United States Department of State Professional Fellows Program—Advancing Young Women Agribusiness Entrepreneurs and Innovators: A Rwanda-South Africa-Zambia-Zimbabwe-U.S. Partnership.
The US program will include a four-week professional internship with Michigan organizations focused on agriculture, innovation, agro-entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment and additional seminars and training with professionals from Michigan State University and throughout the state of Michigan.
We are recruiting young Rwandan, South African, Zambian and Zimbabwean professionals from diverse backgrounds in the private, public, non-governmental, and education sectors who are either women agribusiness entrepreneurs or individuals working to increase women’s economic engagement in the agricultural sector.
The initial application for the program will remain open until February 24, 2023.
Interviews for selected finalists will take place in April, 2023.
Tentative Fall 2023 program dates: September 1 – October 7, 2023.
Tentative Spring 2024 program dates: May 3 – June 7, 2024.
Who Should Apply
● Women entrepreneurs, social innovators, or small and medium business owners or managers and other leaders working in the agriculture and food sectors
● Individuals (of any gender) in civil society and NGOs working on programs that support women in the agriculture and food sectors in their respective countries
● Policymakers, ministry employees, and others in the public sector (of any gender) focused on supporting and improving opportunities for women in the agriculture or food sector
● Academic staff (of any gender) who are implementing programs that advance women in the agriculture and food sectors
Eligibility Requirements
● 25-40 years old
● A citizen, national, or permanent resident of Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, or Zimbabwe
● Is living and working in Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, or Zimbabwe at the time of the application
● Fluent in both spoken and written English
● Has at least two years of professional/working experience in their field
● Has demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills and a commitment to community development
● Has employer’s support for participating in the program (for those not self-employed). For those self-employed, has recommendation from local authorities at the district and/or community levels
● Is interested in participating in a reciprocal program for American participants coming to your country
● Preference will be given to those who are in an earlier state of their careers
● Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously had the opportunity to travel to the US
● Finalists must be fully vaccinated in accordance with current CDC guidelines, in order to travel to the United States.
Individuals NOT eligible for the Professional Fellows Program includes
● U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents of the United States
● Spouses of U.S. citizens and/or permanent residents of the United States
● Individuals participating in academic, training or research programs in the United States at the time of application
● Individuals residing or working outside their home countries at the time of application
● Employees and their families of non-profit organizations who administer the Professional Fellows Program on behalf of the U. S. Department of State. This provision does not disqualify selfsupporting members of families who live apart from their parents
● Local employees of the U.S. missions abroad who work for the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development are ineligible for grants during the period of their employment and for one year following the termination of employment
● Immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development employees for a period of one year following the termination of such employment. This provision does not disqualify self-supporting members of families who live apart from their parents
To Apply: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bvDLMbzzfzCNfSu
