IHE Delft Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa Scholarships 2026

The IHE Delft Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa Scholarships are offered through the IHE Delft Water and Development Partnership Programme, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These scholarships aim to strengthen capacity and build a network of water professionals in specific focus regions. The scholarship supports students pursuing an MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development. A key requirement is that students must conduct their MSc research in their home country/region, linked to a project supported by the programme, and actively participate in learning network seminars.

Both full and partial scholarships are available. A full scholarship covers the entire cost of the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development, including tuition fees, insurance, international travel expenses, and a monthly allowance of €1,220 for living costs and accommodation throughout the study period. Candidates who can secure partial funding from other sources (private means, employer, or other scholarships) may also apply for the remaining funds to complement their scholarship.

Ethiopian students are eligible for this scholarship as Ethiopia is explicitly listed under the Horn of Africa region. Nationals from the following countries are eligible: Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda), Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen), and Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria). Applicants must have academic admission to the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development and must be living and/or working in one of the eligible countries. Successful candidates must agree to conduct their MSc research in their home country/region in association with a programme-supported project, actively participate in and contribute to seminars organized for the learning networks, and confirm their return to their country of origin or another priority country of the programme after completing their studies.

Applicants must first gain academic admission to the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development. One of the two required recommendation letters must be an employer statement. This letter must be on official letterhead, dated, and signed. It should explain how the knowledge and skills gained by the applicant will contribute to the organization's activities and performance, confirm that the applicant will return to the organization after completing their MSc study at IHE Delft, and indicate if the organization is involved in any projects funded by the Water and Development Partnership Programme. Candidates are expected to demonstrate strong motivation (by answering 5 motivation questions in the online application), possess a strong academic background, and preference is given to those with relevant work experience. Strong priority is also given to female candidates.

To be considered for this scholarship, you must first apply for and be admitted to the Master's programme at IHE Delft. There is no separate application form specifically for the scholarship. If you are a national from one of the eligible countries and meet all the eligibility criteria, you will automatically be considered for the scholarship.

The scholarship emphasizes conducting MSc research in the student's home country/region, linked to programme projects, and active participation in learning networks to strengthen regional capacities and foster knowledge development in the water sector. In cases where candidates are equally suitable and eligible, priority will be given to those who are able to arrange co-funding from other sources.