Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) |
|
|
 |
|
Background |
THE FORD FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS PROGRAMME (IFP)
PROGRAMME
The International Fellowships Programme (IFP) of the Ford Foundation is a programme representing the largest single program ever supported by the Foundation. Through the IFP, Ford is investing over $350 million within a period of 15 years to provide support for up to three years of formal post-baccalaureate study for Fellows from countries in Africa, Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia, where the Foundation maintains active overseas programs. The IFP will support approximately 4,000 Fellows within the period.
IFP’s goal is to enable exceptional individuals from many parts of the world—who otherwise lack opportunities for advanced study—to pursue post-graduate degree programmes. FORD INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS, as the recipients of the Fellowships are called, will be expected to become leaders in fields that further the Foundation’s goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation, and advancing human achievement.
IFP's New York-based secretariat collaborates closely with partner organizations in 22 countries from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt and Palestine. Others are, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Russia, Vietnam, China, India, Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. These organizations supervise all recruitment and selection activities, and help ensure that the program's goals and implementation are grounded in local realities and reflect local needs.
In West Africa, the AAU coordinates IFP activities in Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal, the participating countries in collaboration with its partners [Pathfinder International in Nigeria and the West African Research Center (WARC) in Senegal.]
Major activities implemented in the project are:Major activities implemented in the project include:
o Outreach/Announcements of the fellowships;
o Screening/Short- listing;
o Interviews and Endorsement of candidates for the fellowships;
o Coordination of various Needs Assessment/Orientations,
o Institutional Testing/ Pre Academic Training (PAT) programs;
o Cohort Building/Leadership Training programs;
o Placement of Fellows-Elect in appropriate academic institutions in collaboration with IFP's Placement Partners (The British Council, Institute of International Education (IIE), NUFFIC);
o Pre-departure preparations including visa processing and flight arrangements.
o Monitoring of fellows in collaboration with IIE, which consist of closely following their academic progress, ensuring timely financial disbursements, timely renewal of contracts, general welfare as well as their repatriation arrangements and re-entry issues.
Post Fellowship activities include supporting Fellows after their academic programs to resettle back home to pursue their career goals. The Ford Foundation recognizes the importance of supporting and motivating Fellows to return to their homelands to promote issues of social justice. In view of this funds are provided to support National and Regional Associations of Alumni to develop networks that will help them achieve the aims for which they were awarded the fellowships. The AAU coordinates Alumni activities in West Africa.
To date over 300 Fellows have been selected from the West African sub region to study in Britain, Canada, France, Switzerland, South Africa, The Netherlands and the United States of America. A few have chosen to study in their home countries such as Ghana and Senegal. Of these Fellows, 200 have completed their studies and about 150 have already returned to the sub region as at September 2008. |
|
|
Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP)
