Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa Scholarships 2026 —Fully and Partially Funded
The IHE Delft Water and Development Partnership Programme is offering full and partial scholarships for water sector professionals from selected countries in Africa and the Middle East to pursue an MSc in Water and Sustainable Development.
The full scholarship covers tuition, a monthly stipend of €1,220, international travel costs, and insurance — with no obligation to repay any of it. Professionals who already have partial funding from an employer or another source can apply for a top-up through the same programme. The application deadline is June 1, 2026, and scholarship results are announced on July 1, 2026.
Check Out: University of Birmingham Business School Masters Scholarships in UK | How to Apply
Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa Scholarships Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa |
| Host Country ⇒ | Home Country / Regional (distance-based MSc programme) |
| Study Level ⇒ | Masters |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full Scholarship — tuition fees + €1,220 monthly stipend + international travel support + insurance coverage; partial scholarships also available |
| Funded By ⇒ | IHE Delft Water and Development Partnership Programme, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen (Middle East); Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda (Horn of Africa); Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria (Sahel Region) |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | June 1, 2026 |
Scholarship Categories to Explore on ScholarWaka— Here are some key scholarship opportunities you should check out on ScholarWaka:
- Study Abroad: Study in USA | Study in Canada | Study in UK | Study in Europe | Study in Asia | Study in Australia | Study in Africa
- Scholarship Category: Undergraduate Scholarships | Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | PhD Scholarships | Diploma Scholarships | Competitions | High School Scholarships | Internships Scholarships | Training | Fellowships
About the Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa Scholarships
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education is a UNESCO-category institution based in Delft, the Netherlands, and is the largest international graduate water education institute in the world. Its Water and Development Partnership Programme is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and runs scholarship cohorts specifically for working professionals in water-stressed and conflict-affected regions.
The 2026 scholarship cycle targets professionals already working within the water sector in 15 eligible countries across the Sahel, the Middle East, and the Horn of Africa. The award supports enrolment in the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development — a programme built around research that applicants conduct directly in their home country or region. The design is deliberate: rather than pulling professionals out of their local contexts to study abroad in isolation, the programme keeps them embedded in the regions they are trying to improve, connects them to a wider international learning network, and requires them to link their research to active water development projects supported by the programme.
Two scholarship types are available. A full scholarship covers all major costs. A partial scholarship is for applicants who already have some funding in place — from an employer, a government body, or another scholarship — and need additional support to cover the remaining gap.
Read Also: New Silk Road Scholarship in China | How to Apply
What the Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa Scholarships Cover
Full Scholarship recipients receive:
- Full tuition fee coverage for the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development
- Monthly stipend of €1,220 to cover living and accommodation expenses throughout the study period
- International travel support — economy class flights to and from required programme activities
- Comprehensive insurance coverage for the duration of the programme
- Access to IHE Delft’s international professional networks and alumni community
- Participation in regional seminars and learning community activities organised under the Partnership Programme
Partial Scholarship: Available for applicants who already have confirmed funding from an employer, personal funds, or another scholarship source and need supplementary support to cover the remaining costs. The partial award bridges the gap — applicants should confirm the extent of their existing funding in their application.
All recipients — full and partial — are expected to conduct their MSc research in their home country or region, associate that research with projects supported by the Water and Development Partnership Programme, attend and actively contribute to programme seminars and learning network activities, and return to their home country or another eligible priority country after completing the MSc.
Apply For: Macquarie University Road to Research Scholarship in Australia | How to Apply
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible countries:
- Middle East: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen
- Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda
- Sahel Region: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria
To be considered for the scholarship, you must:
- Obtain academic admission to the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development at IHE Delft
- Be currently living and/or working in one of the 15 eligible countries
- Agree to conduct your MSc research in your home country or region
- Participate actively in programme seminars and learning activities throughout your study period
- Confirm in writing your willingness to return to your home country or another eligible priority country after completing the MSc
Employer recommendation letter requirements:
The employer recommendation letter is a core part of the application and must meet all of the following conditions — letters that do not meet every requirement will make the applicant ineligible for scholarship selection:
- Written on official organisational letterhead
- Signed and dated by an authorised representative
- Explains clearly how the MSc programme will benefit the applicant’s organisation
- Confirms that the applicant will return to the organisation after completing the programme
- Indicates any involvement by the organisation in Water and Development Partnership Programme projects (where applicable)
Selection criteria:
The selection panel assesses applications on academic background, strength of motivation, relevant work experience in the water sector, and potential to contribute to water sector development in the eligible region. Female candidates receive priority consideration. Applicants with confirmed co-funding from an employer or another source are also given priority where applicable.
