Tamale – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) honored this week at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, Ghana, six recipients of scholarships awarded through the USAID West Africa Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Program (WA-WASH). The WA-WASH scholarships provide funds to students pursuing Master’s degrees in the fields of soil and water conservation, innovation communication, development studies, and science.

A total of 30 students from six universities in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Niger will be granted scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year for study in these countries. These students will receive a scholarship package covering tuition fees and research and field work expenses, as well as health insurance and a monthly stipend. The students will conduct research on topics related to the USAID WA-WASH Program, the goal of which is to increase sustainable access to safe water and sanitation and to improve hygiene in the three targeted countries.

“Through the WA-WASH Program, USAID is helping to develop the capacity of faculty and students, local, national and regional organizations, and communities, equipping them with technical knowledge and skills so they can replicate models for sustainable service delivery,” said Bradley Wallach, USAID/West Africa Deputy Mission Director. “This is why this scholarship program targets students of advanced studies and applied research to address needs related to water, sanitation and hygiene.”

The USAID WA-WASH Program, implemented by the Florida International University, is a four-year, $28-million project that contributes to meeting West Africa’s Millennium Development Goal of providing improved access to water and sanitation to 50 percent of the population.  In addition, WA-WASH provides access to water for productive uses via multiple use systems and improves resilience to climate change in the three target countries.