UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
Ford Foundation: The International Fellowships Program (IFP)

Ford Foundation: The International Fellowships Program (IFP)



Crossposted from H-West-Africa

The International Fellowships Program (IFP) provides opportunities for advanced study to exceptional individuals who will use this education to become leaders in their respective fields, furthering development in their own countries and greater economic and social justice worldwide. To ensure that Fellows are drawn from diverse backgrounds, IFP will actively recruit candidates from social groups and communities that lack systematic access to higher education.

General Guidelines

The International Fellowships Program provides support for up to three years of formal graduate-level study. Fellows will be selected from countries in Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia where the Foundation maintains active overseas programs. U.S. nationals are not eligible, although Fellows may study in the United States. Fellows are chosen on the basis of their leadership potential and commitment to community or national service as well as for academic excellence. Fellows may enroll in master's or doctoral programs and may pursue any academic discipline or field of study that is consistent with the interests and goals of the Ford Foundation. The Foundation currently works in fifteen fields to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Once selected, Fellows may enroll in universities in any part of the world, including their country of residence. The program will provide placement assistance to those Fellows not yet admitted to graduate school. IFP support will enable Fellows to undertake language study and training in research and computer skills prior to graduate school enrollment. New Fellows will attend orientation sessions, and current Fellows may participate in learning and discussion activities designed to create information and exchange networks. Finally, the program provides resources for Fellows to conduct research or projects in their home countries after completing the fellowship period.

Who Is Eligible?

IFP Fellows must be nationals or residents of eligible countries. In addition, all IFP Fellows must: * Demonstrate excellence in their undergraduate studies and hold a baccalaureate degree. * Have experience in community service or development-related activities. * Pursue a post-baccalaureate degree that will directly enhance their leadership capacity in an academic, policy, practical, or artistic discipline or field corresponding to one or more of the Foundation's areas of endeavor. * Present a plan specifying how they will apply their studies to social problems or issues in their own countries. * Commit themselves to working on these issues following the fellowship period. Eligible Countries (2000-2001) West Africa (Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana) Additional sites will be added in 2001-2002. Eligible Fields (2000-2001) Any academic discipline or field of study related to the Ford Foundation's grant-making areas.

The Application Process

All applications must be submitted to IFP offices in the country or region where the applicant resides. Applications are reviewed and evaluated by a local or regional panel composed of scholars and practitioners from various academic fields, who also make the final selections. The level and duration of the award will be determined as part of the placement process. Ford Foundation staff and their family members may not serve on selection panels and are not eligible to apply for IFP awards. Members of selection committees, staff of the organizations managing the program in the various regions and their family members are also ineligible for IFP awards. The application deadlines and selection schedule will be determined by the IFP Fellowship Offices.

To request an application, contact: West Africa Association of African Universities (AAU) P.O. AN 5744 Accra, Ghana mailto:ifp@aau.org>ifp@aau.org http://www.aau.org/ifp



Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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