OWSD Postgraduate Fellowships for Developing Countries

Overview

Applications are being accepted for the OWSD Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at Centres of Excellence in the South.

The OWSD fellowship is awarded to women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to pursue a PhD at a centre of excellence in the South in a field of the natural sciences.

Applications are accepted from female scientists in all branches of the natural sciences.

Purpose

With funds generously provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), OWSD has instituted a fellowship programme for female students from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), who wish to pursue postgraduate training leading to a Ph.D., at centres of excellence in the South (developing countries), outside their own country.

The general purpose of the scheme is to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in science and technology, and to promote their effective participation in the scientific and technological development of their countries.

The specific aims of the scheme are:

• To improve access to educational and training opportunities in science and technology for young and talented women graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa and LDCs.
• To increase the scientific productivity and creativity of women scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa and LDCs.
• To empower a new generation of talented women to assume a leadership role in science and technology and their application to sustainable development.

Conditions

The scheme provides fellowships to young female students from Sub-Saharan African countries and/or LDCs, to enable them to pursue postgraduate studies leading to Ph.D., degrees, at centres of excellence (renowned research institutions/universities). The institute must be in a developing country other than the applicant's home country.

The fellowship is offered to carry out postgraduate research in the natural sciences. Each fellowship will be offered for three years and will cover travel expenses, a modest monthly living allowance, the amount of which will be determined in consultation with the host institution.

An applicant who wishes to register as a PhD student at her home institute can choose a sandwich option, whereby part of the research programme is undertaken at a host institute in another developing country. In this case the fellowship provides support (travel, accommodation and living expenses) only while at the host institution. The minimum period abroad is six months. The fellowship does not provide support while the applicant is at the home institute.

Alternatively, an applicant can enroll as a full-time research student at an institution outside her country, in this case the fellowship will provide support (travel, accommodation and living expenses) for 3 years.

The host institution will be expected to provide the necessary facilities such as tuition, training, supervision, laboratory supplies etc.

Accompanying persons are not eligible for support.

Host Institution

Applicants should select renowned institutes in developing countries, from outside their own country, and are encouraged to apply for postgraduate admission in advance.  To this purpose, it is recommended that applicants contact the chosen host institute(s) with the CV and short research proposal, mentioning that they are intending to apply for a OWSD fellowship. When submitting the application to OWSD, however, it is not obligatory that the applicant has either applied and/or obtained admission at the host institute.

In case of difficulty in selecting host institutes, OWSD can provide a list of centres of excellence in the South, compiled by TWAS. This information will be provided if the applicant informs OWSD of the precise field of proposed research (see next paragraph). 

For a list of Institutions in mathematics see for instance:

http://www.maths.wits.ac.za/sams/pmwiki.php?n=Main.Links

In addition, acceptance could be facilitated by selecting from one of the institutions that has an agreement of collaboration with OWSD:

• The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China. For a full list of CAS institutes see english.cas.ac.cn/CASI;
• The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS), China,www.gscaas.net.cn/vacancy/index.htm;
• Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia, www.upm.edu.my. Departments/schools of natural sciences are eligible;
• Rhodes University, South Africa, www.ru.ac.za. Departments/schools of natural sciences are eligible;
• University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, www.uct.ac.za. Departments/schools of natural sciences are eligible;
• i-Themba Labs, South Africa, www.tlabs.ac.za. i-Themba Labs specialize in materials science, applied medical science, biotechnology, biophysics, radiobiology, radiophysics, radiopharmaceutics, accelerators based sciences, nuclear sciences and nanosciences. 

Eligibility

The fellowships are open to qualified young women science graduates (generally below 40 years of age) from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and/or LDCs.

The minimum qualification of applicants is an M.Sc. degree (or equivalent), or an outstanding B.Sc. honours degree, in the natural sciences.

Important: Following recent discussions with donors, earlier restrictions that limited eligible research projects to those in the basic sciences have been dropped. Therefore, applications can now be accepted from female scientists in all branches of the natural sciences.

Applicants already on site in the host country will not be considered eligible.

The host institute where the applicant wishes to pursue her doctorate degree must be in a developing country other than her own.

The applicant must be willing to return to her own country after completion of the fellowship.

List of Least Developed Countries (LDC)

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros Islands, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia.

Note: Sub-Saharan African countries that are not in the list are eligible under the programme. 

Selection

The fellowships are highly competitive, and the selection will be based on scientific competence and merit.

The applications will be reviewed by a panel of eminent scientists, appointed by the Executive Board of OWSD. 

Application

Applicants should complete all parts of the application form, and enclose copies of all university degree certificates, and the university-issued transcripts, which should include grades, courses taken, etc.

If the applicant has already gained admission at an institution of excellence in the South (i.e., in a developing country), a copy of the letter of acceptance from the institution must be enclosed.

If the applicant is registered for a doctorate degree at an institution in her home country, and wishes to pursue part of her research at another institution under a "sandwich programme", a letter of recommendation from the home institute supervisor must be enclosed.

Two referee letters from senior scientists familiar with the applicant's studies must be enclosed with the application in sealed envelopes OR must be sent by email to info@owsdw.org. The subject line of the email must contain: OWSD/PG/candidate’s surname. Only signed reference letters can be accepted.

Applications must be clearly typewritten in English and completed in all parts; OWSD will not process incomplete and/or illegible applications. OWSD will inform the applicant as soon as the application is processed. 

The application form is available as a MS Word document.

• Application Form (MS Word version)

• Sample research outline

Deadline for submission of applications is 31 July 2012

http://owsdw.ictp.it/



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Distance Learning Scholarships for Commonwealth Countries

Overview

The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is one of the largest and most prestigious scholarships schemes for international study in the world. Since it was established in 1959, around 29,000 individuals have benefited – 17,000 of them have held awards funded by the United Kingdom, managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC).

This prospectus describes the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships offered by the CSC in 2012-2013. Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships provide the opportunity for individuals to study for a UK Master’s degree while living and working in their home country. The scheme was established in 2002, as a direct response to the measures taken by our funder, the UK Department for International Development
(DFID), to explore new methods of delivery as part of the drive for poverty reduction. To date, nearly 1,000 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships have been awarded.


List of eligible Commonwealth countries

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands,
Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana,
India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn, Rwanda, St Helena, St Kitts and Nevis,
St Lucia, St Vincent and The, Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa,
Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tristan da Cunha, Turks and Caicos,
Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

Applications from candidates

Successful providers will be required to conduct their own recruitment process to shortlist a specified number of nominated candidates for Distance Learning Scholarships. A selection committee will then select Scholars from this shortlist, in July.

Information for candidates – 2012 Distance Learning Scholarships

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are being offered in 2012 for the following Master’s courses. Full details of these courses and the application process must be obtained from the institution itself.

• Bangor University – MSc Forestry
• Cardiff University – MSc Palliative Medicine/Palliative Care
• Institute of Education, University of London – MA Education and International Development
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – MSc Clinical Trials
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – MSc Epidemiology
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – MSc Global Health Policy
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – MSc Infectious Diseases
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – MSc Public Health
• London South Bank University – MSc Education for Sustainability
• Open University – MSc Advanced Networking
• Open University – MSc Computing for Commerce and Industry
• Open University – MSc Development Management
• Open University – MSc Software Development
• Royal Veterinary College, University of London – MSc Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health
• School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London – MSc Poverty Reduction: Policy and Practice
• University of Bath – MSc International Construction Management
• University of Edinburgh – MSc Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health
• University of Edinburgh – MSc Global Health and Infectious Diseases
• University of Edinburgh – MSc Global Health: Non-Communicable Diseases
• University of Edinburgh – MSc International Animal Health
• University of Leicester – MSc Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management
• University of Liverpool – MPH Master of Public Health
• University of Manchester – MPH Master of Public Health
• University of Oxford – MSt International Human Rights Law
• University of Southampton — MSc Gerontology
• University of Stirling – MSc Dementia Studies
• University of Warwick – MSc Engineering Business Management
• University of York – MPA Master of Public Administration – International Development

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, candidates should:

• be Commonwealth citizens of a developing Commonwealth country, refugees or British protected persons AND be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
• normally hold a first degree of upper second-class standard, or higher qualification. In certain cases, we will consider a lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience

Further information is available in the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships prospectus 2012.

