You are here: Home > *PRGA Newsletter issue No. 6 February 2006 > Call for Proposals - Second Round of Fellowship Program: Enhancing the careers of East African women scientists

Call for Proposals - Second Round of Fellowship Program: Enhancing the careers of East African women scientists

PRGA Newsletter

Available to female scientists of East African (Kenyan, Ugandan, Tanzanian) NARIs and universities / other research institutions working in the fields of crop science and crop biotechnology.

Minimum qualification: MSc
Deadline for application: 28 February 2006

Supported by The Rockefeller Foundation.
Implemented by the CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program

For each of the women scientists selected, the fellowship offers an attractive package aimed at increasing her skills, visibility and contributions to science and development, including:

• enhanced scientific expertise through mentoring by a senior scientist in her field, plus funds to support presentation of her research at a major scientific conference each year;
• development of people management and leadership skills through participation in the CGIAR's women's leadership and negotiations training;
• improved access to knowledge and support via linkages to regional and global networks of women scientists and researchers; and
• opportunities to practice her newly acquired skills via mentoring of junior women scientists in her NARI, and thus putting into practice her new skills.

What is offered?

Each fellowship will cover a 2-year period. Although no funds will be directly disbursed to a fellow the equivalent of nearly US $25,000 will be spent on her behalf directly supporting her career development. The fellowship will provide for the following:

Year 1:

• monthly mentoring meetings with a senior scientist from a NARI, CGIAR center, university or other reputable scientific organization, for direct development of scientific skills;
• participation in a two-day training workshop on mentoring, for the fellows (mentees) and their mentors, plus individual coaching sessions to help set three new career goals;
• participation in regular mentoring feedback meetings;
• participation in the CGIAR's renowned seven-day women's leadership course;
• participation in one international scientific conference for presentation of the fellow's research;
• access to the CGIAR's networks, series of online newsletters and discussions for women researchers worldwide.

Year 2:

• as a mentee, continuation of monthly mentoring meetings;
• as a mentor, monthly mentoring meetings with a junior female scientist from the fellow's NARI, thus practicing new skills and sharing new insights;
• participation in regular mentoring feedback meetings;
• participation in the CGIAR's three-day women's negotiations course;
• participation in one international scientific conference; and
• continued access to the CGIAR's networks, series of online newsletters and discussions for women researchers worldwide.

How to apply

This fellowship program is open to women scientists and researchers working in Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian NARIs and universities.

Minimum qualification for applicants is MSc. Fellowship applicants are requested to submit a maximum 4-page proposal (format attached and also available on the G&D website: www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org):

• briefly describing current work in crop sciences/crop biotechnology;
• outlining at least three realistic career development goals;
• identifying how the applicant will share what she will learn within the NARI, including how she will help facilitate a mentoring program starting in year two of her fellowship;
• explaining why her participation in this fellowship program is a priority for her NARI, and possibly a collaborating CGIAR center;
• ideas on how this program may improve her work for the benefit of rural women; and
• providing evidence of full support by the NARI's / university's senior management for her participation in all fellowship program activities, including transport to meetings and international airport to be able to attend training events as well as access to the internet (indispensable for attending this fellowship program);
• providing names and contacts of two reputable referees from her technical network.

Fellowship candidates will be selected by the Program Steering Committee comprising three senior NARI women scientists / research managers, The Rockefeller Foundation and other donor representatives, the G&D Program Leader and the mentoring coordinator for East Africa.

Applications to be sent to and more information on the program available from:

Vicki Wilde
Program Leader
CGIAR Gender and Diversity Program
ICRAF, United Nations Avenue
P.O. Box 30677
00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org
Tel: 254-20-7224240

The first training course on mentoring will be held 3 to 7 July 2006 in Mombasa, Kenya. Successful applicants must be available for this course.

Deadline for acceptance of applications is 28 February 2006. Selected fellows will be notified by early May 2006. Any applications received after 28 February 2006 will not be considered.