Africa Climate Collaborative Project Fellowships and Catalyst Grant Awards

University of Ghana – Boosts Climate Research with $1.26M Worth of Scholarships. 

The Africa Climate Collaborative Project at the University of Ghana has marked a pivotal moment in African climate research, significantly boosting efforts towards climate resilience and sustainability innovation across the continent. The Fellowship and Catalyst Grant Award Ceremony, held on Friday, 10th October 2025, at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) Conference Hall, saw a total of 60 individuals receive highly competitive Master's, Ph.D., Postdoctoral, and Catalyst Research Grants.

The total worth of scholarships allocated to this initial cohort of fellows amounts to a substantial $1,263,500 USD which will support talented young and early career scientists who have a strong interest in climate change research. The awards comprised 20 MA/MSc Fellowships, 20 MPhil Fellowships, 11 PhD Fellowships, and 3 Postdoctoral Fellowships; all aimed at promoting climate related research in Africa.

In addition to the academic scholarships, six Catalyst Research Grants were awarded to selected faculty members. These grants, collectively valued up to $90,000 USD, are specifically intended to advance innovative and interdisciplinary studies aimed at a sustainable future for the continent. The combination of postgraduate scholarships and faculty research grants ensures that the University of Ghana – Africa Climate Collaborative is building both the human capital and the institutional research capacity necessary for enduring climate solutions.

Addressing the attendees, who included Pro Vice-Chancellors, Provosts, Deans, and Directors of the University of Ghana, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo noted that the ceremony provided an opportunity to reflect on how the initiative aligns with the University of Ghana’s Strategic Plan (2024–2029), which was anchored on five key pillars: Transformative Student Experience, Impactful Research, Commitment to Faculty and Staff, Engagement and Partnerships, and Sustainable Resource Mobilisation and Stewardship. 

She further lauded the University of Ghana – Africa Climate Collaborative project leadership for its rigorous dedication to diversity and equity. "I am particularly proud of the diversity within this cohort. There are 38 women and 8 Persons with Disability among the awardees. This representation reflects our collective commitment to the transformative student experience and engagement and partnership priorities of our strategic plan. It also reaffirms our resolve to ensure that academic and research opportunities at the University of Ghana remain inclusive, equitable and accessible” the Vice Chancellor said.

Prof. Appiah Amfo stressed the wider significance of the investment, stating that the event "marks a bold step forward to our collective commitment to advancing climate resilience and sustainability innovation on our continent". She also reserved commendation for the strategic partner, noting that the Mastercard Foundation's "continued investment in young Africans demonstrates their believe in local leadership and African led solutions".

Programme Director, Prof. Gordon Awandare, also highlighted the project’s essential, multi-pronged approach. He explained that the collaborative operates through four main, integrated components designed to maximise impact: Training and Capacity Building, which includes the scholarships. Research, of which the Climate Research Catalyst Grant is a subset, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Networks, Policy, Learning and Dissemination. 

This strategic funding and organisational structure ensures that the newly inaugurated cohort of scholars will not only undertake crucial academic work but also translate their findings into actionable policy and entrepreneurial ventures across Africa. This investment marks a significant step in equipping Africa’s future leaders with the resources necessary to navigate and innovate against the challenges posed by climate change.

The Collaborative, which includes the University of Cambridge, the University of Cape Town and Makerere University in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is an eight-year initiative with a core mandate to empower young people, particularly women, refugees, displaced youth, and persons with disabilities, to lead climate-resilient development, advance circular economies, and drive green economic growth.