishment in 2014, a total of 152 students from 25 countries across Africa have enrolled in the programmes. Another 80 candidates will be admitted in Fall 2017. PAUWES benefits from its numerous international research and teaching collaborations and the support from the German cooperation programme with the African Union.

Today, PAUWES offers four, two-year post-graduate Master programmes in the fields of Water and Energy. Students striving to be future engineers have the choice between the Master of Science (MSc) in Water Engineering and the MSc in Energy Engineering. Students interested in governance can choose between the MSc in Water Policy and Energy Policy. The language of instruction of all courses is English.

PAUWES strives to balance theory and practice through international internships, case studies, field trips and summer schools. To provide the students with specific technical skills in their field of interest, a broad range of electives (e.g. solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energies, water and sanitation, integrated water resource management, policy analysis and research or ethics and leadership).

Graduates from PAUWES benefit from a wide variety of career prospects. Equipped with theoretical and practical knowledge, they are ready to become leaders in public administration, policy-making, research, private enterprise, consulting or civil society organisation. The access to the Institute’s international network of experts provides additional momentum to the graduates' careers. Career-promotion programmes are offered for job entry. All PAUWES students receive full scholarships (covering tuition and living expenses) following a competitive admission process.

PAUWES students come from all different regions of Africa, which creates a unique possibility to study in a Pan-African environment of highly motivated and engaged scholars. To further develop its vision of diversity, PAUWES particularly encourages women, applicants with disabilities and candidates from under-represented regions to apply (Southern Africa, Central Africa, Northern Africa).

Distributed by APO on behalf of Pan African University, the Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES).

General media enquiries
Prof. Abdellatif Zerga, Director 
PAUWES c/o Abou Bekr Belkaid University of Tlemcen 
B.P. 119, 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria
Email contact@PAUWES.Univ-Tlemcen.dz
Phone +213 40 91 31 88

Admissions and financial aid
Email admission@PAUWES.Univ-Tlemcen.dz
Phone +213 40 91 31 88

Scholarship information
https://PAU-AU.net/en/scholarships/scholarship-information 

Application 
Interested students are invited to apply until May 31, 2017 under the following link: 
https://PAU-AU.net/en/admissions 

Follow us:
Facebook www.Facebook.com/PAUWES1/?fref=ts; www.Facebook.com/pauafrica/?fref=ts   
Twitter @PAU_AfricaUnion; @PAUWES 
Youtube https://Youtu.be/8pLndLjLgJE 

About:
Pan African University
In 2008, the African Union Commission (AUC) set up the Pan African University (PAU) (https://PAU-AU.net) to strengthen higher education and research in areas that pose particular challenges for Africa. PAU addresses five thematic areas: Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation; Life and Earth Sciences (including Health and Agriculture), Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences; Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change (PAUWES); and Space Sciences. The thematic areas are assigned to five flagship institutes hosted by existing universities of excellence across Africa’s five geographic regions. For more information: https://PAU-AU.net.  

PAUWES 
As an integral part of the Pan African University, the Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change) (PAUWES) (http://PAUWES.Univ-Tlemcen.dz) in Tlemcen, Algeria, contributes to advancing higher education and applied research in the fields of water, energy and climate change – a key contribution to sustainable development in Africa. PAUWES, which is supported by the German government, currently offers four master programmes in the fields of water and energy, covering both engineering and policy. For more information: http://PAUWES.Univ-Tlemcen.dz.  

German Cooperation
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – www.GIZ.de
KfW Development Bank – www.KfW-entwicklungsbank.de

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

USAID-DuPont Partnership helps hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian farmers transform production and livelihoods:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and DuPont announced that the  Advanced Maize Seed Adoption Program (AMSAP), a public-private partnership between USAID, DuPont and the Government of Ethiopia, exceeded its goal by 150 percent to boost maize productivity among smallholder farmers and increase food production for Ethiopian communities.

As part of America’s Feed the Future initiative, the program’s objective was to sustainably increase more than 100,000 smallholder farmers' yields and enhance income potential, while also improving nutrition outcomes in 16 districts over three regions across Ethiopia. The program has already helped 250,000 smallholder farmers in 53 districts to adopt new technology and implement smarter agricultural practices, far surpassing its 2018 target goal. 

This public-private partnership was made possible through a dollar for dollar matching program that runs from 2015 to 2018 and leveraged a $ 2 million contribution from DuPont. Prior to this program, farmers were harvesting 2.2 metric tons per hectare. In districts where AMSAP was administered, they now harvest 7.5 metric tons per hectare. Since its launch four years ago, participating farmers have achieved an almost 300 percent increase, on average, in their maize yield productivity. They are also more efficiently connected to markets, which has helped boost incomes as much as $ 1500 per farmer, per year.

“We’re thrilled to see that we have more than doubled our goal with nearly two years left in our partnership,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, Deputy Coordinator for Feed the Future and USAID Assistant Administrator for Food Security.  “It’s these kinds of partnerships that demonstrate the outsized impact we can have when the U.S. development community teams up with America’s leading companies.”

AMSAP provides increased access to training, improved inputs such as hybrid seeds, and provides other technical support. 

Distributed by APO on behalf of U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa

President Zuma congratulates President-elect Macron on his victory:

President Jacob Zuma has congratulated Mr Emmanuel Macron, President-elect of the Republic of France, following his victory on 07 May 2017 of the French presidential elections.

President Zuma said: “South Africa looks forward to working with the French government under the leadership of Mr Macron to consolidate the already strong political, economic and trade ties between South Africa and France.”

France is an important source of foreign direct investment and also one of the highest sources of onward tourism for South Africa.

Relations between South Africa and France are structured through a Strategic Partnership encompassing political, economic, social and defence matters. The two countries cooperate in a wide variety of fields, especially in education and training, environment, health, transport, energy, science and research, as well as arts and culture.

President Zuma said: “South Africa will continue to work with the French government under Mr Macron to implement existing agreements and explore new areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the South African and French people.”

Distributed by APO on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of Government Communication and Information.

Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa