Chaires croisées Program
Call for Proposals2010
Department of Training
and Capacity-Building
GH/GB
(Deadline March 1st 2010)
Since 2007, four Chaires Croisées have been set up in Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa and Benin.
Thematic area : Emerging and infectious diseases, water resources and access to water
The Chaire Croisée MIME on applied mathematics in epidemiology brings together a professor from the
University of Metz in France and a professor from University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon.
Affiliated with the MAT1 network, the project involves building a research team in the field of epidemiological
modeling in Cameroon, establishing a Master for the West African sub-region with co-supervised theses, and
developing partnerships in research and capacity building, particularly with French institutions.
Thematic area : Climate change and natural hazards
The Chaire Croisée TERANGA addresses data processing of satellite observations and statistical modeling. It
brings together a researcher from Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP) in Dakar, Senegal, and a researcher
of the University of Versailles, Saint Quentin, France. The objective is to strengthen the research potential of
ESP’s Information Processing Laboratory. The project made it possible to supervise several doctoral students
and conduct a summer school in Statistical Modeling and Environment for professors and researchers from
France and the sub-region.
Thematic area : International migration and development
International migration and urban governance in Africa are the subject of another Chaire Croisée that brings
together a professor of political science, director of the Forced Migration Studies Programme of the University
of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) and deputy director of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). The
Chaire is the result of a collaborative effort that began in 2005 and has continued with the Migration and
Transit (MITRANS) Research Programme based on the perception of migration. This Chaire Croisée aims to
build capacities of the University of the Witwatersrand’s research center, which is already working on this issue
with neighboring states and Francophone Africa, namely through training programs, hosting students and
designing projects.
Thematic area : Climate change and natural hazards ; water resources and access to water
The Chaire Croisée “Capacity Building and Research in Physical Oceanography and Applications in West
Africa” emerged from the Regional Program of Physical Oceanography in West Africa (PROPAO), initiated and
co-ordinated by an IRD researcher from LEGOS (Laboratory for Geophysical Studies and Spatial
Oceanography, a joint research unit of CNES/CNRS/IRD/UPS). The Chaire aims to contribute to regional
training efforts in this area and facilitate regional partners’ participation in international programs of interest to
the Gulf of Guinea. Led by a professor from Benin associated with the UNITWIN/UNESCO International Chair
in Mathematical Physics and Applications (ICMPA) at the University of Abomey-Calavi (Cotonou) and a
professor from the University Paul Sabatier (Toulouse) associated with LEGOS, this Chaire Croisée has
resulted in launching a Master of Regional Oceanography and Application (Mropa) in autumn 2008.
1 The Modeling and Applications network (MAT) brings together research teams in applied mathematics and computer
science interested in conducting research on the modeling of complex systems with application in the natural, biological
and social sciences and in view of fostering development.