How to apply

The CSC expects all candidates being considered for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship to have completed an application form using our Electronic Application System (EAS).

Access the EAS

Contact Information


Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
c/o The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Woburn House
20-24 Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9HF
United Kingdom
www.dfid.gov.uk/cscuk
http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/distance-learning/



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L’Oréal-UNESCO Regional fellowships "For Women in Science" in Sub-Sahara Africa

Overview

This conviction has united L'Oréal and UNESCO since 1998, when they joined forces to promote women in scientific research by creating the "For Women in Science" Partnership. This unique partnership has developed into an ambitious programme:

For the first time in 2009 the For Women in Science Programme is launching of the L’Oréal-UNESCO Regional fellowships "For Women in Science" in Sub-Sahara Africa to assist women scientists in Sub-Saharan to realize important scientific research in all fields of science, engineering and technology. This fellowship is open to all women citizens and permanent residents from Sub-Saharan African countries.

A. About the Fellowships:

Fellowships will be awarded to women scientists in Sub-Saharan African to realize important scientific research in all fields of science, engineering and technology.
Fellowships will be awarded for PhD research projects that will result in a Doctorate degree
The research is to be conducted in any country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Fellowships up to the maximum value of US$20,000 will be awarded.
The age limits for the candidate is 40 years
The selected beneficiaries will be awarded their fellowships at a public ceremony.


B. Application Procedure.

1. Applications must be submitted on the official application forms available from African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI) based at the UNESCO Regional Office for Science and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya or downloaded from the ANSTI website www.ansti.org
2. The following information and documents must be included in the application:

• Curriculum vitae, mentioning the applicants most important scientific publications
• Certified copies of degrees or diplomas
• Detailed description, maximum of five pages, of the research proposal (including budget)
• Scientific supervisor’s recommendation or recommendation by the head of the scientific institution where the project will be realized

3. Each application shall be signed by the Dean/Head of the unit in which the candidate will realize the research work
4. Copies of any documents (including scientific publications) that will assist the Fellows’ application may be submitted.
5. Applications shall be submitted online before 30 March 2012. Should you experience any problems or need more information, please use the contacts below.

The Coordinator
Africa Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI)
P.O Box 30592, 00100 GPO,
Nairobi, Kenya or
Email: m.matemu@unesco.org

6. Incomplete or time barred applications shall not be considered.

C. Notification of the Fellows
Fellowship beneficiaries, as well as their scientific supervisors will be notified by mail and email.
The list of Fellowship beneficiaries shall be announced in the regional media by L’OREAL.
All fellows will be invited to an award ceremony

D. Conditions of the fellowships
The objective of the fellowships is to help financially the fellows to realize promising scientific research to obtain a PhD degree.
The beneficiaries agree to include mention of the Fellowship in any publications resulting from the research
The fellowships will be paid to the beneficiaries in one installment after the fellowships official ceremony and signing the preliminary contract with L’OREAL Foundation
The fellows agree to be photographed, filmed and interviewed by the media
The fellows acknowledge that they will be photographed, filmed and interviewed by UNESCO and L’OREAL for purpose linked to communicating the “FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE” program and these photos, videos and texts will be used in publications and audiovisual means including but not limited to written press, television, internet, photographs and brochures including distribution to the media worldwide.
The Fellows expressly authorize UNESCO and L’OREAL to produce, represent and use their image, name, distinctions and titles worldwide for unlimited duration. Such authorization shall strictly be limited to non-commercial uses and be directly related to the UNESCO-L’OREAL program for Women in Science.
The Fellow shall notify the President of the Jury in case of: change of place of employment or research or resignation from the scientific project. After the reception of the notification the Jury decides if changes are allowed.

