CALL FOR APPLICATION TO
WASCAL GRP on CC&WR
The need to understand climate variability, climate change and their impacts on water resources
cannot be overemphasised in the West African Region. The region has arid, semi-arid and tropical
climates and thus the impacts of climate variability and climate change on water resources may vary
temporarily, spatially, and even in intensity. Providing adequate water for people, for food, and for
sanitation are some of the challenges faced by governments in the region. In addition, climate
extremes have led to various catastrophes in the region, such as floods risks that cause loss of life
and property, loss of crops due to droughts, hydro-energy risks which negatively impact economic
development and achievement of ODD. Future climate change is projected to be more devastating
making the challenges facing the region more complicated. Therefore there is a pressing need for a
comprehensive understanding of the impacts of Climate Changes on Water Resources within the
region and for adequately trained human resources in water-related-sciences
Althought programs on climate and water science education exist in most of the West African
countries, only very few offer courses at the Masters and Ph.D levels. WASCAL GRP on CC&WR is a
German initiative that helps generate knowledge and develop the analytical capability within the region
on the impacts of Climate change and Water resources
Cooperating Partner Universities and Institutions
Université de Ouagadougou of Burkina Faso and 2ie
Université d’Abobo- Adjamé, Côte d’Ivoire
Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science & Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
Université de Bamako; Mali
Université Abdou Moumouni, Niamey; Niger and Agrhymet
Federal Universiity of Technology Akure, Nigeria
Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Dakar, Senegal
Université de Lome, Togo
German partner universities and institutions: University of Bonn
Admission Requirement
The entry requirements into the programme are basically those specified by the Université d’AbomeyCalavi of Benin:
 A good MSc with higher grades is absolutely necessary.
 The degree shall be in any of the following fields: Hydrology, engineering, Climate and water
related Science, Physics, Mathematics Chemistry, biology, Computer Science and other
relevant disciplines. Experience with modelling would be an advantage but not a prerequisite.
Language Requirements
The Programme is an English-speaking graduate programme that will involve the best minds of
the regional partner universities to cover the curriculum. Therefore the following are the language
requirements:
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Credit passes in English language at O/L West African School Certificate Examinations or at
baccalaureate.
Pass proficiency test in English language e.g. TOEFL (75% or above)
Language Update
WASCAL and partner universities in English speaking countries will facilitate the establishment of a 3
months intensive language training program for French speaking graduate students accepted for
GRP-on Climate Change and Water Resources. French language courses will also be offered to
English speaking students.The Language Course is oriented towards giving participants a
comprehensive and practical understanding of French and English languages, culture and traditions
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the WASCAL-GRP in climate and water are expected to be able to:
 Demonstrate state of the art in their field of specialization;
 Independently formulate and execute research in accordance with academic standards within
their field of specialization, thus contributing to the body of knowledge in this field;
 Develop and apply research techniques independently;
 Convert knowledge of complex physical, chemical, and biological processes into useful
modelling concepts and apply this to real world situations;
 Recognise, understand and apply new concepts as they emerge to water disciplines;
 Translate scientific knowledge in their field of specialization into policy recommendations;
 show evidence of scholarship by presenting a Ph.D thesis and publishing at least one (1)
article in reputable journals from his/her Ph.D research.
To ensure international recognition of the GRP Ph. D degrees, it is proposed to eventually publish
Monographs from the Ph. D theses of the graduates. This will be achieved through seeking
collaboration with the German Centre for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany.
Other Characteristics of the program
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West African scientists that are no longer in academia or in the region could also be involved.
In addition, it will forge collaboration with one (or more) German Universities that will
strengthen the Graduate Faculty.
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Graduate fellowships will be provided. The conditionality of the stipends and research budget
will be given after admission to the programme.
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Where necessary infra-structural needs and budget requirements for the Graduate
Programme would be made available to Université d’Abomey-Calavi of Benin to facilitate the
programme.
Target Group and Employment Opportunities
The course targets primarily young academics with potential to work in one of the universities in the
network or research institutions in West Africa. These participants will be selected strategically to build
capacity to fill positions in the universities in the network or research institutions from those countries.
This is to build critical mass for understanding and solving climate change-related problems.
