Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund (ABCF): APPLY NOW!!!

                

The Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is a shared agricultural research and biosciences platform that exists to increase access for African researchers to affordable, world-class research facilities.

The BecA-ILRI Hub capacity building program is branded The Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund (ABCF).The ABCF program operates in the critically important intersection between agricultural research and development (ARD), food security, and individual and institutional capacity building.

 

Eligibility/applicant requirements

• Nationals (passport holder) of a BecA-ILRI Hub target country: Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. In exceptional cases we may consider applicants from other African countries.
• A researcher at a national agricultural research organization or university in a BecA-ILRI Hub target country.
• Currently engaged in research in food and nutritional security or food safety in Africa, or in a research area with relevance to agriculture in Africa.
• MSc or PhD holder in biosciences, agriculture or related subject.
• Good working knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Completed online application form.
• A signed letter of approval of the application from the head of your institute / organization/ university faculty.

Fellowship Benefits:

The BecA-ILRI Hub has secured funding to sponsor several fellowships on a highly competitive basis. BecA-funded fellowships will cover the following costs:

•  Research at the BecA-ILRI Hub
• Travel
• Medical insurance
• Accommodation
• Living allowance

Please note that BecA-ILRI Hub-funded fellowships do not cover the cost of fieldwork or research at the applicant’s home institute.

Applicants who can fund their own research (either fully or partially) will have added advantage

Timeline:

• Closing date for applications: March 31st 2015.
• Notification to early applicants will start from March 1st 2015. The notification process will be completed by April 30th 2015 (indicative date depending on volume of applications).
• Implementation of projects: projected start time is end May 2015.

How to Apply:

http://hpc.ilri.cgiar.org/beca/training/ABCF_2015/

For More Information:

http://hub.africabiosciences.org/media-center/news/434-the-africa-biosciences-challenge-fund-call-for-applications-2015

Apply for the 2015 Hult Prize

Apply for the 2015 Hult Prize – Win US$1,000,000 to start a Social Entreprise

How will you change the world with $1M in start-up capital?

The Hult Prize Foundation is a start-up accelerator for budding young social entrepreneurs emerging from the world’s universities. Named as one of the top five ideas changing the world by President Bill Clinton and TIME Magazine, the annual competition for the Hult Prize aims to identify and launch the most compelling social business ideas—start-up enterprises that tackle grave issues faced by billions of people. Winners receive USD 1 million in seed capital, as well as mentorship and advice from the international business community.

The Hult Prize is offered in partnership with Former US President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative. It is hosted and supported by Hult International Business School. And it is generously funded by Swedish entrepreneur Bertil Hult and his family. It has been called the “Nobel Prize for Students” by Nobel Prize Winner and annual jury member, Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Open to universities, colleges and students on every continent, the Hult Prize has grown to become the world’s largest student movement for social good. It is also the world’s largest crowd-sourcing platform. Participating annually are thousands of students from 130 countries, representing over 350 institutions of higher education. Competing schools included Stanford, Harvard, INSEAD, Hult International Business School, NYU, Columbia, American University Beirut, LBS, Hitotsubashi, St. Petersburg, and Tel-Aviv University. Nearly all of the Financial Times’ Top 100 MBA programs participate.

Each year, a critical social problem is selected by President Bill Clinton and a challenge issued. Teams of 4-5 students are challenged to develop an innovative start-up enterprise to eradicate the problem. Access to Education. Clean water. Affordable housing. Clean energy. Solar Power. These are a few of the issues competitors have tackled since the competition’s inception.

http://www.hultprize.org for more info