12 PhD Scholarships in Community Health for Young Researchers and Health Professionals 2026-2027
About
Applications are open for the OOAS-WAHO-PhD Scholarships, which are aimed at young researchers and health professionals who are nationals of the twelve ECOWAS Member States listed in the call. The scholarship covers training and research expenses related to the programme.
Table of contents
Overview of the OOAS-WAHO-PhD Scholarships
The West African Health Organization (WAHO), a specialised institution of ECOWAS, is launching a call for applications for the first cohort of 12 PhD scholarships in community health for the 2026-2027 academic year. This programme aims to strengthen Member States’ capacities in community health and train a new generation of high-level researchers and professionals.
Objectives of the OOAS-WAHO-PhD Scholarships
- Train community health experts to support the implementation of regional policies.
- Promote research on community health workers (CHWs), social mobilisation and behaviour change.
- Develop innovative solutions in digital health and artificial intelligence.
- Strengthen information systems and community-based epidemiological surveillance.
Thematic Areas of the OOAS-WAHO-PhD Scholarships
Thesis projects must focus on:
- Training, motivation and retention of community health workers.
- Community interventions and social mobilisation.
- Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE).
- Health promotion and social determinants.
- Financing and community-based health insurance.
- Evaluation of community health programmes.
- Information systems and epidemiological surveillance.
- Innovative approaches (e-health, AI).
Eligible Countries for the WAHO Scholarships
The scholarships are open to nationals of the 12 ECOWAS Member States: Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.
Scope and Coverage of the WAHO Scholarships
The scholarships cover:
- Training costs (registration, tuition, travel, accommodation, scientific conferences).
- Research costs (data collection and analysis, ethics, dissemination of findings).
- Other costs necessary to complete the programme.
Managed by Association Galien Africa on behalf of WAHO.
Eligibility Criteria for the OOAS-WAHO-PhD Scholarships
- Be a national of one of the 12 ECOWAS Member States.
- Hold a master’s degree (Master II / DEA) in public health, community health or social sciences, or a State doctorate in medicine.
- Be under 40 years of age on 31 décembre 2026.
- Have a community health research proposal (10 pages maximum, submitted in two languages: French/English or Portuguese/English).
- Provide supporting documents: degree certificates, proof of nationality, a letter of commitment from the thesis supervisor or proof of admission, employment certificates and certificates of additional training.
Guide for African Scholarship Holders
Access the African Scholarship Holder’s Guide , the essential ebook to help you better prepare your applications for international scholarships through practical advice, clear methods and effective strategies.
Download the guide →Required Documents for the OOAS-WAHO-PhD Scholarships
- Duly completed online application form
- Cover letter addressed to the Director General of WAHO, specifying the PhD track
- Proof of nationality of an ECOWAS Member State (passport, national identity card or certificate of nationality)
- Copies of the required qualifications
- Proof of submission of the registration or admission application for 2026-2027 (receipt, acknowledgement of receipt, screenshot, confirmation email) OR certificate of admission or registration (if already available) OR letter of commitment from the PhD supervisor
- Employment / internship certificates substantiating the professional experience declared
- Certificates for any additional training declared (where applicable)
- PhD research proposal in two versions (original version and a version translated into French or English), a maximum of 10 pages per version, following the template in the Annex
Timeline
- Launch of the call for applications : 1er octobre 2026
- Submission deadline : 30 novembre 2026
- Final deliberations : janvier 2027
- Notification of results : février 2027
Submission Procedure for OOAS-WAHO-PhD Scholarships
- Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the form: PhD application form – WAHO
- Documents must be uploaded in PDF format (5 MB maximum per file).
- No application fee.
For any enquiries:
The WAHO/ECOWAS PhD scholarships in community health 2026-2027 offer a unique opportunity for young researchers and health professionals from the 12 member countries. They provide full funding for 36 months and aim to strengthen community health systems in West Africa.
For further information or to apply for the ECOWAS Community Health PhD Scholarships 2026-2027, click on the buttons below:
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