Interdisciplinary doctoral school in African development - Cohort 5

The Interdisciplinary Doctoral School in African Development at Senghor University invites you to submit an innovative, interdisciplinary doctoral thesis project aimed at contributing to African and Haitian development.

The deadline for submitting the file is 09/30/2026 at midnight GMT.

The two highest ranked candidates will benefit from a full doctoral scholarship from Senghor University to work on one of the two topics presented below. Furthermore, a few other candidates who have submitted an excellent application and proposed a relevant theme, different from those selected for scholarship holders, may be admitted as non-scholarship doctoral students.

Eligibility requirements

1. Have obtained a Master’s level diploma (M2).

2. Be a national of a French-speaking African country or Haiti, and reside mainly in French-speaking Africa or Haiti.

3. Be at least 40 years old when applying for a thesis scholarship from Senghor University.

   No age limit for candidates who are not applying for the scholarship and who are able to finance their thesis via a public or private institution, or on their own. In this case, candidates must present a financing plan for the first year of the thesis (i.e. an estimated amount of €3,000/year for registration and attendance at doctoral training in Alexandria for 3-4 months/year).

If you meet these conditions, you will need to provide several documents including a research project.

In practice, your thesis research project should be structured around the following points:

1. The first section (2-3 pages), introductory and descriptive, must lead the reader from the general theme in which your subject fits, towards one or more more specific issues always linked to your subject to ultimately arrive at one or two research questions. It is therefore, through various bibliographic documentary sources, argued and justified on your part that you must lead the reader to understand your research question(s), this in a logical and fluid approach.

2. The second section (1-2 pages) is where you will give general guidance on your methodology, specifying its originality, its relevance and above all its feasibility. Classically, the sub-chapters of the methodology must answer the following questions: what type of methodology and why, where (location), when (estimated duration), with whom (partners, collaborations), how you will actually proceed (field surveys, quantitative, qualitative; etc.), with some elements on financial feasibility, statistical methods as well as ethical questions.

3. The third section (1 page) should give some operational perspectives that could arise from your work, its appropriation, its valorization, its contribution to sustainable development.

4. Finally, in a bibliographic section (1-2 pages) you must absolutely list all the bibliographic references used for your thesis project. Please note, this is an important chapter which must demonstrate your reading and your understanding of the subject. References must be presented following the APA model.

The two issues identified are:

• Transition towards African health autonomy and valorization of endogenous resources and knowledge;

• Management, governance and financing of the informal circular economy in urban Africa: organizational models, public innovation and territorial empowerment.

Most of the research will be carried out from Senghor University, in partnership with a laboratory in the south or the north, depending on the theme, with occasional missions for data collection.

Candidates who do not wish to apply for the scholarship or who are unable to do so due to the age limit can present a research project that focuses on a theme of their choice. The latter must be part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the development priorities of the African Union (Agenda 2063) or the 2024-2027 Programming of the Francophonie. The research project must be innovative in its questioning and methodology, and fundamentally interdisciplinary.

Description of topics for scholarship applicants

Topic #1

Transition towards African health autonomy and valorization of endogenous resources and knowledge.

• inventory of knowledge (prevention and care)

• availability of knowledge resources

• path to autonomy

Topic summary

This doctoral research focuses on the transition towards African health autonomy through the valorization of endogenous resources and knowledge. In a context marked by the persistent dependence of African health systems on external biomedical products, technologies and models, recent health crises have highlighted the need to strengthen the continent's health sovereignty. However, Africa has significant therapeutic, cultural and environmental resources that are still insufficiently documented and valued.

The study aims to analyze how endogenous knowledge of disease prevention and management can contribute to the construction of more resilient, adapted and autonomous health systems. In particular, it will seek to inventory local therapeutic knowledge, assess the availability of associated resources (medicinal plants, stakeholders, community practices, biodiversity, local infrastructure) and identify the levers as well as the obstacles to their integration into health policies and systems.

The research will adopt an interdisciplinary and mixed approach combining qualitative surveys, quantitative analyses, documentary studies and prospective approaches. Data will be collected from communities, traditional practitioners, health professionals, researchers and decision-makers.

