Call for Applications: The VIB-IPBO Open Doors Fellowship Program for women researchers in Africa

The Open Doors Fellowship Program (ODFP) for women researchers in Africa is a comprehensive initiative that specifically focuses on empowering women researchers in Africa. Our program aims to equip them with the necessary skills, both technical and interpersonal, to enhance their positions within their respective institutions and prevent them from dropping out before reaching their full potential.

The ODFP is designed for post-doctoral and mid-career women researchers who are engaged in agricultural research at (inter)national research centers in Africa. Our main objective is to support and strengthen mid-career researchers, ensuring that they do not face any obstacles that may cause them to leave the scientific field. To achieve this, our program is tailored to meet the specific training needs of our participants, providing them with a rewarding, nurturing, and empowering learning experience.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, applicants must be women researchers who meet the following criteria:

they should be post-doctoral scholars (at least one year after completing their PhD) or in mid-career positions.

These women should face challenges in advancing their careers due to limited access to training opportunities, infrastructure, and international networks.

There are no age restrictions for applicants.

Scholarship candidates must be nationals and residents of one of the VLIR-UOS scholarship countries, which include Benin, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

However, candidates who are employees of target organizations in these countries may also apply, even if they have a different nationality.

Additionally, we also support candidates from Nigeria, despite it not being a VLIR-UOS scholarship country, through our program.

Applicants’ research fields must be in the areas of plant breeding, agrobiotechnology, molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, chemical ecology, plant and soil health, livestock, or aquaculture. We believe that by focusing on these specific fields, we can make a significant impact in advancing agricultural research in Africa.

Applicants for the fellowship program must currently hold an active employment contract in a Higher Education institution or a (inter)national research center in one of the listed countries. This contract should be valid for the entire duration of the fellowship, which is 20 months. During this time, applicants will be conducting research and teaching.

In addition to their responsibilities, applicants will also be supervising MSc or PhD students and providing support to the staff.

Procedure

• To apply for the fellowship, applicants need to complete several documents.
• These include a duly filled application form (either Modality A or B), a motivation letter, and a CV that should not exceed three pages. It’s important to note that CVs longer than three pages will not be reviewed.
• Applicants should also provide soft copies of their academic transcripts for both their PhD and diploma.
• A list of publications, including papers, book chapters, technical reviews in indexed journals, and patents, is also required.
• Only articles listed in the Web of Science: Master Journal List will be considered valid publications.
• Furthermore, applicants need to submit a signed letter from their direct supervisor, indicating how they intend to support the fellow in completing their training program.
• An official signed letter from the Human Resources Office of the applicant’s institution is also necessary to prove the validity of their contract in SSA for the fellowship duration.
• This letter should also outline the support the fellow will receive during the training period.
• Additionally, an HR focal point should commit to participating in four webinars related to gender-equitable practices in the workplace throughout the 20 months of the fellowship.
• For Modality B applications, a signed letter from the research center in Belgium supporting the applicant’s short research stay is required.

All of these documents are compulsory for a valid application. Applicants should submit their completed documents via email to [email protected].

If any applications are incomplete, the applicants will be notified via email and given a ten-day period to provide the missing documents. After this period, incomplete applications will be rejected.

For details visit VIB-IPBO Open Doors Fellowship Program 2024,   Deadline: 10th January 2024