Educate Africa

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Robert S. McNamara Fellowships

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  • The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSMFP) was established in 1982 with $2.8 million in funding from the World Bank and the governments of Bangladesh, China, India, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, and former Yugoslavia.

Scholarship Overview

  • The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSMFP) provides support to citizens from developing countries who are current PhD candidates studying in developing countries.
  • Recipients get funding of up to $25,000 to conduct PhD research on a development-related topic in a World Bank member country other than the Fellow’s home country or country of residence. 
  • Promising developing nation researchers get to advance their doctoral work with the best international advisors and host institutions in their fields of study.

Host School(s)

  • Any university in a World Bank member country

Field(s) of Study

PhD research on the development-related topics below

  • Finance, competitiveness, and innovation
  • Governance, policy-making, and management
  • Macroeconomics, trade, and investment
  • Poverty reduction and equity/shared prosperity
  • Education
  • Gender
  • Health, nutrition, and population
  • Social protection and jobs
  • Agriculture and food
  • Climate change
  • Environment & natural resources
  • Social, urban, rural & resilience
  • Water
  • Energy & extractives
  • Development in the context of fragility, conflict, and violence
  • Infrastructure

What does the scholarship cover?

  • The RSFMP covers up to $25,000 (U.S.) for developing country nationals to travel abroad to conduct development-related PhD research under the supervision of a host advisor at a university, research or development institution in a World Bank member country.

How many scholarships are given?

  • Not stated

Which countries are targeted?

  • Nationals from World Bank developing countries

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To apply for this scholarship, you must:

  • Be a national of a World Bank member developing country
  • Not hold dual citizenship of a developed country
  • Be 35 years of age or younger on the application deadline date
  • Be already enrolled in a PhD program in a member developing country of the World Bank at the time of application
  • Be permanently resident in a member developing country of the World Bank since enrolled in the PhD program
  • Have completed all coursework and exam requirements for attaining a PhD at the time of application
  • Have a PhD thesis centered on a development-related field
  • Not be a staff member (which includes consultant) or a relative of a staff member of the World Bank Group

How do I Apply – Next Steps

  • The RSMFP application must be completed online by the Application Deadline date and include:
  • A completed application form
  • An agreement to the terms and conditions for an RSMFP fellowship listed on the Application Form’s Signature Page
  • A completed recommendation form submitted online by the host university research advisor
  • A completed recommendation form submitted online by the PhD thesis supervisor.

Note:

  • All required documents must be uploaded online and not by email, post or any other means.
  • Any application form that is not submitted online will not be reviewed.

Selection Process

  • Applications will be reviewed to establish:
  • Quality of the proposed fellowship (70%)
  • Prospects for a productive career in research on development post-PhD (30%) 

Note:

  • The information provided by your PhD thesis supervisor and your host institution research advisor is a crucial element of your application.

Closing Date

  • Applications open on January 16, 2020.

How do I get more information?

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