Applications are invited for Norman E. Borlaug LEAP (Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program) fellowships available for Sub-Saharan African students. Fellowships are available for conducting research in the field of agriculture and related disciplines.
To support this vision, USDA and USAID established the Norman E. Borlaug International Science and Technology Fellowship Program. The program was created to educate and train students, researchers, policymakers, scientists, and faculty members from developing countries, in the latest science and agricultural technologies.
The Borlaug LEAP offers fellowships to enhance the quality of thesis research of graduate students from developing countries who show strong promise as leaders in the field of agriculture and related disciplines. The program supports engaging a mentor at a US university and a CGIAR center.
Applicants must be fluent in reading, writing and speaking English. All semi-finalists must provide a TOEFL or IELTS score taken within the past year. Only applicants enrolled at U.S. universities are exempt from this requirement. Minimum acceptable scores are: TOEFL, 550 (paper test); 80 (internet-based test). IELTS (academic modules), minimum of 7 on a 9-point scale.
Course Level: Fellowships are available for conducting research.
Study Subject: The Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (Borlaug LEAP) awards fellowships to outstanding graduate students who show strong promise as leaders in the field of agriculture and related disciplines. Fellowship is offered for conducting research on topics related to the US Government’s global hunger initiative — Feed the Future. All topics related to agriculture (as defined by Title XII) and the Feed the Future initiative are admissible.
Scholarship Award: The award level is US$20,000 for a maximum of one year. The funds are administered as a grant to the US university mentor. Grant funds can be used to support a variety of research needs including student’s travel to the research site, research support at the CGIAR or US University, and US faculty member travel to the research site to mentor the student in collaboration with a CGIAR scientist. Funds should not be used to pay tuition or salaries. The program supports internships for up to 12 months. Internships can be at the CGIAR, US graduate-level university or a combination of appropriate institutions. Students are encouraged to creatively plan an internship that best suits their educational needs and circumstances. A minimum of three months should be spent at any one location.
Scholarship can be taken at: USA
Eligibility: Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to apply for this Fellowship:-
-An eligible candidate for a Borlaug LEAP fellowship must be:
-a citizen of a USAID-assisted country. Currently we are only accepting applications from citizens of USAID-assisted countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants cannot hold citizenship or permanent residency in the US and/or any non-USAID assisted country. This includes applicants with dual citizenship.
-currently enrolled as an MS or PhD student at a US or sub-Saharan Africa developing country university. Candidates must maintain student status for the duration of the fellowship.
-fluent in reading, writing and speaking English. All semi-finalists must provide a TOEFL or IELTS score taken within the past year. Only applicants enrolled at U.S. universities are exempt from this requirement. Minimum acceptable scores are: TOEFL, 550 (paper test); 80 (internet-based test). IELTS (academic modules), minimum of 7 on a 9-point scale.
In addition, eligible candidates will have
-completed at least one year of graduate level course work in the graduate program the applicant is currently enrolled in with a US equivalent grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
-a thesis-topic related to agricultural development and related fields. Title XII legislation broadly defines agriculture as:
“…the science and practice of activity related to food, feed, and fiber production, processing, marketing, distribution, utilization, and trade, and also includes family and consumer sciences, nutrition, food science and engineering, agricultural economics and other social sciences, forestry, wildlife, fisheries, aquaculture, floriculture, veterinary medicine, and other environmental and natural resources sciences.”
Successful candidates must:
-agree to return to their country of citizenship for a minimum of two years following graduation.
-remain enrolled as an MS or PhD student and have student status at their university for the duration of their fellowship.
Nationality: Citizens of Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Rep., Chad, Dem. Rep. Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome/Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe can apply for these Borlaug fellowships.
College Admission Requirement
Entrance Requirements: Applicants must be currently enrolled as an MS or PhD student at a US or sub-Saharan Africa developing country university. Candidates must maintain student status for the duration of the fellowship.
English language/ English Requirements: Applicants must be fluent in reading, writing and speaking English. All semi-finalists must provide a TOEFL or IELTS score taken within the past year. Only applicants enrolled at U.S. universities are exempt from this requirement. Minimum acceptable scores are: TOEFL, 550 (paper test); 80 (internet-based test). IELTS (academic modules), minimum of 7 on a 9-point scale.
Supporting Material: A complete application consists of, in this order, in PDF format:
-Applicant’s Information
-Project Title
-Seven-part Essay
-US Mentor Application
-US Mentor Reference Letter
-CGIAR Mentor Application
-CGIAR Reference Letter
-Developing Country Reference Letter
-Budget Form
-Budget Justification
-Leverage Form.
How to Apply: The mode of application is online.
Application Form
Application Deadline: Fellowship applications deadline is 6th April, 2016.
Scholarship Link
http://borlaugleap.org/
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Sam 5 Mar 2016 - 14:22
