Qn: How can an Institution become a member of RUFORUM?
Ans: RUFORUM is a member-based organization of Universities. Membership is by application by individual universities, who must have a place on-going Post-graduate (M.Sc. & PhD) training programmes. However, RUFORUM will consider requests for jump-starting post-graduate training and building human-resource (at PhD level) for needy universities to start post graduate training.
Qn: Is RUFORUM a Rockefeller Foundation Programme?
Ans: No! While it is true that RUFORUM evolved from the Rockefeller Foundation Forum on Agricultural Resource Husbandry (FORUM) it is not a Rockefeller Foundation Programme. RUFORUM applies for grants from the Foundation just like other organizations or institutions do.
Qn: Who is eligible for RUFORUM grant application?
Ans: RUFORUM operates two grants systems a) Nurturing Grants to respond to specific institutional needs or gap areas. The applicants are usually institutional leaders, such as Heads of Departments or Deans, b) Competitive Grant System (CGS): The lead applicants (Principle Investigators-PIs) must be PhD holders (or Professors with out a PhD) working in one of the RUFORUM member universities. But they must have a partner from outside the applicant’s university who may not have a PhD and not necessarily from the country or region.
Qn: Why are Masters holders not eligible for RUFORUM grants?
Ans: The RUFORUM grants awarded under especially the CGS are to support M.Sc. and PhD training. It is now a basic requirement in most universities in the region that for one to supervise M.Sc. or for that matter PhD candidates, he/she must have a PhD. However, Masters degree holders can be partners in a project where the Principle Investigator is a PhD holder.
Qn: Are RUFORUM activities only limited to East and Southern Africa?
Ans: While it is true as of now, RUFORUM member universities are primarily from the east and southern Africa region, some RUFORUM activities span beyond the region. For example, RUFORUM is currently training students from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and is running staff exchange and skill enhancement for staff from throughout Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). RUFORUM is also in the process of scaling out two programmes to central and West Africa: training In Research Skills and Personal Mastery/Soft Skills. Additionally, RUFORUM through the University of Nairobi will, starting in October 2007, offer Msc. and PhD training in Dry land Resource Management for the whole of SSA.
Qn: As a student can I apply directly to the RUFORUM Secretariat for a scholarship or research support?
Ans: No: the grants are awarded to the universities who then award scholarships to the students. However, the Secretariat periodically posts scholarship announcements to its website (www.ruforum.org )
Qn: When are proposals due?
Ans: Proposals are received throughout the year, but are considered usually twice, February-March and August-September, depending on availability of funding. However, special grant announcements may have specific deadlines: please periodically check the RUFORUM Website
Qn: What are the basic requirements for a RUFORUM grant?
Ans: The Principle Investigator must meet the eligibility criteria; the proposal must comply with the proposal submission guidelines; the proposal must involve training of at least 2 Masters students; there must be a partner from outside the University Team. The grant ceilings are available, depending on the call, but usually $50,000-&$60,000 to support research and training of at least 2 Masters Students.
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