The application call for the Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund fellowship 2020 is open. The fellowships focus to develop the capacity for agricultural biosciences research in Africa, to support research for development projects that contribute towards increasing food and nutritional security and/or food safety in Africa and to facilitate access to the BecA-ILRI Hub facilities by African researchers and their partners. Moreover, this fellowship is open to applicants with innovative ideas for short term research projects (up to 6 months). Research projects should have alignment with national, regional or continental agricultural development priorities and CGIAR strategies for research.

Areas of research 

Applicant must be a scientist from African National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) e.g. national agricultural research institutes and universities. Furthermore, s/he should be interested to carry research on crops and livestock in the areas of national or regional priority. The organizer encourages applications from the scientists conducting research in the following areas particularly

• Livestock genetics
• Crop improvement and plant protection
• Bioinformatics and data sciences

Eligibilities 

Candidates with the following qualifications can apply for Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Fellowship 2020

• Be 45 years of age or younger at the time of application
• Be from the 18 BecA mandate countries which are: Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. However, in exceptional cases, applicants from other African countries are also considerable.
• Must be a researcher employed in an African NARS. Similarly, s/he must have an active engagement in research that is contributing to agricultural development in Africa.
• Have attained a minimum education level of a master’s degree as well as must have a good working knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Submit the application with a signed letter of endorsement of the application or letter of nomination from the head of the applicant’s home institute/organization.
• Furthermore, the candidate should not be a previous fellow of the Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Fellowship program.

Benefits/Compensation 

This is a fully-funded opportunity. The Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Fellowship 2020 covers all the expenses of successful candidates including

• Research*costs at the BecA-ILRI Hub.
• Travel from home country to Nairobi and back and also Medical insurance.
• Accommodation as well as a modest subsistence allowance.

The ABCF fellowship does not cover fieldwork or research in the applicant’s home country.

Application deadline

The last day to submit an application is 20 January 2020. The outcome of the application will be out on 15 March 2020.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY