OUR PARTNERS
Core Partners
The consortium will include six core institutions representing diverse regions of Africa. These institutions will host the master’s and doctoral students, and the staff mobility.
Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
Stellenbosch University has grown into a vibrant and cosmopolitan community of more than 33,000 students and approximately 3,500 academic and support services staff spread over ten faculties and 2 schools. The undergraduate and postgraduate student community includes over 4 000 international students from 100 countries. Stellenbosch University has a rich history in the management of and collaboration in sustainable international academic networks that include more than 2500 active research contracts and more than 40 EU-funded projects. The School for Climate Studies is a world-class institution for climate-related teaching and research in and for Africa. The school offers transdisciplinary academic capacity integrating climate-related knowledge of SU faculties with public sector climate policies and initiatives, private sector climate innovation and redress, as well as SU’s social impact mission in both academic and applied ways. The goal is to create and support the transition to a climate-resilient society and a low-carbon economy. The Research Alliance for Disasters and Risk Reduction (RADAR) is a research and teaching centre based at Stellenbosch University South Africa. RADAR works to support risk reduction in South and Southern Africa by advancing capacity building and knowledge generation in the disaster risk field. We achieve this through our academic programmes and short courses, as well as applied, interdisciplinary research.
Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)
Addis Ababa University (AAU) is a renowned and oldest higher educational institution located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is among the top three Universities in East Africa and top ten Universities in Africa. There are three key mandates of the university: Teaching, Research and innovation, and community service. The university has over a total 35,000 students in about 60 undergraduate and over 300 Graduate academic programmes. The University has 8 colleges and 7 research institutes of which the Institute of Water Environment and Climate Research (IWECR) is the one responsible for PERI-ACE. While it plays key roles in shaping national development, Addis Ababa University also has a pivotal contribution in capacity building for east African nations. Since October 2024, it gained an autonomous status which enables the university to enjoy financial and administrative autonomy on its mandates. Currently, it runs high quality and relevant graduate programmes in the areas relevant to the intra-Africa mobility scheme in general and PERI-ACE in particular, including in water resources engineering and management, environmental engineering, hydrology and water resources, renewable energy, water supply engineering, and water and health. AAU features excellence in water and climate related research and training and has rich experiences in implementing and managing large projects supported by international grantors. Currently, AAU runs over a hundred collaborative research projects.
Ardhi University (Tanzania)
Ardhi University (ARU), also known as Chuo Kikuu Ardhi, is a public university located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with more than 60 years of academic excellence in the built environment, land management, geospatial sciences, and sustainable development. As Tanzania’s leading institution in these fields, ARU plays a critical role in addressing emerging challenges related to climate change, rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, disaster risk, and resilient infrastructure development across Africa.
Situated within one of the fastest urbanising regions in the world, ARU combines interdisciplinary research, professional training, and community engagement to develop practical and policy-relevant solutions for sustainable development. The University has strong expertise in climate resilience, urban and regional planning, geomatics and GIS, environmental engineering, natural resource management, land administration, and spatial data science, enabling evidence-based approaches to environmental monitoring and decision-making.
Through its core functions of teaching, research, consultancy, and public service, ARU collaborates closely with governments, development partners, research institutions, industry, and local communities at national and international levels. The University has extensive experience implementing applied research and capacity-building initiatives focused on climate adaptation, sustainable cities, ecosystem management, disaster risk reduction, and environmental governance.
Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal)
Nestled in the vibrant academic landscape of Senegal, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD) emerges as a beacon of higher education and research in West Africa. Founded in 1957 and reimagined in 1987, the university has grown from a regional institution to a comprehensive research powerhouse with a profound commitment to Africa’s economic, social, and cultural development. With a sprawling academic ecosystem comprising 46 establishments, including 6 faculties, 7 schools, and 33 institutes, UCAD represents a microcosm of academic diversity and innovation. The university’s remarkable scale is reflected in its vibrant community of over 89,400 students from 44 different nationalities, supported by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 staff members.
2iE (Burkina Faso)
The International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) is a leading African graduate school and research institution based in Burkina Faso, internationally recognized for its excellence in engineering, digital technologies, applied sciences, and innovation for sustainable development. Originally focused on water, energy, and environmental engineering, 2iE has significantly expanded its expertise to include artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, digital transformation, climate resilience, smart infrastructure, and sustainable industrial systems.
As a higher education institution serving West Africa and the broader continent, 2iE combines internationally accredited engineering education with applied research and strong partnerships with industry, governments, development agencies, and international universities. The institute is recognized for its practice-oriented pedagogy, interdisciplinary approach, and strong emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer. Through modern laboratories, project-based learning, and professional immersion, 2iE trains engineers and researchers capable of addressing complex socio-technical challenges related to water security, energy transition, environmental sustainability, digitalization, public health, and resilient urban development.
With internationally recognized programs, including EUR-ACE accredited engineering curricula, 2iE has established itself as a regional hub for scientific excellence, capacity building, and technological innovation in Africa. The institution actively contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research, continuing education, consulting activities, and strategic initiatives in areas such as artificial intelligence for development, climate adaptation, smart cities, groundwater management, and the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus.
Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique)
Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) is a public institution with nationwide scope and the oldest higher education institution in Mozambique, and it was founded on 21 August 1962. With about 48,000 students enrolled in 204 programmes, of which 104 are undergraduate degrees, 85 are master’s degrees, and 15 are doctoral degrees; UEM emerges as a pivotal academic institution in Mozambique, representing a critical node in the African higher education landscape. With a rich history of research, innovation, and commitment to sustainable development, UEM stands as a strategic partner in the PERI-ACE project, offering comprehensive expertise in environmental science, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
Technical Partner
(Partner will not host any mobility)
To ensure a broader impact, the project will include the following technical partner:
Lund University (Sweden)
Lund University is one of northern Europe’s oldest, broadest and most respected research universities, with extensive experience in international academic cooperation and a proven track record in similar mobility initiatives. As technical partner, Lund contributes expertise in water resources engineering, coastal-process modelling and climate-resilience research, supporting curriculum development, quality assurance and capacity building across the consortium.
Associated Partners
(Partners will only host trainees)
To further enrich the programme and to host traineeships, these partners are included as associated partners:
African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW)
AMCOW is an inter-governmental, Pan-African institution which serves as a Ministerial Sectoral Committee for Water and Sanitation under the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, Water and Environment (ARBWE) of the African Union (AU). AMCOW’s mission is to provide political leadership, policy direction and advocacy in the provision, use and management of water resources for sustainable social and economic development and maintenance of African ecosystems.
IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC)
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre is a specialised institute serving the Greater Horn of Africa with climate services, early warning and data-driven decision support. As an associated partner, ICPAC hosts trainees, supports climate-data training and contributes technical expertise on adaptation, monitoring and disaster risk reduction.