Apply for the African Union Commission And the United States Department of Agriculture Scientific Exchanges Program 2021. The Scientific Exchanges Program (SEP) supports USDA’s agricultural research goals of promoting collaborative programs among agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agricultural professionals of the United States, the international agricultural research system, and U.S. entities conducting research. SEP is implemented by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Programs, Fellowship Programs.

The SEP Fellowships, in general aims to operationalize the joint effort of the AU and USDA to promote food security and economic growth in eligible countries by educating a new generation of agricultural scientists, increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity, and extending that knowledge to users and intermediaries in the marketplace. The collaborative nature of the SEP training and research programs benefits the fellow, his or her home institution, and partner country; the U.S. host institution, its professors, researchers, and students; and the global agricultural sector by improving agricultural productivity, systems, and processes in partnering nations through the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies.

This application package focus on applicants interested in establishing and harmonizing SPS regulatory regimes across the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of the African Union (AU). The goal will be to empower fellows to advocate for sound SPS policy to peers, decision-makers, and the public.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates will be evaluated, interviewed, and selected based on the following criteria:

• Citizen of a country in the AU.
• Good reading, writing, and speaking skills in the English language.
• Master’s degree or higher with at least two years of practical experience (minimum).
• Currently employed by a university, research institution, or other scientific institution in a country in the AU.
• Intention to continue working in a country of the AU for a minimum of two years following the return from the United States.
• Researcher with a clear connection to SPS regulatory regimes, who can adapt lessons learned from the U.S. SPS regulatory model at both national and state levels.
• Proposal directly related to the research topic.

Application Requirements

• PAPER Application form (Provided)
• Program proposal and research action plan
• Signed approval from applicant’s home institution
• Two letters of recommendation (academic and professional preferred)
• Copies of diploma(s) for college/university degree(s) received
• Copy of passport identification page

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