Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Climate change governance: International course on

Adaptation and mitigation as institutional change processes

Date: 02 – 13 September, 2013; Venue: The Netherlands, Wageningen

-      NFP Fellowships available – apply before 05 February 2013   -

Introduction
Large contrasts exist in how we manage the food we have available. While in parts of our societies there is a shortage of food, in the urban and wealthier communities, good food is thrown away only because it is beyond its sell-by date. Optimising the ‘farm to fork’ chain can contribute significantly to food security. Read more

Application
Interested candidates can apply at the website of Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen UR for admission to the training. Click here to apply.

NFP Fellowships
A limited number of fellowships is available from Nuffic - the Netherlands Fellowship Programme (NFP) for nationals of certain countries. In order to apply for such a NFP fellowship, you have to register through the Nuffic Scholarship Online (SOL) system. Applications for NFP fellowships should be submitted before 5 February 2013. SOL opens on December 01. You will be informed by Nuffic whether your application has been accepted. More information on the NFP fellowships.

Important
Please note that for a valid NPF fellowship application you need to register directly at CDI as well as at Nuffic (SOL). Your fellowship application will not be taken into account if you register with only one of these two institutions.

Please feel free to circulate a link to this post through email in your network.

Course coordinator: Ingrid Gevers

Centre for Development Innovation (CDI)
Wageningen UR
P.O. Box 88, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
E-mail: 
Ingrid,gevers@wur.nl
Please like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/CDIwageningenUR

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Viable Small Holder Organic Projects

Re-blogged from GREEN EMIPIRE FARMS courtesy of Antony Muhia

When we talk about Organic Farming for youths majority of them wonder how possible and yet they have no land for crop cultivation. Agricultural land has proved a big challenge due to the fact that the existing land is inherited and this mainly happens at the death of parents. The other option is purchasing one which is rely expensive beyond the capability of youths.
To my opinion there is a solution by adopting projects that require small portions like underutilized backyards, flower gardens and parking spaces and convert them to productive spaces.
Are you still wondering what I intend with such spaces? Well only high value crops like strawberries & basil can give you some substantial money. But rearing rabbits or mushroom growing are some of the most viable projects. The other option is value addition and processing of organic crops grown by elderly farmers who own agricultural land.
These are but just a few projects where youths can be self-employed with limited resources and make a decent living.
Antony Muhia harvesting spinach in his farm
This was my first commercial production organic plot from the successful experience of the organic kitchen garden. The plot measured 50×100 ft. equivalent to 1/8 acre.
On this plot I practiced intensive crop production and companion cropping of high value horticultural crops: Sweet & Hot peppers, Tomatoes, Italian spinach, Lettuce, Chinese cabbage, Broccoli, Asparagus, Assorted herbs & spices while observing a strict crop rotation routine.
There is a composting site at the entrance where all crop residue, fresh vegetation, leguminous crops and farm yard manure are composted to rich compost manure/ fertilizer for using at the plot.
From the sale of fresh produce I was able to construct a greenhouse measuring 25×45 feet and later on installed a drip irrigation system to the whole plot.
From the production and sales records it's evident that such a project is capable of generating sufficient income of KES 20,000-30,000 (US$300-400) a month to sustain a single household in rural or even urban Africa.
Post by Antony Muhia 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Cambridge Scholarships for International Students 2013-2014


The GatesCambridge Scholarships is are prestigious international full-cost scholarships awarded to outstanding applicants from outside the UK to pursue a full-time graduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.

Eligibility
  • Citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom
  • May apply to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study:
  • PhD (three year research-only degree)
  • One year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, MASt, Diploma, MBA etc.)
  • MSc or MLitt (two year research-only degree)
  • May apply to study any subject available at the University of Cambridge
  • Must be admitted to one of the degrees above at Cambridge through the University’s normal admission procedures

 A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge.
How to Apply
 All applicants apply simultaneously for admission as a graduate student to the University of Cambridge and a Gates Cambridge Scholarship using the one application pack.
Application Deadline:  December 4, 2012
For information click here

Friday, October 5, 2012

World Teacher's Day, 5th October - Celebrate your Teachers

World Teachers’ Day, held annually on October 5th since 1994 - when it was created by UNESCO - celebrates teachers worldwide. Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.


Take a stand for the teachers!

Monday, October 1, 2012

VLIR-UOS Master and Short Training Scholarships 2013-2015

VLIR-UOS awards scholarships to students from Africa, Asia and Latin-America to follow a training or master programme at a Dutch speaking university or university college in Belgium. The eligible training or master programmes are taught in English. They are designed for people in positions of responsibility in civil society.

The scholarships cover all related expenses. For application, please visit the website of the training or master programme. You can apply for a scholarship from October 2012 (master programmes) or November 2012 (master programmes organised at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and all training programmes). The deadline for application for the master programmes: 1 February 2013; for training programmes: check the programme websites.

Overview Eligible Programmes

The master programmes, lasting one or two academic years, focus on specific problems of developing countries. These are designed to enable graduates to share and apply acquired knowledge in the home institution and country.
In the shorter training programmes, lasting one to four months, the focus is on transferring skills rather than knowledge, thus creating opportunities for cooperation and networking.

International Master Programmes 2013-2014
International Master Programmes 2013-2015
International Training Programmes 2013