2024 Internship Programs For Emerging European Scientists

25th January 2024
by secretary

Agrinatura News

African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and Agropolis Fondation are jointly implementing the One Planet Fellowship, a career development initiative targeting scientists working at the nexus of agriculture and climate change. The Fellowship is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and BNP Paribas Foundation with additional support from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the European Union (EU) Commission. The Fellowship seeks to build a vibrant and highly connected network of African and European scientists equipped to lead cutting-edge research and innovation to help a diverse group of men and women smallholder farmers adapt to climate change in Africa.
Through the One Planet Fellowship, collaborative research, training, and professional networks are anticipated to increase by implementing a series of interventions, including internship programs for emerging European scientists.

Objectives of the Internship Programs
The Internship Programs allow the researcher to visit and conduct research for one month at an African institution and complete any other associated activities for the remaining five months at their home institution.
This is an opportunity for the researchers to immerse themselves in the African context, learning about the environmental challenges and rural and agricultural development and supporting appropriate solutions to climate change.
The program enables the researchers to broaden their networks and build collaborative working relations with other national, regional, and global scientists to solve climate change issues. The program is envisioned to help build on existing best practices and generate new knowledge in agricultural research for development in Africa.

Who do we look for?
The internship program specifically targets:
•European scientists (EU nationals), male and female, below 30 years old, ready to work in a multicultural environment.
•European students interested in conducting research in Africa as part of their study programs.
•European Master and PhD students or junior scientists working in various European research institutions and universities. Their focus research areas or study programs should be clearly connected to agriculture, food systems, climate change, and gender.

Selection process
The call for the internship program is now open and will close in early February 2024. Eligible candidates can submit their application forms on the online portal on or before February 8, 2024.

Click on the link below to submit your application in the online portal:
https://eu.jotform.com/240093342648961

The selection committee will review the submissions and notify the successful candidates within three weeks of submitting their applications.

Matching process
Following the successful selection, each European scientist will be paired with an African scientist – “Science Mentor” – working in an African-based university or research institution. The matching will be done based on similar research interests. The matching pairs will be notified to organize an online introductory meeting facilitated by AWARD. The Science Mentor will host the European scientist for one (1) month at his/her institution.

Internship activities
Virtual work planning
In the planning phase, each pair is expected to work virtually to identify the research topic, formulate research questions, and develop a methodology, possible fieldwork, and program report. The proposed work plan should outline the tasks undertaken at the African institution and those completed at the junior scientist’s home institution. The work plan should be ready at least two weeks before the commencement of the internship program.

Launch, Training, and Networking Week
The internship programs will commence with a Launch, Training, and Networking Week in Nairobi, Kenya.

Two sessions will be organized:
•One session in March, from March 25 to 30, 2024.
•One session in April, from April 15 to 20, 2024.

The selected European junior scientists will attend the workshop, joined by their Science Mentors and other African junior scientists. The one-week workshop will focus on:
•Developing roadmaps with guidance and input from African scientists and;
•Finalizing the work plan for the engagement during the one-month research placements in Africa-based institutions.

AWARD will also organize educational site visits for the participants during the workshop week.

Scientific visits to host institutions in Africa
Following the one-week-long workshop in Nairobi, the European junior scientists will proceed for a one-month scientific visit at the African scientists’ institution (“Science Mentors”). AWARD and the selected host institutions will support the European scientists in settling down in the country and institution, conducting desk review and fieldwork, and any other reasonable support they may require during their stay.
AWARD anticipates that the scientific visits may take place in the following countries:
•Algeria
•Benin
•Burkina Faso
•Cote d’Ivoire
•Ethiopia
•Kenya
•Malawi
•Mali
•Morocco
•Nigeria
•Senegal
•Tanzania
•Togo
•Zambia

Note: While the scientific visits are scheduled for a one-month period, there is a possibility for an extension if the European junior scientists can secure additional funding to complete the requirements under their study/research programs.

Virtual (monthly) follow-up sessions
The one-month scientific visits will be followed by monthly check-in sessions leading to July – August 2024. During these sessions, it is expected that all the researchers, including the European junior scientists involved in the internship programs, will pursue their mutual engagement and collaboration on the roadmaps and research work initiated in the program. AWARD will coordinate the follow-up sessions and compile the necessary information for the program assessment.

Practical modalities
AWARD and Agropolis Fondation will cover the costs of the internship programs and local hosting in African countries. These costs include a round-trip flight ticket, accommodation, meals, living expenses, and any other eligible costs approved by AWARD and Agropolis Fondation.
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AWARD envisions transformative change toward gender-responsive solutions that will catalyze lasting impact for equitable agri-food systems for women and men smallholders. We are investing in women’s leadership to foster equality in AR4D, equipping AR4D professionals to integrate gender in their work, strengthening institutions to adopt gender-responsive policies and practices, and impacting the enabling environment to enhance gender responsiveness. www.awardfellowships.org.

Agropolis Foundation is a French scientific foundation established in 2007 that promotes, through research and higher education, the development and sharing of knowledge in the service of stakeholders in agriculture and sustainable development. www.agropolis-fondation.fr

Key contacts
•Professor Sheila Okoth, Science Advisor, AWARD
Email: S.Okoth@cifor-icraf.org
•Dr. Michèle Mbo’o-Tchouawou, Deputy Director, Programs, AWARD
Email: M.Mboo-Tchouawou@cifor-icraf.org
•Kenneth Macharia, Program Officer, AWARD
Email: K.Macharia@cifor-icraf.org

2024 Internship Programs For Emerging European Scientists

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