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Creating partnership opportunities for early-career researchers in Africa
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PhD students and faculty gather to mark the launch of the UM6P-J-PAL Applied Lab for Agriculture’s African Scholars Program in September 2025 in Rabat, Morocco.
Photo Credit: University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)
On September 17, 2025, the UM6P-J-PAL Applied Lab for Agriculture (UJALA) unveiled its new African Scholars Program at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)’s campus in Rabat. The program will support early‑career African researchers to become leaders in rigorous, policy‑relevant randomized evaluations and answer critical questions around small-scale agriculture and food security on the continent.
The launch convened more than seventy PhD students and faculty to exchange ideas around evaluating agricultural technologies and practices designed to increase small-scale farmers’ food security, productivity, and profitability. With this event, the program’s goal of developing locally-led research partnerships is well underway.
A vision for African‑led research
Evidence generated and led by African researchers is essential for shaping effective, context‑appropriate solutions. Yet, fewer than one in six articles published in the top twenty development journals from 1990 to 2019 were by researchers from the Global South. To help address this gap, UJALA’s African Scholars Program invests in building a pipeline of future academic leaders through skillbuilding, networking, and research funding.
As African scholars are connected to their local communities, the program will also strengthen links between researchers and decision‑makers so that evidence translates into action. (Learn more about the UJALA Scholars Program’s tailored package of training, mentorship, funding, and hands-on experience.)
Highlights from the launch event
The event kicked off with research presentations of four agricultural randomized evaluations followed by a lively Q&A with participants. The sessions focused on practical lessons for improving technology adoption, agricultural extension, and input subsidy design—underscoring how rigorous evaluations can guide smarter, more cost-effective policies.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in conversations with each other, building networks and connections to facilitate African‑led research partnerships.
“The UJALA African Scholars Program is a very important program, aiming to bring out a new generation of researchers in Africa capable of conducting studies that are rigorous—and innovative—on key issues for rural poverty and agriculture in Africa.” – Tanguy Bernard, speaker
“The program connects theoretical and practical aspects, which is very interesting and timely for all of us.… I believe this will have consequences in terms of raising awareness to adopt impact evaluation techniques among our students, policymakers, and the whole research community at UM6P.” – Professor Touhami Abdelkhalek, participant
What comes next
UJALA has now opened applications for its first African Scholars cohort. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2025. Prospective applicants and partners can learn more and follow updates on the UJALA African Scholars Program page.
Through this program, UJALA will contribute to expanding the continent’s leadership in generating policy‑relevant evidence, improving agricultural systems, and ultimately enhancing livelihoods.
