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The outlook for research and development in West Africa was bleak in 2008. Several analyses at the time concluded that the majority of PhD researchers operating in West Africa would be retiring by 2025, creating a major handicap in the search for innovative solutions to the glaring and emerging challenges facing West African agriculture.

Faced with the growing threat of climate change, temperature variations,soil degradation, demographic growth, gender disparities, underemployment of young people, etc., West African countries have committed to investing in the training of a new generation of agricultural researchers to ensure the next generation is available. Thanks to a loan from the World Bank and support from CORAF (Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Développement Agricoles), some 13 countries in the region participating in the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP) have financed post-graduate studies for young agricultural researchers.

A total of 1,000 young researchers, of whom around 30% were women, were awarded scholarships to pursue their master's and doctoral studies in priority areas for the development of their countries. For example, the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria has welcomed students from Mali, Guinea, Niger, Benin, etc., with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation through agricultural research. Some of the scholarship holders were even able to continue their post-graduate studies in Europe, culminating in a doctorate. 

A decade later, several independent studies have concluded that the WAPP fellowship program has made a substantial contribution to strengthening research and development capacity in West Africa.

Read also:

• WAPP has made a substantial contribution to research in West Africa, says report

What happened to them?

After graduating, we wanted to find out what happened to the beneficiaries of this PPAAO scholarship program.

What have they become? In what fields do they work? Do they contribute to agricultural research and development?

Successfully tackling the challenges facing West African agriculture requires outstanding scientists who can develop "cool" technologies such as sensors, autonomous tractors and other digital tools to help transform the sector.

Since governments can't offer jobs to all the young people looking for them, do these talented young people have the capacity to go into agribusiness?

In short, has this fellowship program generated a new generation of biologists, chemists, engineers and scientists capable of developing exciting new technologies, better seeds and finding new ways to protect crops from weeds, pests and diseases?

CORAF's communications team travelled to some of the countries in the region benefiting from this program to meet the new generation of agricultural researchers. Here's what we know about them. 

The case of Mali

A total of 120 students benefited from PPAAO scholarships in Mali. 70 for masters degrees and 50 for doctorates. Fields of study ranged from fish farming to agricultural extension. From agricultural hydraulics to agricultural economics. Other fields of study included: development communications, monitoring and evaluation, anthropology, environment, food technology, pedology, pastoralism (legislation), biotechnology, rice genetics, microbiology, parasitology, toxicology, natural resource management, etc.

With the exception of a few, most sponsored candidates have completed their studies and returned home under commitments signed with the Malian government.

As we have seen, with the exception of a few who have returned to their previous positions, or who have landed jobs with local national and international organizations, most graduates are not yet employed.

In the following video, they talk about their experiences and potential lessons for similar future interventions.