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Training and Events » Training Courses and Scholarships » Scholarships

Scholarships

Private foundations and universities offer training and education scholarships for development practitioners. Scholarships are often awarded based on demonstrated financial need, previous achievement, or course of study. Check with individual college or university websites for scholarship opportunities not included in the selected list below.

Aga Khan Foundation

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries that have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant: 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June or July. The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master's level courses but is also willing to consider applications for PhD programs, when doctoral degrees are necessary for the career objectives of the student. Requests will also be considered for travel and study awards for PhD students doing their research in Third World countries on topics judged to be of interest to the Aga Khan Development Network. For more information, visit http://www.akdn.org/akf_scholarships.asp.

EU/ACP Microfinance Program

The EU/ACP Microfinance Program offers scholarships for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) policymakers, including public agency staff of central banks, ministries, and supervisory bodies to participate in the Boulder Microfinance Training Program. The scholarship covers tuition expenses. For more information, email: info@euacpmicrofinance.org or visit http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/acp/regional-cooperation/microfinance/news/news_en.htm#11

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships

The Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships seek to increase faculty diversity in U.S. colleges and universities. Fellowship grants are made at the pre-doctoral, dissertation and postdoctoral levels to students demonstrating excellence, a commitment to diversity and a desire to become a professor. Only U.S. citizens or nationals are eligible for this fellowship. For more information, visit http://www.fordfound.org/grants/fellowships/individuals

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP)

The Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program provides support for up to three years of formal graduate-level study leading to a masters or doctoral degree. Fellows are selected from countries and territories in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Russia, where the Ford Foundation maintains active overseas programs. U.S. nationals are not eligible, although Fellows may study in the United States.

Fellows may enroll in masters or doctoral programs and pursue any academic discipline or field of study that is consistent with the interests and goals of the Ford Foundation. The Foundation works in thirteen fields to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.

Once selected, Ford Foundation International Fellows may enroll in an appropriate university program anywhere in the world, including their country of residence. The program provides placement assistance to Fellows not yet admitted to graduate school.

IFP support also enables Fellows to undertake short-term language study and training in research and computer skills prior to graduate school enrollment. For more information, visit http://www.fordfound.org/grants/fellowships/individ

MasterCard Foundation

The MasterCard Foundation is an independent, private, charitable foundation based in Canada. It has identified six organizations to implement a program to build management capacity in microfinance:

As part of its Scholar's Program an estimated 100 scholarships are likely to be offered each year. The scholarships will cover a portion of the cost for practitioners to attend training events they otherwise might not be able to attend.

For more information, please visit the implementing organizations listed above.

World Bank

The World Bank manages two scholarship programs:

Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSM Fellowships)
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program

The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program provides support to young researchers working in academic and research institutions from eligible countries preparing a doctoral thesis. Research grants cover residence costs for a 5 to 10 month period in a renowned university or research center.

Only lecturers and researchers from eligible countries working on their doctoral thesis can apply for the fellowship. Candidates should be under 45 years, and have completed any course work or exams required for their doctoral program. Eligible candidates are evaluated by external reviewers based on three criteria: academic performance, teaching and research experience, and relevance of the proposed research program. The grant amount to be awarded to each fellow is decided by the Selection Committee. Fellows are expected to return to their home countries and resume their academic or research position upon completion of the fellowship. For more information, visit http://go.worldbank.org/LZYMB47270

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) awards scholarships to individuals from World Bank member countries to undertake graduate studies at universities renowned for their development research and teaching. The program is targeted at mid-career professionals from World Bank member countries that are eligible to borrow. The program is open to universities all over the world. For more information, visit http://go.worldbank.org/6KLLM2C0Q0

Other scholarship opportunities

Visit www.freescholarshipguide.com, www.fastweb.com, and http://www.scholarships.com/ for additional scholarship information.