Deadline: 31 January 2025

The Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is pleased to announce for application for its fifth batch of students to the study of Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change (MRP-ICC) in Burkina Faso under 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).

The Master’s Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change (MRP-ICC) is implemented at the Université Joseph KI-ZERBO (Burkina Faso). It is aimed at training a critical mass of experts with adequate scientific computation and climate data management skills in West Africa.

This Master’s programme includes all aspect of data management and administration of high-performance computing facility that will be used to run regional climate models and its auxiliaries for operational and research institutions and universities in West Africa. Students will be exposed to interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches to climate data analysis and management skills as well as operations and maintenance of HPC systems. Upon completion of their study, the students are expected to acquire adequate knowledge in:

• • • Climate and environmental data storage and management, 

    • Climate data analysis techniques and provision of climate data service, 

    • Operation, installation, and maintenance of the HPC, 

    • Current licensed climate data analysis software/packages, 

    • Use of open sources climate data analysis packages. 


These skills offer several opportunities for graduates. They can pursue doctoral studies or undertake professional careers in meteorological agencies, research centres, universities, public administration, private sector, NGOs, International Institutions, etc. 


I. Programme Duration 


• The time frame for the master’s programme is two years. During the first-year, students participate in the course programme of their Master Research Programme and work on their research outline.
• Research will be conducted during the second year within a period of six to nine months.
• Students would be expected to complete their thesis and internships with relevant government ministries, the national meteorological/hydrological agencies or relevant industry during the last three to six months of their study. 


The 24 months full time programme has the following components:

1. Preparatory phase: four (04) months of language proficiency courses in English language for francophones and lusophones at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana; and French language for anglophones, at the University of Lomé in Togo;
2. Lectures – 14 months, comprising 3 semesters at the Université Joseph KI-ZERBO (UJKZ);
3. Research proposal preparation – concurrent with (ii) above;
iv) Internship/Field/Research work/ – 4 months. Students are expected to select topics that are  in line with the research agenda, mission and objectives of WASCAL; v) Final thesis write-up and defense – 2 months.

II. Scholarship And Research Support

• WASCAL will grant scholarships to selected students in the Master Research programme in Informatics for Climate Change.
• The scholarship is extended every year after successful completion of the study programme.
• The scholarship includes:


• Monthly stipend to cover accommodation, and living expenses for the period of studies;
• Payment of university fees; 

• Research budget; 

• A personal laptop computer on loan for the duration of the programme.

In addition to the selected students for the WASCAL scholarship, limited places will be offered to high-performing candidates capable of covering the cost of training at the rate of 2290 euros per year. For these, the fees must be paid to the Accounting Agency of the Université JKZ before the start of each year's courses.

III. Eligibility

• Candidates applying for Master Research Programme in Informatics for Climate Change must have a minimum of BSc degree (second class upper division) or equivalent in Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Health sciences, Meteorology and Climate science, Geography, Biological sciences, Geoscience, Environmental Economics, Agriculture, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Engineering, Electrical engineering, Electronic Engineering.
• Citizen of WASCAL member country.
• Proficiency in English Language

IV. Application Process

• Applications are to be submitted online through the following link
• The following documents are required for the application with the corresponding names of the files:


1. Copy of academic degree (B.Sc or equivalent)(*). File name:  Degree B.Sc
2. Official Transcript or equivalent(*).File name:   Transcript (1, 2, 3...)
3. Detailed Curriculum Vitae. File name:  CV
4. WASSCE or SSCE Certificate (Anglophone Countries). File name:  WASSCE or SSCE
5. Baccalaureat Certificate (Francophone countries). File name:   BAC
6. Letter of motivation. File name:  Letter-Motiv
7. Support letter from employer (if employed) granting study leave for the two (2) years duration of the Master programme. File name:  Letter-employer
8. Copy of Certificate of Nationality or State of Origin. File name:  CN
9. A copy of English proficiency test or, in alternative, a statement indicating and justifying your self-assessment in the context of English proficiency. File name:  English
10. Recommendation letter from one (01) referee, the letter must contain detailed functional contact addresses (e-mail, WhatsApp) and telephone numbers of the referee. File name: Recom

Official English translations if the originals are not in English (for instance Lusophones)

• All applicants are required to submit the completed application form (complete with all attachments listed above) by email addressed to: [email protected] ; [email protected] ; [email protected] ;
• Partially completed forms will be discarded;
• Each document must be attached individually and as a single document;
• All applications must be received by January 31., 2025.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interviews.
• Further information can be obtained on-line at www.wascal.org  or www.edicc.bf

V. About WASCAL

WASCAL is a wholly West African international organization with focus on academic and transdisciplinary research, 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 cooperates with many agencies and universities in the region, providing a knowledge platform of excellence for its partners. WASCAL is funded by BMBF, multilateral and bilateral partners and its 12 West African member countries, namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia, and Togo.

WASCAL’s mission is to provide information and knowledge services at the local, national and regional levels to West African member countries to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change. We do this through capacity building support to young West African scholars in fields of climate, natural and social sciences and by delivering climate and environmental services in member countries.