How to apply
Please go here to apply for the 2012 fellowship.

http://www.ansti.org/index.php/women-in-science-in-sub-saharan-africa



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Kenya: oikos UNDP Young Scholars Development Academy

Overview

The oikos UNDP Young Scholars Development Academy 2012 provides PhD students and young scholars working on poverty, sustainable development, and the informal economy from an Organisation and Management Theory perspective a platform to present and discuss their on-going research projects with fellow students and senior faculty.

Research on inclusive business models, market development and sustainability between the informal and formal economy is a promising and challenging field for young researchers and PhD students. It calls for a multitude of methods, combination of disciplines in strategy, organisation studies, sociology, anthropology and economics, and new research designs, e.g. market ethnography in organisation studies.

The 2012 academy focus, “Matching Culture and Markets for Inclusive Development”, aims to attract papers analysing the strategies of businesses, governments, multilateral agencies, NGOs and other interest groups shaping moral markets that build on local capabilities, include the poor and create opportunities for sustainable development. The event aims to advance academic research at the nexus of informal and formal economies on the Base of the Pyramid (BoP), build networks across disciplinary boundaries, and to prepare the ground for research that is relevant for both academic and business audiences.

Programme and Faculty

The programme will encompass graduate student presentations, guest lectures, professional development roundtables and social events. Fellow students and internationally well-reputed researchers will give feedback:

• Catherine Dolan, Said Business School (Oxford University), UK
• Chris Yenkey, Booth School of Business (Chicago University), US
• Klaus Weber, Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), US
• Monica Kerretts-Makau, Strathmore Business School (Strathmore University), Kenya

Application and Deadlines

To allow in-depth discussions the oikos UNDP Young Scholars Development Academy is always limited to 15 PhD students and young scholars working on poverty and development from an Organization Studies and Management perspective. The fee is CHF 400. The oikos Foundation for Economy and Ecology will cover the total cost of accommodation, food and excursions.

Please note that only applications from PhD students currently enrolled in a PhD programme and young scholars who have already received their PhD and work in post-doc or similar research positions are eligible. Please do not apply when you are not enrolled as a PhD student, or only plan to do so in the future.

• Application deadline  31 March 2012
• Applicants are notified by 10 April 2012
• Final papers must be received for circulation to academy participants by 15 June 2012

Your application should contain:
(1) a proposal abstract of max. 2-3 pages,
(2) a short curriculum vitae and
(3) a letter of interest in the oikos UNDP
Young Scholars Development Academy.

UNDP Growing Inclusive Markets Travel Grant

Up to three grants (travel, fee and accommodation) are available for outstanding young scholars coming from developing countries. To apply for one of these grants, please provide a Letter of Interest and a Reference Letter from a senior faculty member  together with your application to the academy. Please note that the grants only apply for participating in the oikos UNDP Young Scholars Programme - we do not have general funding for attending other seminars or programmes. 

Further information

For further information please download the full Call for Papers (pdf) or contact Tim Lehmann at tim.lehmann@oikos-international.org.

http://www.oikos-international.org/academic/development/


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2012 Disability Rights scholarships

Overview

The Disability Rights Scholarship Program will offer up to 20 awards to individuals from Nepal and select countries in Africa and Latin America for LLM study beginning in fall 2012. The program aims to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, and through legal channels, help overcome the effect of exclusionary practices, so that persons with disabilities achieve a state of full and effective participation and inclusion in society.

The program intends to provide disability rights advocates and lawyers with the necessary expertise to develop new legislation, jurisprudence, impact litigation, and scholarship, thereby taking advantage of the innovations and opportunities offered by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD, which entered into force in May 2008), presents a paradigm shift in the field of disability rights and provides a framework for developing innovative legal arguments.

With the knowledge and networks gained in the program, we expect that Fellows will have the ability to challenge rights violations in their home countries by drafting enforceable legislation consistent with the CRPD and applying legal remedies implied in the Convention to address injustices. Alumni will also be qualified to train and mentor new lawyers of disability rights through clinical programs.

