Project overview

Sustainable Energy & Materials, Energy Policy, Climate Change, Energy Economics and Environment (SMECC2E) Intra-Africa Mobility Project, is an ambitious cross-regional initiative , funded by the European Union under the MOBAF NDICI Framework. SMECC2E is delivered by a consortium of seven (7) Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) and coordinated by the University of Nigeria. The other members of the consortium are University of Cape Coast, Ghana, University of Rwanda, Moi University Kenya, University of Sierria Leone, Lupane State University in Zimbabwe) and the University of West Attica, Greece.

SMECC2E seeks to enhance Africa’s economic, social, and human development by improving the skills and competencies of MSc and PhD students, trainees, and university staff (academic, technical, and administrative) in Clean Energy Transition and Climate Change–related areas.

The six thematic areas covered in the project are: Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Materials, Energy Policy, Climate Change (Mitigation and Adaptation), Energy Economics & Financing and Environment. The project runs different mobility schemes, covering student mobilities (credit and degree-seeking), traineeships, and staff exchanges. Spanning over 48 months from January 2026, and with a total budget of €1,447,580, SMECC2E will deliver:

  • 74 completed mobilities spread across the African Partner Institutions, and the thematic areas of the project, in the following categories:
    • 35 Masters mobilities (30% women, 30% credit-seeking).
    • 10 PhD completed mobilities (30% women, 30% credit-seeking).
    • 15 trainee mobilities.
    • 14 staff mobilities.
  • 45 completed student internships
  • 10 completed applied industry-linked research studies.
  • Strengthened internationalization structures in participating African HEIs.
  • 10 co-published peer-reviewed research papers.
  • 3 harmonized outcome-based courses developed in response to industry needs.
  • 1 joint short course developed on sustainable transport.

·         12 staff fully trained and mentored on contemporary pedagogies and didactics.

SMECC2E is strategically aligned with the EU Global Gateway Flagship Projects in Africa, particularly in climate, energy, digital, and transport sectors. The consortium intends to leverage these synergies through industrial linkages, quality traineeships, and field engagements with companies implementing EU flagship projects in participating countries.