Deadline: November 18, 2019
Applications are open for the U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Program 2020 for Women Agribusiness Entrepreneurs and Innovators. 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.
Eligibility
- Fellowship is open to:
- 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
- Applicants should be 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
Application
Complete all of the questions in the application in English and include the following additional items in your application package (which can be uploaded at the end of this on-line application):
- One-page resumé
- One-page statement of interest (Why you are applying for this program? What do you hope to learn? How will you use this experience after you return home?)
- Letter of reference from your current employer verifying his/her support for your participation in this program (if applicable) or for those self-employed, letter of recommendation from local authorities at the district and/or community levels
- A scanned copy of a government issued ID that indicates your citizenship and birthdate
For more information, visit U.S. Department of State.
