The Africa Climate Collaborative is inviting applications for 12 PhD fellowships in Climate and Development at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa.
The four-year doctoral training programme is designed to develop a new generation of African scholars equipped to address major climate and development challenges facing the continent.
The programme combines one year of structured pre-doctoral coursework with three years of independent thesis research and doctoral skills training. Each fellowship is linked to a specific research topic and supervisory team, giving successful candidates the opportunity to undertake focused research in areas spanning climate adaptation, energy, biodiversity, water, fisheries, urbanisation, governance and climate-resilient development.
Applications are open exclusively to citizens of African countries, including African applicants currently living outside the continent.
Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowship Programme
The fellowship programme provides a four-year doctoral training pathway structured to combine academic coursework with supervised research.
During the first year, fellows undertake structured pre-doctoral coursework designed to strengthen their knowledge and research capabilities in climate and development.
Years two to four focus on independent thesis research under supervision, alongside doctoral skills training. Each of the 12 available fellowships is connected to a designated research topic and supervisor or supervisory team.
Successful fellowship applicants will also need to apply for and receive admission to a PhD programme at the University of Cape Town. The Africa Climate Collaborative states that assistance will be provided with the UCT admission process for successful fellowship applicants.
Who Can Apply?
The opportunity is intended for emerging African researchers who have an academic background relevant to climate and development and who meet the disciplinary requirements attached to their chosen research topic.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a completed Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to climate and development in Africa.
- Meet the specific Master’s discipline requirement for the selected research topic.
- Be a citizen of an African country.
- African citizens currently residing outside Africa are also eligible.
- Be under 35 years of age as of 1 February 2027.
- Apply to only one of the listed research topics.
Applicants should carefully examine the disciplinary requirements associated with their preferred research topic before applying. The programme states that multiple applications from one student may result in disqualification.
The Africa Climate Collaborative particularly encourages applications from women and people with lived experience of displacement or disability.
Research Areas Available
The 12 fellowships are linked to a wider list of 19 research topics covering diverse climate and development challenges across Africa.
Potential research areas include:
- Politics of care in African urban flooding and health contexts
- Locust outbreak management under climate change
- Electricity governance and Africa’s energy transition
- Water infrastructure investment and climate resilience in African cities
- Urban climate adaptation in southern African cities
- Sustainable concrete technology for African urbanisation
- Climate-model-predicted ENSO impacts on energy systems in Southern Africa
- Biodiversity change detection using remote sensing and causal inference
- Climate-compatible transitions to electric cooking
- Climate and development education in Africa
- Climate-resilient fisheries and scenario development
- Remote sensing for smallholder climate resilience
- Hydrological changes across South African landscapes
- Nature-based solutions for climate-resilient estuaries
- Indigenous ecosystem values and coastal adaptation
- Business climate adaptation and collective action
- Biodiversity spatial planning and habitat conservation
- Chinese power finance in Africa and its changing architecture
The diversity of topics means applicants can explore climate challenges from scientific, technological, social, economic, governance and policy perspectives.
Documents Required for the Application
Candidates must submit a complete application containing all required supporting documents. These include a CV of no more than five pages, with the names and contact details of three referees.
One of the referees must have supervised the applicant’s Master’s dissertation.
Applicants must also provide a previous academic or research writing sample, preferably an extract or suitable sample from their Master’s dissertation.
Other required documents include:
- Bachelor’s and Master’s academic transcripts
- Letter of motivation
- National identification document or passport
Successful candidates will subsequently be required to provide certified copies of their academic documents before the fellowship is confirmed.
How to Apply for the PhD Fellowship
Candidates should carefully select the research topic that matches their academic discipline and research interests. Since applicants may apply for only one topic, the application should clearly identify the selected research area.
The complete application must contain all required documents and be submitted before the stated deadline.
The application deadline is 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST.
Interested applicants can review the research topics, eligibility requirements and application instructions through the Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowship application page.
Why This Opportunity Matters for Emerging African Researchers
Climate change is creating interconnected challenges involving water security, food systems, biodiversity, energy, cities, infrastructure and livelihoods across Africa. Doctoral researchers working at the intersection of climate and development can contribute evidence and expertise that supports more resilient development pathways.
The Africa Climate Collaborative programme offers a structured four-year doctoral pathway combining formal training with extended thesis research. Its broad range of research topics also allows successful candidates to investigate specific climate and development questions within established supervisory teams at UCT.
African researchers with a relevant Master’s degree who meet the age and disciplinary requirements may therefore consider preparing their applications early, particularly because the programme requires several supporting documents, including a research writing sample, academic transcripts, a motivation letter and referee information.
Application Deadline: 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST
Location: University of Cape Town, South Africa
Programme Duration: 4 years
Fellowships Available: 12
Eligibility: African citizens
Study Level: PhD