Structure of the programme
Lecture Components
The method of teaching and transfer of information to students will be in the form of:
lecture, workshop and design exercises, field work and tutorials. The PhD in the WASCAL-GRP
Climate and water is a structured program consisting of six (6) months of taught courses. There are six
main modules to be considered during these first six months: Key courses to be undertaken by
students would include
Applied Mathematics and Applied Statistics:
Applied Physics
Meteorology and Climatology:
Specialized courses
Dynamic Hydrology
Stochastic Hydrology
Climate Change and Water Resources
Integrated water resources management (IWRM)
Water quality and Water quality Management
Downscaling Methods
Climate Change: Impact, Adaptation, Mitigation :
Course Seminar
Workshops and design exercises
Research Methodology
Research Plan Preparation
Students are expected to prepare and present research proposal that will indicate clearly how they are
going to carry out all aspect of their research. The students will be guided by their supervisors. The
proposal will be presented to, and assessed by the faculty for viability through a seminar. The plan
should be completed within the first six (6) months of study.
Field Work
Students will undertake field work based on their area of specialization. The field work can be done in
the GRP Lead University or other WASCAL institutions depending on expertise (supervisor),
availability of equipment and accessibility to relevant data.
Visits to Germany
During the course of their research, students will visit Germany to use some specialised equipment
and computing facilities otherwise not available in the GRP Lead University
Final Write up and Defence
 Students will write defend their theses in the WASCAL-GRP CC & WR following the rules and
regulations of Université of Abomey Callvi.
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Students will be required to publish at least one article in a reputable peer-reviewed journal
from their findings.
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Each student shall submit the manuscript for the publication of a monograph of his/her thesis.
Requirements for graduation
The students of the Graduate Research Programme shall adhere to agreed rules and regulations of
the University of Abomey-Calavi while following the programme.
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The time required for the completion of the PhD programme shall be 3 years.
Students will be required to maintain a graduate-level GPA (B or better) or risk being eliminated
from the course.
Students will be required to attend all mandatory seminars organized as part of the programme.
During the course-curriculum phase, students will be required to develop a detailed research
program, including budget, that will have to be accepted by his/her graduate committee, consisting
of at least 4 Graduate Faculty members, and endorsed by the Graduate Council. The Graduate
Program will provide the agreed upon research budget to the student.
Students will undertake a minimum of 1year research phase at the agreed-upon location, under
close supervision of the PhD advisor(s). The research phase may involve various visits to the
Competence Centre in Ouagadougou. Subsequently the student will be offered a working place at
a German university or institution where he/she will initiate the data analysis and synthesis
process (up to 6 months). The final write up is done at the University of the Advisor and/or at the
Université d’Abomey-Calavi of Benin or the Competence Center in Ouagadougou.
After three years, the student will submit a dissertation for approval by the examination committee.
The dissertation must represent an original contribution to fundamental knowledge in the
Hydrologic Sciences and has to be written in English with an abstract in French.
In addition to the written dissertation, each student must give an on-campus public presentation on
the content and results of the research after the 2nd and the 3rd year.
The defence of the Dissertation is done at Université d’Abomey-Calavi of Benin, before a
Graduate Committee that includes one professor from the German partner university and related
professors from the other network universities. Eventually, the Université d’Abomey-Calavi of
Benin and the German partner University may consider awarding “co-tutelles.”
The minimum number of credit hours required for graduation is 48 credit hours.
The pass mark for examination in any course subject shall be 50% and the minimum Cumulative
Weighted Average (CWA) for graduation shall be 55%.
It would be desirable
 if the PhD students attend one international congress in the 3rd year presenting his/her results
 publications in international journals should be honoured by an award
 if research is supported by a “paper club” discussing actual international publications
Eligibility
 Candidates must be from the WASCAL countries (Nigeria, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin,
Togo, Ghana, Niger, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, and Mali).
 All candidates must possess five (5) ‘O’ level credits as required in relevant disciplines but
must include English Language and Mathematics.
 Candidates must possess at least Second Class (Upper Division) in their first degree.
 Candidates with Masters Degree in Hydrology and water resources management,
Meteorology, Atmospheric Physics, climatology, and other relevant disciplines, normally with
an average of at least 60% in their Masters Programme may be admitted.
 Candidates must demonstrate adequate intellectual capacity, maturity and effective decision
making and problem solving potentials.
 Candidates must submit both soft and hard copies of their project pre-proposal, which will be
fine-tuned under the guidance of their supervisors, if admitted.
 Candidates must provide 3 referees, one of whom must be his/her Master’s supervisor
Selection Criteria
 A selection Committee will be set up, which shall make recommendations to the WASCAL
Advisory Board.
 Candidates will be selected based on the following:
o A good First Degree (at least Second Class Upper or equivalent)
o Submission of a Pre-proposal
o Other Criteria as stated under eligibility above