Announcement of Fellowship and Call for Applications
Environment and Development in the Third World (ENDA TM) – announces the launch of its 2006-2007 Climate Change Capacity Development (C3D) Fellowship scheme entitled:Building Africa’s Capacity; Understanding Vulnerability to Climate Change and Preparing for Adaptation.
This programme is designed to extend a fellowship programme currently being implemented by ENDA Tiers Monde (ENDA–TM) – Programme Energie, Environnement, Développement as part of the ongoing Climate Change Capacity Development (C3D) project, coordinated by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The fellowship programme addresses Africa’s need for capacity development, knowledge sharing and education in the field of human and environmental vulnerability and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The emphasis (expanded in the Objectives and Projected Outcomes sections below) is on contributing to a growing reservoir of African knowledge and expertise in the stated theme of the fellowship which is:
Socio-economic and Ecological Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Arena of Climate Change, with a Focus on Livelihoods
The fellowship represents a component of ENDA’s work in C3D and harmonises with a central plank of ENDA’s Strategic Plan for work in vulnerability and adaptation. A core aspect of the thinking behind the strategic plan that is also central to the fellowship theme is the recognition that human dynamics and environmental change are intimately interrelated with constant reaction and counter-reaction scenarios being acted out over space and time. The causes and effects of climate change are vivid examples of these interrelated dynamics. These create social and environmental vulnerability while concomitantly demanding urgent needs assessments to devise and plan adaptation strategies to maintain sustainable human development and environmental security.
Structure
Fellowships will be offered to suitably qualified candidates who will most likely be currently working for organisations or attached to institutes specialising in socio-economic and ecological resilience and vulnerability in any of the following countries of Western and Central Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The fellowship lasts for 6 months commencing on 30th April 2007. It will include three basic components:
- Two weeks of intensive targeted capacity development in Dakar, the home of ENDA’s head offices, in the form of teaching seminars, practical field visits, discussion forums, skills input and a workshop session;
- This is followed by five months development of individual projects that speak to the central theme of the fellowship located at the institution of origin of each selected fellow;
- Two final weeks at the end of the fellowship, at ENDA in Dakar to work individually with fellows to finalise and evaluate their projects.
Objectives
The fellowship aims to:
- extend the knowledge and understanding of the fellows selected in the fields of identification and assessment of vulnerability and identification, assessment of capability and planning for adaptation;
- identify, articulate, plan and execute a piece of action research on the above theme in a limited time-frame using an agreed methodology;
- by so doing, develop the knowledge and skills of the home institution of the selected fellows in the stated themes;
- produce research projects, together with working papers that will be of contemporary practical value to the home country/organisation of the fellow as well as to the fellow in his/her future career development and could form the basis of concrete proposals for action;
- address the outflow of skills and knowledge on vulnerability and adaptation to non-African institutions and organisations.
Projected Outcomes
- A pool of knowledge about climate dynamics and their impacts in Africa and the differential way in which these are interpreted on a variety of scales from local to government.
- A reservoir of knowledge and skills located in individuals and institutions throughout Africa, competent of identifying and accurately assessing social and environmental vulnerability, and accomplished at devising strategies to reduce and adapt to such vulnerability
- African mentors and institutions capable of mentoring, teaching and nurturing new African expertise
- For ENDA and other institutions appointed by ENDA to supply teaching/mentoring/evaluation resources, the implementation of successful fellowships will enhance existing capacity and professionalism in the genre ‘African training of African trainers’. By this we mean that the experience gained by specialists involved in training at ENDA and its partner organisations around Africa will add to the strengths and capacity building resources of those organisations themselves.
Conditions
The offer comprises fully funded attendance in Dakar (including accommodation, meals and daily fee) for two weeks at the start of the course and two weeks at the end, together with a grant for the five months project development period which will depend on the nature of the project proposed and any agreed fieldwork considered appropriate to the project.
During the two-week introduction to the fellowship, fellows will receive tuition, advice and guidance in groups and individually from appointed tutors and ENDA specialists in vulnerability and adaptation. During this period, plans and project methodologies together with timeframes, finance, communication and work schedules will be agreed and contracts signed between ENDA and individual fellows.
Failure to produce work according to the schedule or maintain agreed communication links may result in termination of the fellowship contract by ENDA.
Qualifications
Candidates should:
- possess a Masters certificate or equivalent educational standard;
- be able to demonstrate experience and an established interest in the theme;
- be fluent in French and English;
- be attached to or employed by a department in an established academic institution or development organisation that specialises in the fellowship theme.
Applications
Applications should include covering letter, CV, an action research draft concept paper on the above stated theme (maximum two pages), names and contact details of three referees and a letter of support from the host institution of the candidate who must be a citizen of one of the countries listed under ‘Structure’ above. Applications should be sent to ENDA TM (V and A Fellowship), 54 Rue Carnot, B.P. 3370, Dakar, Sénégal, or by e-mail attachment to fellowship@endaenergy.org to arrive no later than Friday 2nd February 2007.
Timeline
Receipt of applications - Friday 2nd February 2007
Successful applicants will be contacted with conditional offers by 28th February 2007.
The fellowship will commence 16th April 2007
The fellowship will terminate 12th October 2007
