Application Deadline: 31 March 2026
Applications are officially open for the fully funded Master of Science (MSc) programme offered by the CABES initiative, titled Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (SPIBES), targeting the 2026/27 academic year intake.
About the MSc Programme in Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
The call for applications to join the SPIBES MSc programme is now live. This interdisciplinary, two-year full-time Master’s degree is delivered through a unique partnership of three African universities, each serving different regional cohorts:
- Africa Center of Excellence on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture (CEA-CCBAD), Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (SPIBES West Africa): This hub invites candidates from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
- Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network (HoAREC&N), Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia (SPIBES East Africa): Targeting applicants from Burundi, Botswana, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
- Université de Lubumbashi (UNILU), Democratic Republic of Congo (SPIBES Central Africa): Serving candidates from Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Zambia.
Programme Overview
The CABES MSc programme, focusing on managing interfaces between science, policy, and practice in biodiversity and ecosystem services, equips students from Africa’s western, central, and eastern regions with advanced theoretical knowledge and applied skills. These competencies enable graduates to effectively engage in the biodiversity conservation sector and foster sustainable transformative changes.
The programme’s core aim is to strengthen the expertise of young professionals, empowering them to design sustainable development strategies and actively participate in biodiversity policy-making processes. Graduates from SPIBES are prepared to contribute at multiple governance levels including international, regional, national, and sub-national platforms such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD), and various regional frameworks.
Through this comprehensive approach, SPIBES promotes robust regional scientific collaboration and nurtures professional networks essential for biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation.
Key Objectives of the Programme
- Deliver an integrated and holistic understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES), demonstrating their critical role in sustainable development.
- Encourage interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, preparing a new generation of scientists adept at addressing complex and emerging environmental challenges.
- Provide practical insights into the structures and operations of national and international biodiversity planning and policy-making processes.
- Equip students with the necessary tools and skills to transform scientific data and research findings into policy-relevant outputs that underpin informed decision-making.
SPIBES forms part of the CABES (Capacity Development for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Experts) initiative, supporting IPBES’s capacity building goals. This programme builds upon the success of the WABES SPIBES MSc programme, which has graduated 30 students from 15 ECOWAS member states plus Morocco. For more details, visit www.wabes.net.
Language of Instruction
As an international programme, all SPIBES courses are conducted in English, requiring applicants to demonstrate proficiency in the language. To support students from diverse linguistic backgrounds, the programme offers additional language training opportunities.
Language Training
- At the start of the MSc, successful candidates from francophone and lusophone countries will participate in intensive English language training to ensure readiness for the academic curriculum.
- Conversely, anglophone students enrolled at UFHB (Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa) and UNILU (Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa) will receive French language courses designed to build basic conversational skills. This supports their social and cultural integration within the host countries.
Scholarship and Support Provisions
Selected students will receive comprehensive financial and academic support, including:
- A monthly stipend of €350 (subject to slight adjustments based on currency fluctuations) for the duration of the study period (maximum 24 months). Note that during the initial two-month language training phase, the stipend will be half this amount.
- Full coverage of tuition and health insurance throughout the programme.
- A laptop provided to facilitate course participation and research activities.
- Access to research funds, contingent on submission and scientific committee approval of a policy-relevant research proposal.
This financial package is designed to assist with living expenses and accommodation costs during the course.
Who Should Apply?
The SPIBES MSc is open to nationals of the countries listed under each regional university (West, Central, and East Africa), who hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification in natural or social sciences. Eligible academic backgrounds include, but are not limited to, biology, ecology, physics, climate science, economics, law, sociology, and geography.
Applicants must generally be under 35 years of age. However, exceptions may be made for candidates with substantial professional experience or female applicants with dependents.
Degree Conferral
Upon successful completion, students receive a certificate of completion from CABES in addition to an MSc degree awarded by the respective partner university:
- Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), Côte d’Ivoire – SPIBES West Africa
- Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia – SPIBES East Africa
- Université de Lubumbashi (UNILU), Democratic Republic of Congo – SPIBES Central Africa
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- A motivational letter outlining academic and personal qualifications, research interests related to the science-policy interface in biodiversity and ecosystem services for sustainable development, and support for IPBES.
- A Curriculum Vitae (CV) limited to two pages.
- Certified copies of university degrees, academic transcripts, and secondary school leaving certificates (such as Baccalaureate or equivalent).
- Contact details (email and WhatsApp) of one academic referee from a previous academic institution.
Pre-selected candidates will be asked to provide a valid passport with at least two years of remaining validity.
How to Apply and Contact Information
All applications must be submitted exclusively online via the CABES portal at www.cabes.online. Applicants are required to complete the online form and upload all documents as a single PDF file, not exceeding 10 MB. The file should be named following the format: [Country_Surname_Firstname].
Incomplete applications or those not adhering to these instructions may not be considered.
Selection Procedure
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview conducted via telephone, video call, or in person. For applicants to the SPIBES East Africa programme at Addis Ababa University, an additional general aptitude test is part of the interview process.
The final list of successful candidates for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on the CABES website by 30 June 2026.
Admission and Enrollment
Those admitted will need to present original certificates and documents submitted during the application for verification at registration. This step is mandatory to confirm admission status. Health insurance enrollment may require fulfilling specific medical criteria as per the insurer.
Applicants should apply to the programme corresponding to their region of residence. Since the application portal does not allow saving progress, applicants are advised to have all necessary documents ready before beginning the process.
Due to limited spaces, eligible and interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly by following the link below:
