Funding-Hosting: USDA Borlaug Fellows - North Africa; June 18, 2010

Dear Colleagues:

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is seeking to identify U.S. universities willing to host one or more agricultural scientists from North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria) under the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program. The program should take place in September-December 2010, and last for a period of 8 to 12 weeks, unless otherwise stated.

The seven Fellows from Morocco (2), Tunisia (3), and Algeria (2) will focus their research and training on water management and irrigation policies and technologies to mitigate the impact of climate change and water availability to support improved agricultural production and natural resource management.  Within water management technologies, Fellows will focus on GIS technologies and systems, analysis of soil and crop water retention rates, and farm level water management systems.

Submit proposal and estimated budget to: Karen.Uetrecht@fas.usda.gov and copy Natasha.Acheampong@fas.usda.gov and Tacarra.Birmingham@fas.usda.gov.  FAS would like to receive all expressions of interest by Friday, June 18, 2010, so that universities can be selected and notified by the end of June, 2010.