United States Department of State Professional Fellows Program—Advancing Young Women Agribusiness Entrepreneurs and Innovators 2018

Application Deadline: 8th December 2017

Eligible Countries: Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda

To Be Taken At (Country):

About the Award: The goal of the Fellows Program is to build fellows’ capacity and skills in agro-entrepreneurship and agri-food system innovation and for them to learn about issues of women’s economic empowerment. Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan fellows will develop their leadership capacity and professional skills through a fully funded four-week fellowship program in the United States.

Type: Fellowship

Eligibility: 

• 25-40 years old
• A citizen, national, or permanent resident of Tanzania, Kenya, or Uganda
• Is living and working in Tanzania, Kenya, or Uganda at the time of the application
• Speaks fluent English
• Has at least 2 years of professional/working experience in their field
• Has demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills and a commitment to community
• Has employer’s support for participating in the program (for those not self-employed). For those self-employed, has recommendation from local authorities at the district, county, and/or community levels
• Is interested in participating in a reciprocal program for American participants coming to your country
• Preference will be given to those who are in an earlier state of their careers
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously had the opportunity to travel to the US

Selection Criteria: 

• Women entrepreneurs, social innovators, or small and medium business owners or managers and other leaders working in the agriculture and food sectors
• Individuals (of any gender) in civil society and NGOs working on programs that support women in the agriculture and food sectors in their respective countries
• Policymakers, ministry employees, and others in the public sector (of any gender) focused on supporting and improving opportunities for women in the agriculture or food sector
• Academic staff (of any gender) who are implementing programs to impact advancing women in the agriculture and food sectors

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: The four-week U.S. program will include a professional internship with Michigan organizations focused on agriculture, innovation, agro-entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment and additional seminars and trainings with professionals from Michigan State University and throughout the state of Michigan.

Duration of Program: 4 weeks.

Spring program: April 27, 2018 – June 1, 2018
Fall program: October 12, 2018 – November 17, 2018

How to Apply: Apply here

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Award Providers: The Advancing Young Women Professional Fellows Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Professional Fellows Division and administered by Michigan State University (U.S.), Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania), University of Nairobi (Kenya), and Kyambogo University (Uganda).