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5 projects from 19 higher education and research institutions join the “Academia Partnerships Africa-France” program
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Following the call for proposals for the 3rd edition of the “Academia Partnerships Africa-France” (PeA) program, 5 projects have been selected, associating 5 African and 14 French higher education and research institutions. Financed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) via Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the program aims to bring university communities closer together and bolster academic success in Africa, while also meeting the needs for skilled jobs in African countries. This new edition mobilizes a €15-million budget.
The PeA is implemented with support from the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE) and operated by the French National Research Agency (ANR), with Campus France coordinating PeA events. The PeA funds partnerships between African and French institutions, which jointly create training programs spanning bachelor’s through PhD degrees in economic sectors that are a priority for African countries, such as renewable energy, agroecology, health, and digital technology.
The first two editions have already provided support for 13 programs in 7 African countries. This third edition will be financing 5 new projects over 4.5 years in 5 African countries – Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda –, thus expanding the PeA into new geographies. In total, over 60 higher education and research institutions are now involved, with the goal of enrolling upwards of 5,700 students a year by the end of the program.
Strategic objectives for the future
The winning projects embody the priorities shared by Africa and France. They aim to strengthen the employability of young people by developing job-oriented training programs tailored to the needs of local and international companies. Their funding will also help to provide the students with conditions for learning and experimenting that closely match real-life professional environments, thanks to the rehabilitation of infrastructure and the purchase of scientific and technical equipment. The creation of incubators to support young innovative entrepreneurs is also helping to translate training into real economic opportunities. Promoting the participation and success of young women in the training programs funded by the projects continues to be a key priority in this 3rd edition of the PeA.
Long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships
Creating shared academic spaces fosters the circulation of knowledge, ideas and talent. It leads to mutual enrichment underpinned by diverse educational approaches and a wealth of intercultural exchanges, whilst also reinforcing the international outreach of the African and French institutions. The goal of the new training programs, designed in collaboration with professionals, is to provide local training for young people who are not only rooted in their territory but also open to the world, and able to innovate in order to meet the challenges of sustainable development.
Winning projects of the PeA’s 3rd edition
● B.E.A.T. – Nigeria
o Goal: to train professionals capable of driving innovation in African and global cultural and creative markets.
o Project leaders:
- Covenant University
- Paris Institute of Political Studies – Sciences Po
o Program: cultural and creative industries
● CO-FIPHAR – Rwanda
o Goal: to train pharmacists skilled in industrial pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and medical biology, to support the development of Rwanda’s pharmaceutical industry.
o Project leaders:
- University of Rwanda (UR)
- University Clermont Auvergne (UCA)
o Programs: industrial pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and medical biology
● ITEGE – Ethiopia
o Goal: to train specialists in geothermal exploration in Ethiopia to drive the sustainable development of this energy source, mainly used for heating and electricity generation.
o Project leaders:
- Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU)
- CY Cergy Paris University (CYU)
o Other partners:
- Sorbonne University (SU)
- University of Lorraine (UL)
o Program: geothermal energy
● MASUCU – Gabon
o Goal: to train experts in health sciences, human, animal and environmental health in line with the “One Health” approach, to enhance the public health system and meet Gabon’s health challenges.
o Project leaders:
- Masuku University of Science and Technology (USTM)
- Paris-Est Créteil University (UPEC)
o Other partners:
- VetAgro Sup
o Programs: human, animal and environmental health
● SHIFT-KF – Kenya
o Goal: to train future executives for Kenya’s agrifood industry to modernize the sector and create new, more attractive jobs.
o Project leaders:
- University of Nairobi (UoN)
- National Institute for Life and Environmental Sciences and Industries – AgroParisTech (APT)
o Other partners:
- Agricultural Research Center for Sustainable Development (CIRAD)
- National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)
- Institut Agro
- EPLEFPA FORMA’TERRA – La Réunion (FormaTerra)
- EPLEFPA SAINT JOSEPH – La Réunion (Saint-Joseph)
- Coconi agricultural high school – EPNEFPA Mayotte (Coconi)
o Program: agrifood (agriculture, agroecology, food systems)
Discover more about:
• PeA: https://www.afd.fr/en/program-academia-partnerships-africa-france-pea
• The Call for Proposals: https://anr.fr/en/call-for-proposals-details/call/specific-call-for-proposals-academia-partnerships-africa-france-3rd-edition-pea3-2025/
Press contacts:
Agence Française de Développement – www.afd.fr/en
Marie Guillemin | communicationpea@afd.fr | +33 (0)6 65 19 67 13
National Research Agency – www.anr.fr/en
Katel Le Floc'h | contactpresse@anr.fr | +33 (0)6 81 61 12 97
Campus France – www.campusfrance.org/en
Judith Azema | judith.azema@campusfrance.org | +33 (0)6 50 48 94 03