The expected results include a mapping of endogenous knowledge and resources, a better understanding of the dynamics of valorization of traditional medicines and strategic proposals for sustainable African health autonomy. This thesis will contribute to debates on the decolonization of global health, epistemic justice and health sovereignty in Africa.

Profile sought

The candidate must hold a master's degree in health, medicine or a related discipline. Dual skills, or a strong desire to cross these two fields, is essential. Field experience in Africa, as well as an interest in participatory approaches and action research, are assets.

Topic #2

Management, governance and financing of the informal circular economy in urban Africa: organizational models, public innovation and territorial empowerment.

Topic summary

In African cities, the circular economy is widely deployed through informal practices of recovery, sorting, repair, reuse, transformation and resale. These activities, often marginalized in urban public policies, nevertheless contribute to the reduction of waste, the creation of income, economic inclusion and the resilience of territories. They are part of a concept of the circular economy based on the reduction of material flows, the extension of the lifespan of goods and the closing of resource loops, in continuity with Stahel's founding work on extending the life cycle of products (Stahel, 1982) and contemporary approaches which present the circular economy as a new paradigm of sustainability (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017).

This thesis project proposes to analyze the informal circular economy as an interdisciplinary object located at the crossroads of management, public policies, territorial governance, social innovation and development financing. This will involve studying the organizational models supported by informal actors, the forms of leadership that structure local circularity chains, as well as the relationships between public authorities, businesses, community organizations, waste pickers, artisans, cooperatives and financial partners.

The research will question the conditions in which public policies can recognize, support and structure these dynamics without destroying their flexibility, their social anchoring or their capacity for adaptation. Medina's work shows, in this regard, that urban waste pickers play a major economic, social and environmental role in developing countries, although they often remain insufficiently integrated into public urban management systems (Medina, 2007).

Based on one or more African cities, the thesis may use qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods: field surveys, interviews, stakeholder mapping, analysis of public policies, study of circular value chains or comparison of territorial models. The objective is to produce knowledge useful for public action, the management of local organizations and the sustainable transformation of African urban territories, from a perspective of circularity, empowerment and territorial innovation (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013).

Profile sought

The candidate may hold a master's degree in project management, social sciences, political or environmental sciences or a related discipline. A good knowledge of the African context, an openness to critical approaches and an ability to combine academic rigor and field engagement are expected. Comfort in qualitative methodologies (interviews, case studies, observation) is an asset.

Scholarship terms and conditions by the University

Candidates selected as scholarship holders from Senghor University will be able to benefit from a monthly allowance for 3 years and a support budget allowing them to carry out their work, participate in scientific meetings and stay in partner laboratories.

All candidates will be expected to stay in Alexandria during the doctoral training period (3-4 months each year) and scholarship candidates are invited to reside primarily in Alexandria outside of the field data collection phases.

The file to be submitted online at this address must include the following parts named as indicated in parentheses

1. A copy of an identity document justifying nationality (NAME First name - Identity)

2. A copy of proof of residence (NAME First name - Residence)

3. A detailed CV (3 pages max) clearly presenting the academic and professional background, previous scientific productions, as well as possible collaborations especially in Africa and Haiti (NAME First name - CV)

4. A copy of the master's level diploma (NAME First name - Master)

5. The transcript(s) of the master's level diploma (NAME First name - Notes)

6. A cover letter (2 pages max) (NAME First name - Motivation) which explains the reasons for choosing to do a thesis in relation to professional prospects, explaining why the candidate wishes to do the thesis at Senghor University

7. The proposed research project (6 pages max + bibliographical references), relating to one of the two subjects proposed for scholarship candidates (NAME First name - Project)

8. Two letters of recommendation from external people (not from Senghor University or the host laboratory) with their contact details (NAME First name - Recommendation 1 and NAME First name - Recommendation 2)

   For non-scholarship holders, the file must also include:

9. A letter of agreement from an authorized researcher for thesis co-supervision who can help set up a thesis co-supervision with their home university (NAME First name - Agreement)

10. The envisaged financing plan (NAME First name - Financing)

All documents must be in PDF format, and no more than 10 MB. The University reserves the right not to study incomplete files, as well as files which present the same documents repeated under various titles. Please read the appeal carefully as well as the FAQs published on University networks and to reserve any questions for the information webinar, and to avoid emails.