Puntland State: Call for S-FSRP Scholarship Application

Call for S-FSRP Scholarship Application

Introduction

The Puntland State of Somalia, through the Somalia Food Systems Resilience Project (S-FSRP), financed by the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank, invites eligible candidates to apply for long-term scholarships at PhD, Master’s (MSc/MBA), and Bachelor’s degree levels.

The scholarship program is funded through S-FSRP to support human capital development in priority technical and policy areas relevant to strengthening food systems resilience in the Puntland State of Somalia.

Project Development Objective

The Project Development Objective (PDO) of S-FSRP is to increase preparedness against food insecurity and improve the resilience of food systems in the targeted project areas of Somalia.

This objective will be achieved through increased farm productivity and resilience, including the development and dissemination of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies, climate-resilient seed systems, and gender-responsive innovations.

The project is implemented through the following components: -

1.     Rebuilding Resilient Agricultural Production Capacity

2.     Supporting the Sustainable Development of Natural Resources for Resilient Agricultural Landscapes

3.     Getting to Markets for Food Security

4.     Promoting a Greater Focus on Food Systems Resilience in National and Regional Policymaking

5.     Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC)

6.     Project Coordination and Management

Purpose of the Scholarship Programme

The purpose of the S-FSRP Scholarship Programme is to build long-term human capacity to support increased preparedness against food insecurity and improved resilience of food systems in Puntland State of Somalia.

Target Beneficiaries: The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of field practitioners and government staff from:

§  Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation – Puntland

§  Ministry of Livestock and Animal Husbandry – Puntland

§  Ministry of Environment, Rangeland and Climate Change – Puntland

§  Other relevant public and private sector practitioners

Training will focus on technical, research, and policy areas aligned with S-FSRP objectives.

Fields of Studies

§  Environmental, natural resource management, and climate change

§  Veterinary and animal production sciences

§  Agricultural and environmental plant sciences

Eligibility Criteria

1.     Citizenship: Applicants must be Somali citizens to ensure the scholarship supports local talent and expertise (He /she should be a Puntlander and resident in Puntland).

2.     Age Limits: The upper age limit is 25 years for those applying to undergraduate and 37 years for Master’s Degree programs, and over 35 years for PhD programs. This policy aims to encourage younger professionals while allowing experienced individuals to enhance their qualifications.

3.     Application Process: Candidates must complete the Scholarship Application Form and fulfil the minimum requirements set by the respective universities. This ensures that applicants are not only interested but also qualified for the programs they wish to pursue.

4.     Research Commitment: Applicants should demonstrate a willingness to conduct research that aligns with the focus areas of the Somalia’s-Food Systems and related areas. This commitment must be evidenced by a developed concept note or an approved research proposal that highlights their intention to contribute to the program's goals.

5.     Recommendation Letter: A recommendation letter from the affiliated institution, employer, or supervisor is required. This letter should attest to the candidate's qualifications and potential, reinforcing their suitability for the scholarship.

6.     Meet the university admission requirements for the respective program and obtain a provisional admission letter clearly outlining the tuition fee structure.

7.     Demonstrate willingness to commit to a minimum of two years of service contributing to the program’s thematic focus areas upon graduation.

Required Application Documents: Applicants must submit:

1.     Completed Scholarship Application Form

2.     Concept Note (for MSc/PhD applicants)

3.     Training Bond Form (for awarded candidates only)

4.     Valid Passport or Puntland Civil Service/State ID

Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Application forms and concept note instructions are downloadable from the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, www.moai.pl.so, www.fsrp.gov.so, www.molah.pl.so,  www.moehe.pl.so

Submission of Applications:

Applicants for undergraduate programs (BSc) are required to submit their applications either electronically or in hard copy no later than Monday, 16 February 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Applicants for graduate programs (MSc/MBA and PhD) are required to submit their applications not later than 2^nd Mar 2026, at 5:00 PM

Electronic submissions should be sent to procurement.fsrp@moai.pl.so.

Hard copy applications should be delivered to the following address:

S-FSRP Puntland Project Coordination Unit, behind Rugsan Square Hotel, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, 2nd Floor, Garowe, Puntland State of Somalia.

ANNEX 1:  S-FSRP Scholarship Application form

ANNEX 2: S-FSRP Scholarship Concept Note Format  

ANNEX 3: Expression of Interest (EoI) S-FSRP Long-Term Scholarship