The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) is an initiative of nine African universities (listed in Section 2.0), four African research institutes (listed in Section 3.0), and select northern partners (listed in Section 4.0). CARTA aims to develop and deliver an innovative model for doctoral training in sub-Saharan Africa and to strengthen the capacity of participating institutions to conduct and lead internationally-competitive research.
The CARTA program draws together disciplines required to address the complex processes that influence health. These disciplines include Epidemiology, Psychology, Biostatistics, Anthropology, Health Economics, Health Promotion; Demography, Sociology, Health Systems, Health Policy, Development Studies, and their interfaces with the biomedical sciences. The CARTA multidisciplinary approach will prepare its graduates to better address questions of contemporary policy relevance such as the social determinants of health, and the limited impact of technological advances on health in Africa.
Over the medium-term, CARTA aims to produce a critical mass of high-quality graduates trained to address the complex issues surrounding health and development in Africa, retain them in the region, and provide them a vibrant intellectual environment, as well as viable and challenging research and growth opportunities. CARTA aims to achieve reforms in higher education by:
1) Assisting universities to develop enriching and vibrant academic and research environments; and
2) Supporting promising African scholars who teach at affiliated universities to obtain high-quality doctoral training in public and population health-related fields.
CARTA is currently offering a fully-funded, collaborative doctoral training program in public and population health. This program has been developed in response to the great challenges faced by
Africa’s institutions of higher education in addressing the training and retention of the next generation of academics in the region. Women are particularly encouraged to apply. CARTA has also reserved a small number of scholarships specifically for doctoral students conducting research on issues of sexuality and reproductive health and rights.

Participating African Universities
– Makerere University, Uganda
– Moi University, Kenya
– National University of Rwanda
– Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
– University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
– University of Ibadan, Nigeria
– University of Malawi
– University of Nairobi, Kenya
– University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Participating Research Institutes
-African Population & Health Research Center (APHRC), Kenya
-Agincourt Population and Health Unit, South Africa
-Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania
-KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kenya

Scholarship Applicatiopn Deadline:July 15, 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application