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

Fellows will be clustered at select institutions that demonstrate cutting•edge capacity for legal education in disability rights and are also interested in forming a consortium of schools dedicated to developing this field and improving their own capacity with an international perspective. In nurturing such a network, the Program strives to encourage law faculties to incorporate disability rights into existing human rights curricula and participate in collaboratively designed workshops and research efforts in the field.


ELIGIBILITY 

The Program does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. The competition is merit•based and open* to those meeting the following criteria: 

• Citizen and legal resident of an eligible country at the time of application (Nepal; Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; Argentina, Mexico, Peru); 
• work experience in legal profession or advocacy focusing on human/disability rights; 
• excellent academic record with a Bachelor's degree in Law. (In exceptional circumstances, those without a law degree but with substantial experience in the field may be considered.); 
• demonstrated leadership in field of disability rights; 
• proficient in spoken and written English or French; 
• able to participate in an intensive academic writing program in Summer 2012; 
• able to begin the graduate program in August or September 2012; 
• able to receive and maintain visa or study permit required by host country; 
• clear commitment to return to home country to aid ongoing disability rights work. 

FELLOWSHIP TERMS 

The fellowship provides: 

• tuition and mandatory university fees; 
• monthly stipend for room, board, and other living expenses; 
• program related travel; 
• accident and sickness insurance during the program; 
• funds for educational materials and professional development; 

all costs associated with pre•academic summer program and annual conference. The fellowship does NOT provide funding for dependent family members. 

SELECTION 

Competition is merit based, and selection is made on the basis of academic excellence, professional aptitude, leadership potential and proven commitment to work in the field of disability rights in the home country. Selection proceeds as follows: 

Preliminary Selection and Testing: Applications first are reviewed by representatives from the regional program administration, host university consortium, and Open Society Scholarship Programs. Applicants chosen to continue in the competition as semifinalists may be required to take the official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or similar standardized test of English proficiency, the costs of which are covered by the program. The minimum TOEFL score required by most of the participating universities is 90•93 (Internet•based exam). Interviews and Final Selection: Semifinalists are interviewed by representatives from the Scholarship Programs and host universities. The interviewing panel then recommends candidates for finalist status and subsequent placement based on the quality of the written application, interview evaluations, and standardized test results. 

UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT 

Fellows are matched with universities according to their chosen area of specialization, academic profile, and professional aspirations. All decisions concerning host university placement are made by the program selection committee, which includes university admissions staff and faculty. Finalists may not choose their host university. 

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES 

Pre-Academic Summer Program: Grantees are required to participate in a four-week intensive pre-program in Istanbul, Turkey before starting study at host universities in the fall. The program consists of classes in academic writing, as well as social science and humanities-based seminars. Fellowship: Immediately after the summer program, finalists attend a pre-departure orientation (held in Istanbul), and during the second semester of studies, finalists participate in a program workshop. Fellows must uphold the academic standards of the host institution and undertake full-time study for the duration of the program. Fellows will not be permitted to change their assigned host university. Failure to maintain academic and professional standards as defined by the host university may result 

in dismissal from the program. Failure to follow the laws governing foreign students in the host country will result in dismissal from the program. 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES 

Application and Recommendation Forms are available from the addresses listed below. 

CONTACTS 

Residents of Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe: 

Centre for Human Rights (c/o Mr. Jehoshaphat Njau) e-mail: jehoshaphat.njau@up.ac.za Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria Pretoria, 002, South Africa 

DEADLINE 

Please submit completed application forms and all necessary accompanying documents, along with a copy of your passport to the Program Representative above by the deadline of March 15, 2012. 

*Employees of the Open Society Foundations and employees of local administering organizations (and their immediate family members), who are directly involved in the administration of scholarships are not eligible; nor are individuals receiving other Open Society Foundations-funded support during the fellowship period. 

Documentation : 

2012 Disability Rights scholarship program - Application Form

http://www.osisa.org/proposal/law/regional/2012-disability-rights-scholarship-program



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