Category Archives: awards

BOREL GLOBAL FELLOWS PROGRAM AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES.

Application Deadline: January 15, 2026

LOCATION: USA

The Borel Global Fellows Program supports students committed to enhancing African food security, agricultural development, and/or poverty alleviation to pursue graduate studies at Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The program seeks to help eradicate food and nutrition insecurity while promoting wealth and health for subsistence farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa by educating scientists at Iowa State University who will become knowledge leaders that reside and work in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ELIGIBILITY:

All faculty members with a majority appointment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University may submit an application for partial graduate student funding. To be considered for the Borel Global Fellows Program, the student must:

be admitted into a graduate program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

commit to completing graduate studies as a means for preparation of a career contributing to food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

complete the majority of their graduate research in Sub-Saharan Africa

demonstrate an intention to work and live in Sub-Saharan Africa after completing their graduate studies

A completed application will include a cover letter from the major professor, a CV of the student, and a copy of the student’s goal statement. Due date each year: January 15. Cover letters will address the commitment of the major professor to provide the remaining required funding (typically tuition, fees and research costs) and his/her commitment to support the student’s research in Sub-Saharan Africa. Applications are not accepted directly from graduate students. Applications may only be submitted by Iowa State University professors to request support for graduate students who have already been accepted into a graduate program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. 

Iowa State University faculty interested in submitting an application can contact the Office for Global Engagement staff. 

BENEFIT:

Up to $25,000 per year per student of funding is available to support graduate student stipends (or a combination of a partial stipend and research funding) for up to 30 months for MS students and up to 42 months for PhD students. Funding for travel by the student to and from Africa for research purposes also is available.

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13TH ANNUAL ARSO CONTINENTAL ESSAY COMPETITION

Application Deadline: Friday 17th April 2026

LOCATION: Uganda

The Annual ARSO Essay Competition is a prestigious platform dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and critical thinking among the youth across Africa. Each year, they invite students to explore pressing topics, share their perspectives, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable development and standards in Africa. Join in celebrating the power of words and ideas in shaping a brighter future for our continent.

ELIGIBILITY:

Open to Citizens of all African Countries Only those below the age of 35 years living in Africa and studying in a university/college recognized by the local commission for university education or an equivalent body in their countries.

Theme – “The role of harmonised standards in reducing Technical Barriers to Trade and in promoting fair and just trade within the Intra-African and Global Trade“

Length of essays: Essays should be between 1000 and 1200 words

Presentation: Essays should be double spaced and presented in Century Gothic, size 12

Language of essays: Essays must be submitted in English or French Information on the author: Authors may use up to 50 words to describe themselves.

Information should include their names, course and year of study, name, town and country in which their university is located. N/B: this will not be part of the 1000- 1200 words

Contacts of authors: Authors should provide us with their postal, physical, telephone and email addresses on the first page of the essay together with the title of the essay and information on the author.

Kindly attach a copy of the Identity Card or Passport and a completely filled Registration Form (ARSO/CACO/EC/Form 1/2025)

BENEFIT:

1st Continental Winner: $1,000

Economy Class Return Air Ticket and Accommodation to the General Assembly in Uganda in June/July 2026

Recognition and Awarding During the General Assembly

Publishing of the Essay on the ARSO Website

2nd Continental Winner: $800

Recognition and Awarding During the General Assembly

Publishing of the Essay on the ARSO Website

3rd Continental Winner: $500

Continental Winner Prices Recognition and Awarding During the General Assembly

Publishing of the Essay on the ARSO Website

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