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Applications are now open for the Fully Funded CABES MSc Programme in Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (SPIBES) for 2026/27 intake

Ednah Carrick March 1, 2026

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Closing Date: 31 March 2026

Applications are now open for the Fully Funded CABES MSc Programme in Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (SPIBES) for 2026/27 intake

MSc Programme in Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The call for applications to the SPIBES MSc programme is now open.

The SPIBES MSc. programme will be offered by three (3) universities across Africa, including:

Africa Center of Excellence on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture (CEA-CCBAD), University of Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
(SPIBES West Africa).
The UFHB targets candidates from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre and Network (HoAREC&N), Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia (SPIBES East Africa).
AAU targets candidates from Burundi, Botswana, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
University of Lubumbashi (UNILU), Democratic Republic of Congo (SPIBES Central Africa).
UNILU targets candidates from Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Zambia.

Overview

The CABES Master of Science (MSc.) programme in “Managing Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (SPIBES)” is a two-year, full-time interdisciplinary programme.

SPIBES equips students across Africa – specifically its western, central, and eastern regions, with high-quality knowledge and practical skills to navigate science-policy-practice interfaces (SPPIs) for biodiversity conservation and to contribute to sustainable transformative change.

The MSc Programme in Science-Policy-Practice Interfaces for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aims to strengthen the capacity of young professionals to design and advance sustainable development pathways and engage actively in biodiversity policy-making decision processes. Graduates are prepared to contribute meaningfully to SPPIs on biodiversity and ecosystem conservation at the international, regional, national, and sub-national levels, including key platforms such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD), and other regional and (sub)national frameworks. Through this approach, the program also promotes strong regional scientific collaborations and professional networks.

Objectives of the programme

provide students with an integrated understanding of biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES), as well as their relevance to sustainable development;
foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking, enabling a new generation of scientists to tackle complex and emerging environmental challenges;
build practical knowledge of the structure and functioning of (inter)national biodiversity planning and policy-making processes, and
equip students with the skills and tools needed to translate scientific research findings into policy-relevant outputs that support informed decision-making.

SPIBES forms part of the capacity building initiatives of the CABES – Capacity Development for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Experts programme, in support of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The programme builds on the achievements of the WABES SPIBES MSc. Programme (see www.wabes.net), which produced 30 graduates from 15 ECOWAS member states and Morocco.

Language of instruction

As an international MSc programme, all SPIBES courses are delivered in English. A good level of English proficiency is therefore required.

What SPIBES offer

Across all host universities, SPIBES provides a supportive learning environment that includes:

Policy-relevant scientific knowledge;
Strong regional and international networking opportunities;
High-quality teaching and research infrastructures;
Accredited, modular academic training programmes;
An experiential, practice-oriented learning approach.

Language courses

At the start of the MSc programme, successful candidates from targeted francophone and lusophone countries will receive intensive English language training. Additionally, anglophone students enrolled at the UFHB, Côte d’Ivoire (SPIBES West Africa), and UNILU, Democratic Republic of Congo (SPIBES Central Africa), will be offered French-language courses. The French-language courses are designed to provide students with basic language skills to support their integration into the host country’s cultural and social environment.

Scholarship and research support

Scholarship and other forms of support will be provided to successful candidates, including:

A monthly stipend of €350 (subject to minor variations due to currency exchange rates) until graduation (maximum 24 months). Kindly note that during the two-month language training period, students will receive only half of the stipend. This is the maximum amount the project can contribute toward covering living costs and accommodation.
Full coverage of tuition fees and health insurance coverage throughout the programme.
A laptop computer to support participation in the courses and research activities.
Research funds will be made available to students following the development and approval by the instituted scientific committee of a policy-relevant research topic.

Who can apply?

The SPIBES MSc programme is open to nationals from the above-listed countries in West, Central, and East Africa who hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification in the natural or social sciences. Eligible disciplines include, but are not limited to, biology, ecology, physics, climate science, economics, law, sociology, and geography. Applicants must be under 35 years of age. Exceptions may be considered for candidates with demonstrated professional experience and/or female applicants with children.

Degree-Awarding Institutions

Upon successful completion of the SPIBES programme, graduates will receive a certificate of completion issued by the CABES programme, in addition to an MSc degree awarded by one of the following partner universities:

Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (SPIBES West Africa).
Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (SPIBES East Africa).
Université de Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (SPIBES Central Africa).

Application documents required

A motivational letter, including information on academic and personal qualification(s), as well as interests in research in the Science-Policy Interface on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Sustainable development, and supporting the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) (maximum of 2 pages)
Copies of obtained university degree(s), academic transcripts and secondary school certificate (Baccalaureate or equivalent);
The name and contact details (email and WhatsApp) of one academic reference from a previous degree-awarding institution.
Pre-selected students will be requested to provide a valid passport with at least 2 years’ validity.

Application procedure and contact

All candidates must apply online through the CABES application portal (www.cabes.online). Applicants must complete the online application form and upload all supporting documents as a single PDF file. The combined PDF file must not exceed a maximum file size of 10 MB and should be named using the following format: [Country_Surname_Firstname]. Incomplete applications or submissions that do not follow these instructions may not be considered.

Selection Process

All shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in an interview, which may be conducted by telephone, video conferencing, or in person.

Applicants to the SPIBES East Africa programme hosted at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, will be required to complete a general aptitude test as an additional component of the interview process.

Following the completion of all interview stages, the final list of selected candidates for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on the CABES website by June 30, 2026.

Admission and Registration Requirements

Successful candidates are advised that original copies of all certificates and supporting documents submitted during the application process must be presented to the admissions office at the time of registration. This verification is mandatory for the validation of admission decisions. Health insurance coverage may be subject to standard medical requirements as determined by the insurance provider.

Each candidate is expected to submit an application to the SPIBES programme in their respective region. Applicants are advised to prepare all required documents before starting the application process, as there is no option to save and continue at a later stage. As the number of available places is limited, qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by clicking the link below: