The program « Academia Partnerships Africa-France » (PeA)

The PeA is a program of academic partnerships between Africa and France, financed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) via Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Its implementation is being supported by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR), the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) and Campus France. 

CO-CREATE…

Launched in 2020, this program aims to support projects run jointly by African and French higher education institutions. Together, they are working to: 

• Create professional Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate programs delivered in Africa, to develop the sustainable development skills required in these countries;
• Forge closer links between universities and companies to create employment for students and develop socio-economic sectors that are a priority for the countries concerned;
• Promote access and academic achievement for young women and those most alienated from higher education.

…HIGHER EDUCATION ECOSYSTEMS

The PeA promotes networking between African and French academic communities, as well as economic stakeholders and civil society representatives. The members of these ecosystems work together to strategize, innovate and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the objectives set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. This work is helping to boost the national, regional and international outreach of partner institutions. 

… TO SERVE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) 

The PeA program is contributing to all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among the program’s key objectives: ensuring quality education (SDG 4), providing access to training that leads to decent employment (SDG 8), reducing inequalities in access to higher education (SDG 10), achieving gender equality (SDG 5) and establishing effective, inclusive partnerships built on shared values and principles (SDG 17). All of the other SDGs are also covered as a result of the diverse range of socio-economic sectors being developed by these projects, and the young people who receive training will develop the solutions of tomorrow.

IN PRACTICE, THE PROGRAM PROMOTES…

• The creation of new curricula and technical facilities for practical work and research;
• Training and experience-sharing among teacher and researchers, through mobility in both directions;
• Support for innovation and student entrepreneurship, as well as the development of national, regional and international partnerships with businesses and professionals;
• The launch of new distance-learning courses.

See also : The third Academic Partnership programme between Africa and France (PeA) kicks off (Press release, 17/09/2024)

The first two editions of the PeA program have already provided support for thirteen projects in seven different countries, covering thirteen fields of study (see infographic below). 

The third edition is now launched. With a total budget of €15 million, this program will provide financing to five or six new projects. The call for projects is open until mid-April via the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) website.

See the call for projects