The UK Department for International Development (DFID) is seeking to recruit leading scientists, academics and researchers in various fields of natural and social sciences to serve as Senior Research Fellows. Their work will be to undertake specific tasks to be agreed in the design and execution of research programmes. Experts and researchers in the private sector and non-governmental organisations are encouraged to apply. For more details, click here.

Still from the United Kingdom, Bangor University is offering ten fully-funded scholarship grants for a Masters of Science in Forestry through distance learning. The scholarships are currently available for entrants in September 2011. Applicants may be nationals of: Bangladesh, Botswana, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Get the details by clicking here.

Meanwhile, the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) is issuing a call for papers for an international conference that it wishes to organize. The goal of the conference is to highlight new research and community engagement on sustainable natural resource management and use. The conference will be held on 5 – 8 December 2011 at Accra, Ghana. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 31 July 2011. Download the PDF (only 65KB) for instructions.

Full scholarship for MSc in Climate Change and Development at University of Sussex/Institute for Development Studies, UK

A full scholarship (fees plus maintenance and travel) funded through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme is available for applicants to the MSc in Climate Change and Development programme for entry October 2011.

Note: Potential applicants must undertake the following process in the order stated.

1.      Check their eligibility for the award (see criteria below)

2.      Submit an application for the MSc in Climate Change and Development using the online application facility at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/2011/taught/3331/23691

3.      Only after applicants have received an offer of a place on the course should they request an application form for the scholarship, by contacting climate@sussex.ac.uk. The deadline for applications for the scholarship is 1st May 2011.

Scholarship Criteria

Applicants must
(i)     be nationals of (or permanently domiciled in) a Commonwealth developing country, and not currently be living or studying in a developed country (please see the booklet for a list of eligible countries)
(ii)    hold a first degree at either first or upper second class level;
(iii)   be sufficiently fluent in English to pursue the course
(iv)    have not previously studied for one year or more in a developed country
(v)     not be employed by a government department (for this purpose the Commission counts this as being employed by a Government Ministry).
(vi)    be able to confirm in writing that neither they or their families would otherwise be able to pay for the proposed course of study
(vii)   be willing to confirm that they will return to their home country as soon as their period of study is complete

Further information

(i) MSc in Climate Change and Development

This is unique course that aims to provide state-of-the-art training for the rapidly expanding market for development professionals with specialisation in climate change.  The programme is strongly multidisciplinary and students will acquire specialist knowledge of the causes of climate change, the implications for developing countries, and the policy and practice of efforts to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate. Courses are taught by leading researchers in these fields from the world renowned Institute for Development Studies (IDS), the Geography Department and Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU).

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/2011/taught/3331/23691
www.sussex.ac.uk/climatechange
Tel: +44 (0)1273 877686
Email: climate@sussex.ac.uk

(ii) Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

For full details of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme see http://www.cscuk.org.uk/docs/DFIDSSSBOOKLET2011vi.pdf

AWARD is a professional development program that strengthens the research and leadership skills of African women in agricultural science, empowering them to contribute more effectively to poverty alleviation and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

AWARD is a project of the Gender & Diversity Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

The AWARD Fellowship is a two-year program that offers a series of career-development resources that:

• establish a mentorship for each fellow with a senior scientist
• build science skills
• develop leadership capacity

AWARD’s training courses, held over a two-year period, take place in various locations in Africa.

Eligibility:

Women agricultural scientists who are nationals of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zambia, who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in the specified disciplines, are eligible to apply. Applicants must be available in Africa throughout the fellowship period. There is no age restriction.

More information here.

Deadline: March 25, 2011