Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Grassroots Development Fellowship Program

About IAF:
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) was created in 1969 by the United States Congress to fund the self-help initiatives of the organized poor in Latin America and the Caribbean and the groups that directly support them.

To complement its work, the IAF has reinstated its Fellowships for candidates for Ph.D. degrees from United States universities as they conduct their dissertation research. IAF's Fellowships are intended to increase awareness of grassroots development efforts while building a community of professionals and scholars knowledgeable in the subject.

2011-2012 Fellowship Overview:

• Fellowships are available to currently registered students who have advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. in the social sciences, physical sciences, technical fields and the professions as related to grassroots development issues.
  
• Applications for clinical research in the health field will NOT be considered.
• Awards are based on both development and scholarly criteria. Proposals should offer a practical orientation to field-based information.
• The IAF expects to award up to 15 Doctoral Field Research Fellowships in 2011.
  
• Research during the 2011-2012 cycle must be initiated between June 1, 2011 & May 31, 2012.
• The Fellowship Program complements IAF’s support for grassroots development in Latin America and the Caribbean, and preference for those applicants whose careers or research projects are related to topics of greatest interest to the IAF. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Organizations promoting grassroots development among poor and disadvantaged peoples;
2. The financial sustainability and independence of development organizations;
3. Trends affecting historically excluded groups, such as African descendants, indigenous peoples, women, people with disabilities and young people;
4. Transnational development;
5. The role of corporate social responsibility in grassroots development;
6. The impact of globalization on grassroots development;
7. The impact on the quality of life of the poor of grassroots development activities in such areas as sustainable agriculture and natural resource management, housing, health care, education, urban development, technology transfer, jobs creation, and marketing and small-enterprise development.

Awards Benefits:

• Funding is for between 4 & 12 months.
  
• Round-trip economy-class transportation to the field research site from the Fellow’s primary residence.
  
• A research allowance of up to $3,000, pro-rated monthly.
• A stipend of $1,500 per month for up to 12 months.
• Accident and sickness insurance.
• Attendance at a required “mid-year" Grassroots Development Conference to discuss each Fellow’s progress with members of the IAF's academic review committee and meet with IAF and IIE staff.

To Apply:
Please click here.
Application Deadline is January 18, 2011.

For more information contact:
IAF Fellowship Program
Institute of International Education
1400 K Street, NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: +1 202.326.7796
Fax: +1 202.326.7698
E-mail: iaffellowships@iie.org