Netherlands Announces Full Scholarship For Select Kenyan Students

Kenyan students from arid and semi-arid areas of the country are set to benefit from a fully funded postgraduate scholarship programme, which is sponsored and supported by the Government of the Netherlands.

The opportunity is based on the Resilient Approaches in Natural ranGeland Ecosystems (RANGE) programme, which is a long-term capacity building and solution-focused approach in fragile ecosystems and livelihoods.

The opportunity is in the arid and semi-arid areas of the country, particularly in northern Kenya.

The RANGE programme is a five-year programme (2024–2028) funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya, and it is mandated to serve communities in Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties.

The programme prioritises sustainable rangeland management, inclusive livelihoods, and evidence-based action in regions heavily affected by climate variability and environmental stress.

The initiative combines “community engagement, landscape interventions, promotion of good governance and private sector partnerships,” while placing “a strong focus on research and evidence.”

This approach is intended to ensure that data-driven decision-making strengthens early warning systems, supports early action, and encourages innovation across Kenya’s ASAL regions.

Focus on Research and Capacity Building

Capacity building forms a central pillar of the RANGE learning agenda, with an emphasis on sustaining research and data practices beyond the programme’s lifespan.

Range Project implementers state that, “Most research activities will be executed through Local Research Partners,” drawn from MSc and PhD students originating from, or with deep experience in, the target countries.

These scholars are expected to apply advanced skills in “Geo-information, Earth observation, and field data collection,” leveraging the technical strengths of the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente.

The programme seeks a cohort that reflects the demographic diversity of the ASAL counties, while prioritising young professionals committed to improving pastoralist livelihoods.

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Full Scholarships for Kenyan Students

A limited number of full scholarships have been announced for Kenyan students wishing to pursue a full-time Master of Science degree through ITC.

The opportunity builds on previous intakes in 2024 and 2025 of Kenyan PhD and MSc students, predominantly from Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu, with the September 2026 intake confirmed as the final cohort under the RANGE programme.

The MSc course runs for two years, largely based in the Netherlands, although the thesis (and related fieldwork) should relate to the RANGE project and be conducted in northern Kenya.

Eligibility is restricted to Kenyan nationals from the three counties who hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree issued in 2018 or later, with at least a Second Class Upper qualification.

Strengthening Livestock-Based Livelihoods

RANGE is anchored in the realities of ASAL economies, where livestock is the primary economic sector and source of livelihood.

The programme acknowledges persistent challenges, including “climate change, droughts, floods, pests, disease, and land degradation,” which undermine productivity and fuel conflict, even as livestock remains central to food security.

Through an integrated package of interventions, RANGE aims to strengthen rangeland management, improve herd productivity and market access, reinforce institutional and policy frameworks, and ensure high-quality data collection and research for evidence-based programming.

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