Deadline: November 17, 2018
Call for application for the Advancing Young Women Professional Fellows Program 2019 for young Tanzanian, Kenyan, and Ugandan professionals is open. The program hosted at Michigan State University (MSU) connects Ugandan, Tanzanian and Kenyan agribusiness professionals and entrepreneurs with their counterparts in Michigan for knowledge exchange and capacity building.
The program strengthens visiting fellows’ skills in agro-entrepreneurship and agri-food system innovation, and addresses issues of women’s economic empowerment. This is a program of the U.S. Department of State, administered by Michigan State University.
Program Components
The first four-week program in the U.S. is scheduled for April 27-June 1, 2018 and the second for October 12-November 17, 2018. Both programs will include:
- Part 1: Pre-Departure Orientation prior to travel to the U.S.: Program partners and the U.S. Embassies in the two countries will conduct a pre-departure orientation.
- Part 2: Post-Arrival Orientation in East Lansing, Michigan: The orientation will familiarize the program participants with each other as well as the program and topics to be covered and the U.S.
- Part 3: Three-Week Program in Michigan Communities: Participants will take part in internships with Michigan institutions and dialogue in seminars and meetings with U.S. leaders in economic development in the food and agriculture sector. Fellows will also select, design, and complete a special project in an area of their own interest. Seminars will combine presentations and discussions to provide an opportunity for Fellows to share experiences from their home countries and organizations and observations from their internship placements. Fellows will also have the opportunity of a one-week homestay with an American family.
- Part 4: Three-Day Participation in the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington D.C.: The Congress will allow participants the opportunity to meet and share their experience with Fellows from around the world and participate in dialogue to examine the roles of individual and institutional leadership in economic development and women’s economic empowerment.
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
They are recruiting young Tanzanian, Kenyan, and Ugandan professionals from diverse backgrounds in private, public, non-governmental, and education sectors who are either women agribusiness entrepreneurs or individuals working to increase women’s economic engagement in the agricultural sector.
- 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
Application
For more information, visit Alliance for African Partnership.
