Deadline: July 14, 2018
Applications are open for the International RiverFoundation’s Vera Thiess Fellowship for Women. The Vera Thiess Fellowship gives women from developing countries the opportunity to gain valuable work experience through the IRF and its partners, with the goal of advancing women’s participation in water and river management. This fellowship goes not only towards supporting the selected candidate, but towards continuing the important work of bridging the gap in women’s participation in river basin management.
Awarded in the name of the late Vera Thiess, a long-time supporter of the IRF, the Fellowship recognises Vera’s and the Thiess family’s long-time philanthropic support and commitment to forward-looking initiatives of the International RiverFoundation. Through the Fellowship, they honour Vera’s legacy by supporting women’s involvement in river basin and water management.
Unlike a research fellowship, the selected candidate will have a unique opportunity to gain valuable work experience with the IRF and its alumni and partners worldwide.
Benefits
- The recipient of the Vera Thiess Fellowship will be funded to attend the 21st International Riversymposium in Sydney, Australia (14-18 October 2018), where the fellowship will be formally awarded.
Other benefits for the fellow include:
- Strong personal and professional development through interaction with world-leading river basin management practitioners
- Experience in putting ideas into action in the workplace and on-ground
- The chance to provide personal insights while gaining further exposure in the river community, by writing articles for the IRF’s social media channels
- The opportunity to attend the International Riversymposium in 2018 and 2019
- Invited to participated in the IRF’s Diversity in Water networking event at IRS each year (and EWPP?)
- Access to the valuable IRF networks to build beneficial linkages in the global water sector
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be female
- Be a recent graduate or in the first five years of their career
- Have a demonstrated interest in sustainable river basin management
- Demonstrate their motivation, leadership and ability to undertake this fellowship
- Be able to travel internationally in 2018 and 2019
- Be willing to share their Fellowship finding with the IRF and broader international river community
Applicants are required to reach out to IRF’s partners, and others within their own networks, in order to develop a compelling proposal and itinerary for 2018-19, which will be reviewed and scored by the judging panel.
Judging Criteria
Applications will be judged on:
- Demonstrated passion and commitment to sustainable river basin management
- Proactive utilisation of opportunities to advance river knowledge, management and restoration
- Achievements in river knowledge, management and restoration
- Academic achievement
- Demonstrated efforts to further women in river management
- Anticipated outcomes of the fellowship
- Ability to leverage additional financial and/or in-kind support
Application
Applicants are required to submit the following by Friday 14 July:
- An up to date resume with personal and professional references
- A one page cover letter demonstrating their commitment and passion for sustainable river basin management, and describing how the fellowship will help them to achieve their personal and professional goals.
- A completed application form and a proposed itinerary and budget. The application form includes personal details, education and work experience, thoughts on why women’s involvement in the sector is so important, objectives of one-year fellowship, communication and reporting. The itinerary and budget should include actual cost (e.g. for travel), contributions from other partners (both financial and in-kind) and any stipend for the work undertaken.
- A photograph of themselves (to be used for communication purposes if awarded the fellowship)
For more information, visit Vera Thiess Fellowship.
