The Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (LEAP)

The Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (Borlaug LEAP) offers fellowships to enhance the quality of thesis research of graduate students from developing countries who show strong promise as leaders in the field of agriculture and related disciplines as defined by Title XII. Borlaug LEAP was developed in conjunction with the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) but operates as a separate program.  The Borlaug LEAP is part of the US Government's Feed the Future 21st Century Leadership Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development.

The Borlaug LEAP Fellowship supports engaging a mentor at a United States (US) University and at a Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system center to support and enhance the thesis research and mentoring experience. Awards are made on a competitive basis to students who show strong scientific and leadership potential, have a well coordinated proposal between their home university, a US university mentor, and the CGIAR mentor, and whose research is related to a strong research and support project within the host country. Emphasis is placed on work that has relevance to the national development of the student's home country. 

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFAs)

Applications are requested for sub-Saharan African students conducting research on topics related to the US Government's global hunger and food security initiative -- FEED THE FUTURE.  The focus region is sub-Saharan Africa.  All topics related to agriculture (as defined by Title XII) and the research strategies of the Feed the Future Initiative are admissible. The administrative due date for applications is: JUNE 14, 2013.  Applications must be RECEIVED BY JUNE 14, 2013 to be considered for fellowships beginning September 15, 2013 through September 14, 2014.

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APPLICATION FORM   |   BUDGET FORM

For more information on how to apply, see this flier and website.

The Centre for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies - 1st Student-Led Conference

The above Conference under the theme; “Transformative education, research and outreach for enhancing resilience and risk reduction in drylands” kicked off yesterday 29th morning. The conference is convened by the Center for Sustainable Dryland Ecosystems and Societies (CSDES) and Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology (LARMAT) under the University of Nairobi—Colorado State University (USA) partnership with funding from USAID-Higher Education for Development Dryland Management Program.

The conference is aimed at sharing student research findings and experiences with the dryland communities and other stake holders in order to enhance networks between young professionals, research institutions, stakeholders, policy makers working in drylands; strengthen partnership among dryland communities, institutions of higher learning and other stakeholders; catalyse interest among CSDES interns to pursue higher education, and promote awareness among various stakeholders about the unique needs of drylands and the need for innovative approaches for enhancing dryland livelihoods. The conference was officially opened by Prof. Isaac M. Mbeche (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Affairs). VIPs present included Dean, Faculty of Agriculture; Prof. Solomon Shibairo representing the Principal-CAVS, Prof. Agnes Mwang’ombe; Governor, Kajiado County, Dr. David Nkedianye; USAID Representative, Mr. Isaac Thindeu; Colorado State University Students and Faculty, IUCN Coordinator on Dryland Global Initiative, Dr. Jonathan Davis, among others.

Please visit CSDES website to follow up on the outcome of the conference. It is hoped that this conference will become an annual event bringing together Students, Interns, Faculty and Practitioners working in drylands, and of course the dryland communities themselves to try and address the challenges facing the drylands, and most important give opportunities to students especially form dryland and marginalised communities.

 

Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity, c/o Kinu Co-Creation and Innovation Space, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 24-28 June 2013

 Venue: KINU Co-Creation and Innovation Space, 1st Floor Conservation House, Plot No.245, A. H. Mwinyi Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

 

Dates: 24-28 June, 2013

 

Technological innovation is taking place at a breath-taking pace. Simple, open source internet-based applications and services designed to enhance on-line collaboration are now available to the wider public at little or no cost at all. These new online technologies known as Web 2.0 and Social Media applications enable people to collaborate to create, share and publish information.

 

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation EU-ACP (CTA) has a mandate to facilitate access to and dissemination of information in the fields of agriculture and rural development in 78 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). Supporting the adoption of Web 2.0 applications and Social Media represents a great opportunity for meeting it.

 

Kinu Co-Creation and Innovation Space in collaboration with CTA will host a 5-day Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity on 24-28 June, 2013. Participants will be introduced to selected web 2.0 applications including social media and will learn how to use them hands-on. The Learning Opportunity will cover advanced online searching, getting information served via alerts and RSS, collaborating remotely using wikis and Google Docs, using VoIP, online mapping and social networking. Participants will get a chance to see what others have done, get hands-on experience on how to use innovative applications, and assess how they could adopt these innovations within the context of their work and organisation.

 

This Learning Opportunity forms part of CTA initiatives that support development partners in networking, accessing and disseminating information more effectively.

 

Programme of the Learning Opportunity

·         Introduction to the participatory World Wide Web (Web 2.0) and social media;

·         Search Magic: How to conduct advanced multilingual online searches;

·         Information Self Service: How to get selected information served to you via alerts and RSS feeds;

·         Remote collaboration: How to develop content remotely using wikis and Google Docs;

·         Online mapping: How to locate your organisation and your projects on an online map;

·         How to communicate voice over the internet at no cost;

·         Online publishing (micro-blogging and blogging);

·         Professional / corporate social networking (LinkedIn and Facebook);

·         Web 2.0 self-instruction (introduction to iMARK).

 

Participants - Eligibility and responsibilities

Participation in the Learning Opportunity is free of charge, but subject to acceptance by the organisers. 25 participants will be accepted for the event.

 

Eligibility criteria

·         be computer literate and conversant with browsing the Internet;

·         have regular access to a computer (ownership of a computer is an advantage);

·         be in a position to take along a WIFI-enabled laptop to the training;

·         be competent in the use of the English language;

·         have an active e-mail account;

·         be actively engaged in agriculture and rural development / natural resource management / biodiversity conservation in the domains of ICT for development (ICT4D), policies, markets; publishing, communication and media; and

·         be resident in Tanzania.

 

Responsibilities

Accepted participants will be responsible for all costs related to their travel to and from the venue at Kinu Co-creation and Innovation Center, Dar es Salaam, their accommodation, breakfast and supper, daily subsistence allowances, and for bringing their own WIFI-enabled laptop to the event.

 

Entitlements

During each event, the organisers will provide lunch and refreshments and distribute copies of CTA publications and instructional material.

 

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please follow this link and complete the online form.

 

Deadline for applications: 27 May, 2013

 

Feedback

The organisers will inform successful applicants about the status of their application two week before the commencement of the course. Successful applicants will receive confirmation letters. Others will be duly informed about the results of their application.

 

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