African Union Commission And the United States Department of Agriculture Scientific Exchanges Program

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The African Union Commission in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Scientific Exchanges Program announces the Scientific Exchanges Program support for agricultural professionals. Which was created 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,

The SEP training and research programs will benefit 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. The goal will be to empower fellows to advocate for sound SPS policy to peers, decision-makers, and the public. The thematic areas include food safety, animal health, plant health, and general policy/management. The fellowship will last for 12 weeks and all program proposals must include goals that are achievable within that timeframe.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates interested in applying for the Scientific Exchanges Program 2021/2022 are to meet the following criteria:

  • Citizen of a country in the AU.
  • Good reading, writing, and speaking skills in 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
  • 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.

Application Procedures

All interested applicants for the AU/USDA Scientific Exchanges Program 2021/2022 are to complete their application form and send as email to: Cara Conley (Cara.Conley@usda.gov), CCing Joyce West (Joyce.West@usda.gov), at the USDA Offices in Washington, DC and Diana Akullo (AkulloD@africa-union.org).

Application Deadline: October 10, 2021

All details on: https://au.int/en/announcements/20210818/call-applicants-auc-usda-scientific-exchanges-programme

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