*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 *Advancing Young Women *Professional Fellows Program is sponsored by
the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and
is administered by Michigan State University (US), University of Rwanda
(Rwanda), University of Pretoria (South Africa), University of Zambia
(Zambia) and Chinhoyi University of Technology (Zimbabwe). The goal of the
program is to build Fellows’ capacity and skills in agro-entrepreneurship
and agri-food system innovation and advance their ability to support
women’s economic empowerment. Rwandan, South African, Zambian and
Zimbabwean Fellows will develop their leadership capacity and professional
skills through *a fully funded five-week fellowship program in the U.S.  *



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
trainings 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 March 21,
2022*.



Interviews for selected finalists will take place in May 2022



Fall 2022 program dates: October 1 - November 5, 2022



Spring 2023 program dates: May 7 - June 9, 2023



*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



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 self-supporting
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

For more information on the program and to apply, click below

*Learn more*
<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001aD49Pz0bxP20iFJfmf5X-WVBScZELq8UVzpaownCYlwNyXXx7ZIdBPaWWoPVhwL4EfaGNdrY7gg8joQgwF8tgW2d_weyfsZC1045VvLu27C9n6SHD22ID3zGeYdBtSlE9zBeCgygt6FiXYYdExNYVC0WV26mrjHat0Kk29PqweNoaOEAzTA2iTvrZ46SkB0JXzlb5Xv9gFBrazh_Orn4SQ==&c=YWS1h_LcfmJDc8Mo0z0mFMIAnDFDusFH2M6D2nXHbHa8rUOZcdBqFw==&ch=I62Zd-WTcpHVHnTIead2Ucb79vwYs4QzWYURhjan-YXdX0DHcf1-qA==>


Application Deadline: March 21, 2022 11:59pm EDT



For more information, please contact:



*Rwanda*

Dr. Alfred Bizoza

Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics

University of Rwanda

*alfredbiz23@gmail.com*
<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001aD49Pz0bxP20iFJfmf5X-WVBScZELq8UVzpaownCYlwNyXXx7ZIdBNUdUZ95u4aXFrsKEGpf7nD9i9rYizIe-XupONppDFWDFiHhjJCGyivWQdP6aSfs_jyx9RxWIGCrAiQDYr6P68_EJJEOVdCzyWT51C2dHnhs4bw2WLcFySkHk0xdjXvjY6eDDG2Or6VR&c=YWS1h_LcfmJDc8Mo0z0mFMIAnDFDusFH2M6D2nXHbHa8rUOZcdBqFw==&ch=I62Zd-WTcpHVHnTIead2Ucb79vwYs4QzWYURhjan-YXdX0DHcf1-qA==>




*South Africa*

Prof. Anastacia Mamabolo

Associate Professor,

Gordon Institute of Business Science

University of Pretoria

*mamaboloa@gibs.co.za*
<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001aD49Pz0bxP20iFJfmf5X-WVBScZELq8UVzpaownCYlwNyXXx7ZIdBNUdUZ95u4aXFrsKEGpf7nD9i9rYizIe-XupONppDFWDFiHhjJCGyivWQdP6aSfs_jyx9RxWIGCrAiQDYr6P68_EJJEOVdCzyWT51C2dHnhs4bw2WLcFySkHk0xdjXvjY6eDDG2Or6VR&c=YWS1h_LcfmJDc8Mo0z0mFMIAnDFDusFH2M6D2nXHbHa8rUOZcdBqFw==&ch=I62Zd-WTcpHVHnTIead2Ucb79vwYs4QzWYURhjan-YXdX0DHcf1-qA==>




*Zambia*

Dr. Thandie Hamaimbo

Assistant Dean (Undergraduate Programmes) and Lecturer

School of Agricultural Sciences

University of Zambia

*thandiehamaimbo@gmail.com*
<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001aD49Pz0bxP20iFJfmf5X-WVBScZELq8UVzpaownCYlwNyXXx7ZIdBNUdUZ95u4aXFrsKEGpf7nD9i9rYizIe-XupONppDFWDFiHhjJCGyivWQdP6aSfs_jyx9RxWIGCrAiQDYr6P68_EJJEOVdCzyWT51C2dHnhs4bw2WLcFySkHk0xdjXvjY6eDDG2Or6VR&c=YWS1h_LcfmJDc8Mo0z0mFMIAnDFDusFH2M6D2nXHbHa8rUOZcdBqFw==&ch=I62Zd-WTcpHVHnTIead2Ucb79vwYs4QzWYURhjan-YXdX0DHcf1-qA==>


*Zimbabwe*

Dr. Robert Musundire

Acting Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies

Chinhoyi University of Technology

*rmusundire1978@gmail.com*



*U.S.*

Mr. Derek Tobias

Program Manager,

Alliance for African Partnership

Michigan State University

*tobiasde@msu.edu*



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