Background:
The Scientific Exchanges Program (SEP) supports USDA’s agricultural research goals of promoting collaborative programs among agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agricultural professionals of the United States, the international agricultural research system, and U.S. entities conducting research. SEP is implemented by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Programs, Fellowship Programs.
The SEP leverages the latest developments in cross-cutting agricultural science priorities, and advances in research and technologies to train a new generation of agricultural scientists in trade, trade policy, trade capacity building, and food security. The collaborative nature of the SEP training and research programs benefits multiple parties: fellows, their home institutions and partner countries; the U.S. host institutions, their faculty, researchers, and students; and the global agricultural sectors, by improving agricultural productivity, ecosystems health, and food security in partnering nations through the transfer of the latest science and technologies.
The program is specifically intended for applicants from Africa to travel to a U.S. based institution for a 12-week research residency program in the thematic area of Women in Sustainable Food Systems. The Fellowship Program is anticipated to start in September 2024.
Fellowship Program Objectives:
The goal of this Scientific Exchanges Program is to (1) promote the mentorship and leadership role of women researchers and scientists in food systems and, (2) that strengthen the science and evidence-base for the role and needs of women in food systems, including as it relates to climate change.
Length of Fellowships:
Fellowships last between 11-12 weeks. All program proposals must include goals that are achievable within that timeframe. After completing the U.S.-based portion of the fellowship, the mentor will visit the Fellow’s home institution approximately one year after the U.S. portion of the training.
The Fellowship is fully funded with all expenses paid including international and domestic travel to the U.S., J-1 visiting scholar visa application fee, health insurance in the U.S., lodging, and per diem. Fellowship does not pay for salary or fringe benefits, nor does it pay any personal expenses or research projects in the fellows’ home countries upon return.
Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates should: (1) represent the gamut of food systems research across the three pillars of sustainability (social, environmental, and economic), and (2) have a focus in their research on the role of
women and women’s empowerment, and the needs of women and children, in food system transformation.
Candidates will be evaluated, interviewed, and selected based on the following criteria:
- Must be a citizen of and currently reside in either Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Excellent comprehension of the English language (reading, writing, and speaking).
- Master’s degree or higher with at least minimum two years of practical experience.
- Currently employed by a government entity, university, research institution, or other scientific institution in the eligible countries.
- Intention to continue working in home country for a minimum of two years following their return from the United States.
- Early/mid-stage of professional career (2-10 years of experience preferred; candidates with more than 15 years of experience are weakly competitive; candidates with 20 years or more experience will not be considered).
- Proposal directly related to one of the listed research areas.
Application Requirements
- Application form completed and signed (Provided)
- Signed approval from applicant’s home institution (Section XIV of Application)
- Two letters of recommendation (academic and professional preferred)
- Copies of diploma(s) for college/university degree(s) received
- Copy of valid passport identification page at the time of applying
The application deadline for this Scientific Exchanges Program is Friday, 7June, 2024 @ 10 a.m.
Contact Information:
For questions related to the application process, please contact:
AgPretoria@usda.gov.
Please find application below:
