(NFP) – Masters, PhD and Short Courses for Developing Countries 2015

Applications are on-going for the 2015 Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) – Masters, PhD and Short Courses for Developing Countries. The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the budget for development cooperation, are designed to promote capacity building within organizations in 51 (previously 62) countries by providing training and education to mid-career staff.

The overall aim of the NFP is to help alleviate qualitative and quantitative shortages of skilled manpower within a wide range of governmental, private and non-governmental organizations. This is done by offering fellowships to mid career professionals to improve the capacity of their employing organizations.
Scholarship Value

The fellowship is a supplement to the candidate’s salary and a contribution towards the expenses related to the course or study programme.

Eligible Countries and Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria
Priority will be given to candidates who:

• live and work in Sub-Saharan Africa;
• are a woman;
• belong to a priority groups and/or are from a marginalised region as defined by the Dutch embassy in your country. You can find these priorities on the embassy’s website.

Eligible Developing African Countries
Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Cape Verde, Uganda, Mali, Zambia, DR Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Egypt, Namibia

Other Developing Countries outside Africa
Afghanistan, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Pakistan, Autonomous Palestinian Territories, Peru, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Philippines, Bhutan, Honduras, Bolivia, India, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Iran, Suriname, Jordan, Cambodia, Thailand, Kosovo, Colombia, Macedonia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Yemen, Cuba, Moldova, Mongolia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nepal.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an NFP fellowship you must:

• be a mid-career professional with at least three years’ relevant work experience;

• be a national of, and working and living in one of the countries on the NFP country list (see below) valid at the time of application;

• be nominated by your employer, who pledges to continue paying your salary and guarantees that you will be able to return to the same or an equivalent position at the end of your fellowship period;

• have been unconditionally admitted by a Dutch institution to one of the Master’s degree programmes or Short courses on the 2015-2016 course list, or have agreed upon a PhD research proposal with the Dutch institution.
• not already have received an NFP fellowship for a Master’s degree programme or a PhD fellowship. not be employed by:

– a multinational corporation
– a large national and/or commercial organisation
– a bilateral donor organisation
– a multilateral donor organisation
– an international NGO.

• have completed and submitted an NFP PhD study, Master’s degree programme or short course application, including all the required documentation, before the applicable fellowship application deadline;
• be employed in an area to which the study will make a relevant contribution;
• be full-time available for the entire period of the programme or course and be physically and mentally able to take part in the entire programme;

Application Procedure and Deadline

Applicants are advised to visit the official scholarship website for application details and procedure. Your NFP application consists of:

• a copy of a valid passport or other official identity document;
• an employer’s statement;
• a statement from the Government Authority (if applicable);
• Statements of motivation, responding to the following questions:

• Why do you wish to pursue this course or programme?
• How will your employer benefit from the course or programme?
• How will your country benefit from the course or programme?
• How will you put your new skills and knowledge to work when you return to your job?

• In addition, if you apply for a PhD fellowship:
A letter of a co-supervisor in your own country (if applicable);

Applications have started already; the deadline for applications is slated for May 2015 and October 2015 for different stages.

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