Ashinaga Africa Initiative Scholarship 2026

The Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) offers full financial support for orphaned students from Francophone and Lusophone sub-Saharan African countries to pursue undergraduate degrees abroad, with a focus on those committed to returning and contributing to Africa’s development.

What it offers

• Full financial support covering tuition, accommodation, travel costs, and other necessary fees for an undergraduate degree abroad.

Who can apply

• Must have lost one or both parents.
• Must be a citizen of a Francophone or Lusophone sub-Saharan African country (e.g., Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, etc.).
• Must have obtained a bachelor’s degree or be in L3 (and will have completed it by June at the latest).
• Must not have the financial means to do a Master’s degree in France.
• Must be fluent in French.
• Must have obtained an average of over 14/20 in the baccalauréat or over 75% in the state exam.
• Must have obtained excellent marks in their bachelor’s degree.
• Must be able to participate in online sessions from October to December.
• Must be committed to returning to sub-Saharan Africa to contribute to society.
• Must have no dependents to interfere with studies.
• Must be in good health and able to study internationally.

What you'll do

• Pursue an undergraduate degree abroad with full financial support.
• Participate in the Ashinaga Study Camp to discuss university placement.
• Return to sub-Saharan Africa after graduation to contribute to society.

How to apply

• Gather all required documents:
  • Passport-sized photo.
  • Copy of passport or identity card.
  • Copy of birth certificate/extract.
  • Copy of parent(s) death or disappearance certificate (or alternative official document proving orphan status).
  • Copy of baccalaureate certificate or proof of secondary education completion, with examination transcript.
  • Proof of university enrolment and transcripts of grades obtained to date.
  • Optional: certificates of extracurricular activities, training, employment, or other commitments.
• Scan documents in PDF or JPG format.
• Apply online via the Ashinaga website.
• There is no application fee; do not pay anyone to apply on your behalf.

Good to know

• Ashinaga takes about one student per country per year.
• Exceptions to eligibility criteria cannot be made.
• If you applied previously and still meet requirements, you may reapply.
• If you lack a death certificate, alternative official documents (e.g., court record, affidavit, or official letter from a local government official) may be considered.
• Financial support cannot be combined with other similar scholarships.
• You may apply if you have an admission offer from a French university that provides tuition fee exemption.