Funding Opportunity for Emerging Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa - The Norman Borlaug LEAP Grant

Applications are requested from sub-Saharan African post-graduate students conducting research on topics related to USAID's global hunger and food security initiative, Feed thre Future, for the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (Borlaug LEAP).  All topics related to agriculture and the research strategies of the Feed the Future Initiative are admissible. The administrative due date for applications is FEBRUARY 3, 2012.

The Borlaug LEAP is a fellowship program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by the University of California - Davis, to enhance the quality of thesis research of graduate students from the developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa who show strong promise as leaders in the field of agriculture and related disciplines. LEAP was developed in conjunction with the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) but operates as a separate program.

The Borlaug LEAP Fellowship supports engaging a mentor at a United States (US) University and at a Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) system centre to support and enhance the thesis research and mentoring experience. Awards are made on a competitive basis to students who show strong scientific and leadership potential, have a well coordinated proposal between their home university, a US university mentor, and the CGIAR mentor, and whose research is related to a strong research and support project within the host country. Emphasis is placed on work that has relevance to the national development of the student's home country.

For information on who qualifies for the grant click on eligibility criteria. For a description of the initiative, click on programme description. For details on the application process  click on how to apply. For information on current and past recipients of the grant and their collaborating institutions click on Borlaug LEAP Fellows .

Comprehensive information on the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program is available at the programme website, including contact information for the programme administrators and for CGIAR centres contact persons for the grant.