[URBANTH-L] FUNDING: The Inter-American Foundation Grassroots Development Fellowship

[Angela Jancius]

The Inter-American Foundation's Grassroots Development Fellowship Program

The Institute of International Education (IIE) has partnered with the 
Inter-American Foundation (IAF) to administer its Grassroots Development 
Fellowship Program. The 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 effort, the IAF has reinstated its fellowship support for 
dissertation work by candidates for Ph.D. degrees from United States 
universities. IAF's fellowships are intended to increase awareness of 
grassroots development efforts while building a community of professionals 
and scholars knowledgeable in the subject. Fellows examine the efforts of 
the rural and urban poor to improve their lives, their methods of 
organization and production and the policies and programs designed to 
alleviate their poverty. The IAF disseminates research findings of its 
fellows to a broad audience concerned with development.

IAF's fellowships provide support for Ph.D. candidates to conduct 
dissertation research in Latin America and the Caribbean on topics related 
to grassroots development. The Inter-American Foundation expects to award up 
to 11 Doctoral Field Research Fellowships in 2007. The Fellowship award 
includes: round-trip international transportation to the field research 
site; a $3,000 research allowance, paid in a one-time, lump sum; a $1,500 
monthly stipend covering a maximum grant period of 12 months; attendance at 
a required "mid-year" Grassroots Development Conference to discuss each 
Fellow's progress with members of the IAF's academic review committee.

The applicant must be a Ph.D. student, currently enrolled in a U.S. 
university and must have completed all course requirements and qualifying or 
comprehensive examinations for the doctoral degree before initiating 
IAF-funded field research.

The Web page provides (http://www.iie.org/Website/WPreview.cfm?WID=187) 
essential information on all aspects of the IAF Fellowship Program. Any 
inquiries should be addressed to IAF's partner for administration of this 
fellowship, The Institute of International Education: iaffellowships at iie.org