During the online application, you will be required to answer five motivation questions. These are assessed as part of the selection process — treat them with the same care as a personal statement.
Must Check: Human Rights Scholarship in Australia | Fully Funded
Required Documents
- Completed admission application to the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Employer recommendation letter — meeting all the specific requirements listed in the eligibility section above
- Additional academic or professional recommendation letters
- English language test results (where required — see note below)
- Responses to the five motivation questions in the online application
English language exemption: Applicants from Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda are exempt from submitting English language test results. Applicants from all other eligible countries who are required to provide English test results must submit them before June 1, 2026. Applications with missing English test results after that date will not be considered eligible for scholarship selection — this is a hard cutoff, not an administrative formality.
Start preparing your employer letter and academic documents early. The employer letter in particular requires time to obtain: it must come from an authorised signatory within your organisation, address specific points about the programme and your return commitment, and arrive before the deadline. Requesting it the week before June 1 is a risk you do not need to take.
How to Apply
- Confirm that your country of residence or employment is on the eligible countries list. If you are not living or working in one of the 15 eligible countries, you do not qualify for this scholarship cycle.
- Apply for academic admission to the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development at IHE Delft through the official IHE Delft admissions portal. Academic admission must be secured before scholarship selection takes place.
- Prepare your employer recommendation letter. Ensure it is on official letterhead, signed and dated, and addresses all the required points — how the programme benefits the organisation, confirmation of your return, and any link to Water and Development Partnership Programme projects.
- Gather your academic transcripts, degree certificates, and English language test results (if your country requires them).
- Answer the five motivation questions within the online application. These questions assess your understanding of the programme, your water sector experience, and your commitment to contributing to your region after graduation.
- Upload all required documents and submit your completed admission application before June 1, 2026.
- No separate scholarship application is required. Once you are academically admitted, eligible applicants are automatically considered for scholarship selection.
- Scholarship results are announced on July 1, 2026.
Check Out:1st Formations Business Scholarship in the UK and USA | How to Apply
Application Deadline
June 1, 2026 — final deadline for admission applications, all supporting documents, and English language test results (where required).
July 1, 2026 — scholarship selection results announced.
There is no rolling admission for this scholarship. All applications are assessed together after the June 1 deadline, and results go out on a fixed date. If you miss June 1, you are out of this cycle entirely.
Also Read: Chinese Government Scholarship-Silk Road Program at Tianjin University | Fully Funded
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Nigerian professionals apply for the Sahel, Middle East and Horn of Africa Scholarships 2026?
Yes. Nigeria is one of the 15 eligible countries under the Sahel Region category. Nigerian applicants are also among the three nationalities — alongside Kenya and Uganda — who are exempt from submitting English language test results. If you are a water sector professional living or working in Nigeria, you meet the nationality and language requirements and can proceed directly with your admission application.
Do I need to travel to the Netherlands to complete this MSc?
Not necessarily for the full duration. The programme is structured around research conducted in your home country or region, and you are required to associate your research with local water development projects. There may be seminars or learning activities that require international travel — which the full scholarship covers — but the programme is designed to keep you grounded in your region, not to relocate you permanently.
What is the difference between the full scholarship and the partial scholarship?
The full scholarship covers tuition, the €1,220 monthly stipend, international travel, and insurance. The partial scholarship is for applicants who already have some confirmed funding — from an employer, government, or another scholarship — and need the programme to cover what remains. If you have partial funding in place, apply and indicate the source and amount of your existing support in your application.
Is the employer recommendation letter compulsory?
Yes, and the requirements are specific. The letter must be on official letterhead, signed and dated, explain how the programme benefits your organisation, confirm your return after graduation, and note any involvement with Water and Development Partnership Programme projects. A letter that does not address all of these points makes you ineligible for scholarship selection — not just weaker as a candidate, but ineligible. Request it from your employer well before the deadline.
When will I know if I received the scholarship?
Scholarship results are announced on July 1, 2026, approximately one month after the application deadline closes. All applicants who submitted complete, eligible applications by June 1 will be notified on that date.
Also Read: Sheffield Hallam University Transform Together Scholarships in UK | How to Apply
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official IHE Delft Water and Development Partnership Programme website as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.
Official Application Portal
Join ScholarWaka Community
Get the latest scholarship updates and study abroad opportunities before anyone else.
