Last Chance for Kenyans as Netherlands Ends RANGE Master’s Scholarships in 2026

The Netherlands Embassy in Nairobi has confirmed that the September 2026 intake will be the final round for its fully funded RANGE Master’s scholarships for Kenyan professionals in geo-information and earth observation.

The scholarships are offered under the Resilient Approach in Natural Rangeland Ecosystems (RANGE) programme and are aimed at young professionals from Kenya’s arid and semi-arid counties. Successful applicants will pursue a Master of Science degree at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The programme runs until 2028.

RANGE was launched in 2024 and has already enrolled two cohorts of students from Isiolo, Marsabit, and Samburu counties. It focuses on building local expertise in sustainable rangeland management and the use of data-driven approaches to support decision-making in fragile ecosystems.

The programme combines academic training with practical work in Kenya’s arid regions. Activities include community engagement, support for governance processes, and collaboration with the private sector. Research is closely linked to early warning systems and adaptive strategies for climate resilience, with an emphasis on incorporating local knowledge from pastoralist communities.

According to the organisers, the goal is to strengthen long-term capacity by training professionals who can apply geospatial science to local development challenges. The programme is designed to ensure that skills in data collection, analysis, and planning remain in use after the project ends.

Implementation is led through a partnership involving Mercy Corps, the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), and the University of Twente. Local organisations support research and fieldwork, with much of the academic work conducted by Local Research Partners, including MSc and PhD students from the target counties or professionals with experience in pastoralist contexts.

Applicants must be Kenyan citizens from Isiolo, Marsabit, or Samburu counties. They are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field awarded in 2018 or later, with at least Second Class Upper honours. Selection will consider applicants’ professional experience related to pastoralism, their employment history, and their motivation to specialise in geospatial sciences, particularly within ITC’s focus areas of Resource Security and Urban and Land Futures.

Applications close on 1 March 2026 and must be submitted through the official RANGE portal. Shortlisted candidates will then be required to complete the University of Twente’s formal MSc admission process.