The Natural Products Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa (NAPRECA) is pleased to announce FIVE competitive travel fellowships to PhD students in natural products research.

The fellowship is earmarked to help students to access equipment and technologies that can help them complete their PhD project activities. This contributes to fulfilling one of NAPRECA’s objective or vision to foster networking and collaboration, and to allow scientific creativity to flourish. 

1. Before the submission of applications, applicants must ensure that the eligibility criteria are met and that all arrangements with the home and host institutions have been confirmed.

2. Eligibility and selection criteria

 Candidates wishing to be considered for a Fellowship must ensure that they meet all of the following criteria, namely that they:

(a) are a junior or middle-level researcher in the area of Chemistry or Biology of natural products; (b) are a national of a member country of NAPRECA and involved in the activities of local chapter as evidenced by support letter from the chairperson of the node;

1. possess a master’s degree;
2. are currently pursuing their PhD degree in the area of Chemistry/Biology of Natural Products and in the advanced stage;
3. work in a research institution, publicly funded laboratory, or recognised university laboratory in their home country or in another State Party (f) have been employed in their home institution for a minimum period of one year at the time of the application.

3. Other factors that will be considered in the evaluation of applications include: 

1. the availability of additional budgetary resources;
2. the need for an equitable gender and geographical distribution of supported Candidates in the twelve NAPRECA member countries. NAPRECA supports the closing of the gap of gender parity and therefore 50% of the awardees will be female where possible.

4. It is the responsibility of applicants to make all the necessary arrangements with their home institutions in respect of their employment contracts, to ensure that the home institutions agree with their participation in the Fellowship and to ensure that their positions are reserved during their absence.

5. Applicants must also obtain a signed letter of acceptance from the host institution confirming that it:

1. Possesses the necessary facilities/infrastructure and research background to host the proposed project;
2. is willing to make these available to the Fellow for the purposes of the Fellowship in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Note; and
3. Agrees to accept the Fellow at its own cost, except for the costs covered by any other source of funding indicated by the applicant.

6. Application procedures

Applications shall be received by the Secretariat from 1^st June 2022 to 15^th July 2022 and will be reviewed within two weeks; decisions on such applications will be made within four weeks.  Submit your applications by email to: jnamukobe@gmail.com, thannington@yahoo.com.

7. Selection procedure

A final selection of the Fellows to receive support from NAPRECA will be made by the Executive Secretary, upon the recommendation of a review committee. When making its recommendations, the review committee will evaluate the candidates against the eligibility and selection criteria described above. Committee will meet by virtual means. 

The decision of the secretariat of the NAPRECA shall be final. The results will be announced in on the NAPRECA website and all applicants will receive a decision on their application successful or not. 

8. Funding

Subject to any specific decision taken by the Secretariat on a case-by-case basis, the Secretariat shall provide financial support to a maximum of 30,000 SEK (SWEDISH KRONER) ; which shall be used to cover the following:

1. Travel grant for the Fellow shall cover a round-trip airfare (economy) which will be paid directly by the secretariat and other travel related expenses
2. an allowance for the duration of the Fellowship, to cover boarding, lodging, local transportation and miscellaneous expenditures (at student rates), to be determined by the Secretariat taking into account the recommendations of the host institution.

No additional funding will be provided to the Fellow. If some additional funding by any other organization(s) has been sought for the purpose of the same research visit, the allowance provided by the Secretariat will be reduced accordingly as deemed appropriate.

3.  Budget Estimate (1page)

Please provide a budget estimate, including the total amount (or a range) you expect to request, as well as a list of categories and an approximate breakdown. 

Budget categories may include, but are not limited to: monthly fellowship allowance, air ticket, insurance, inland travel, visa fees, covid-19 tests, and any other travel related expenses.

9. Fellows shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary visas, including any transit visas that may be necessary for their travel to the location of the host institution.

10. The fellowship granted under the terms of this Note is essentially for training/educational purposes, and is intended to cover the cost of lodging/accommodation, board, transport, and other basic expenditures. It is not a salary or honorarium. It is also not intended to cover any expenses incurred for the family members or dependents of the Fellows. The Secretariat will not provide any support for the visa applications of the Fellows’ family members. No costs, other than those specified in this Note, shall be charged against the funds provided by the Secretariat.

11. Payment For Fellowship

Grants will be paid in one instalment

12. Reporting

The Fellow shall submit to the Secretariat for evaluation two progress reports, one in the middle of the fellowship and another at the end of the fellowship. The report shall summarise the results achieved with reference to the research and training objectives. The reports shall be endorsed by the Fellowship supervisor, who may include his/her comments immediately after the expiry of the three months period of the fellowship. For avoidance of doubt, not more than thirty days after the last date of the fellowship. The report and all publications must acknowledge NAPRECA and International Science Programme of Uppsala University, Sweden for the support rendered.