In progress
The Learn Africa scholarship program, aimed at African women students and researchers, seeks to promote knowledge transfer and the capacity-building of African women at Spanish universities. Upon completion of their studies, the scholarship recipients return to their home countries to apply the knowledge acquired, contributing to the sustainable development of their communities and helping to curb brain drain, a key factor for the continent’s progress.
The Women for Africa Foundation develops this program in collaboration with prestigious Spanish universities, ensuring academic excellence. The Learn Africa program was launched in 2013 with three in-person scholarships offered by the University of La Rioja. Since then, the program has followed an unstoppable trajectory and now has a solid network of more than 60 partners, including universities and business schools in Spain and one in Morocco, both public and private, as well as various public and private sector funders. The Foundation handles the selection of scholarship recipients, supports them in obtaining visas, and provides ongoing monitoring to evaluate their stay and training in Spain.
Since its creation in 2013, this program has awarded 449 scholarships to 407 women from 36 African countries in master’s, doctoral, research stays, specialist degrees, and other postgraduate programs.
In 2020, with the outbreak of the pandemic, the program began to include online postgraduate scholarships—and later hybrid format—, a modality that continues to this day to support the socio-professional balance of many African university students.
The in-person scholarships in Spain cover tuition and academic fees, accommodation, living expenses, travel, and health insurance. Meanwhile, the in-person scholarships in Morocco and the online scholarships only cover tuition and academic fees. The duration of the scholarships varies by program: from five months for research stays to five years for doctoral programs.
The program enriches both the beneficiaries and the host universities, as these institutions benefit from the participation of highly skilled students who bring valuable perspectives and knowledge, enriching the academic environment in Spain. Follow-up data and annual surveys we conduct each year reflect that many scholarship recipients have secured employment in their areas of specialization, improving their economic conditions and creating a positive impact in their communities.
LAC: Learn Africa Canarias
In 2020, Learn Africa Canarias was launched, funded by the Canary Islands Government, aiming to expand academic and professional development opportunities for African women without requiring them to leave their countries. This subprogram offers scholarships to African women university students for short-term online courses at Canary Islands academic institutions. To date, 1,299 scholarships have been awarded to 946 women from 44 African countries, allowing them to enhance their education from their places of residence.
Students on the impact of the program
Beneficiary of a Master’s in Biomedicine and Oncology at UNIOVI, originally from Equatorial Guinea:
My situation has improved tremendously. Thanks to the scholarship, I have been appointed as an academic extension advisor, which provides me with an extra financial incentive compared to my situation before obtaining this scholarship.
Beneficiary of a research stay at the Faculty of Sciences at UMA, originally from Tunisia:
My experience with Learn Africa scholarship was a real steppingstone for me because right afterwards the team I worked with, at the University of Malaga, recommended me for a post-doc in China.
Beneficiary of a Master’s in Banking and Finance at UAH, originally from Senegal:
Being out of my country for a year allowed me to grow and to learn more about myself. I learned to face my problems on my own, to work and interact with people from various backgrounds etc.
Beneficiary of a Master’s in Technologies, Systems, and Communication Networks at UPV, originally from Kenya:
Being the sole bread winner in my family and the only one employed, the career growth has changed not only my life, but that if my entire family that depends on me. More salary means we can now afford a decent meal and go to school comfortably.
Beneficiary of a scientific-technical research scholarship at UMA, originally from Nigeria:
It has had a positive impact on my community. Because of my increased knowledge and expertise, I am in a better position to advise, give talks and speak at health-related events in my community. I also write opinion editorials for an indigenous magazine on health and science related issues which is shared online and available in print for everyone to read. Many people in my local church, social media platforms have attested to benefiting from those articles.
Beneficiary of a Master’s in Dynamics of Cooperation, Conflict, and Negotiation in International Relations and Diplomacy at UAX, originally from Botswana:
Because now I know more about community building, I have been able to found an NGO of my own which empowers women and I would not have done that had I never interacted with the Women for Africa Foundation.
Colaboran:
