water resource management | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans

Minnesota River Board Undergraduate Scholarship 2011-2012, USA: Water Resources Management

The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage enrollment in educational studies related to career fields in Water Resource Management.

1. he applicant should have declared a major such as Environmental Science, Biology, Agriculture, Engineering, Public Administration, or Political Science and have the intention of pursuing work in Water Resources.
2. The applicant must be enrolled in a two- or four- year accredited college or university located within the
Minnesota River Basin.
3. The applicant must be an undergraduate student with a current standing as Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior.
4. A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 22 April 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application

California Science,Technology and Policy Fellowships, USA

Managed by the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), the fellowships offer unique professional development opportunities while providing California policy makers with sound and unbiased scientific and technical advice regarding issues before the State Senate and Assembly.
The program, adapted for California from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Science and Technology Fellowship program, is the first in the nation to place PhD-level scientists and engineers in a state legislature.
Recruited nationally, successful applicants will assist legislators in formulating and evaluating science and technology policy for California. Areas of consultation could include legislation related to pressing issues and challenges, such as healthcare, bioethics, energy and water resource management.
Selected fellows will be required to relocate to the Sacramento area, attend a mandatory training period beginning on November 1, 2011, and to make a one-year commitment to fully participate in the Fellowship through October 31, 2012. The training boot camp will cover the Legislative process, the effective translation of science for policy makers, and tips for success in the Legislative environment. CCST was established in 1988 in response to a unanimous vote of the California State Legislature to provide the Senate and Assembly with expert and unbiased scientific advice.
Funding for the Fellowships is provided by: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; Stephen Bechtel Fund/S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation; Kingfisher Foundation; The Heising-Simons Foundation; TOSA Foundation, and the Gen-Probe Fund.

Fellowship Application Deadline: 31 March 2011

Further Fellowship Information and Application

PhD Position: Knowledge and Capacity Development in the Water Sector, Netherlands

The Department of Hydroinformatics and Knowledge Management (HIKM) has a Core that is engaged in the study and application of Knowledge and Capacity Development (KCD). Current research concerns the modes of knowledge sharing in water resources, the capacity in government and the civil service system, and the access to the global knowledge pool through formal and informal learning processes and networks.

The vacancy is part of a new initiative to study how the effectiveness of KCD can be increased, and to help mainstream research outcomes in policy on international development. This effort is financed by the Netherlands government. For the Department we are looking for a Junior Researcher, Knowledge and Capacity Development in the Water Sector (m/f).

Responsibilities
As part of the KCD team, the (full time) researcher will conduct an academically rigorous study over about 4 years on the relationship between the capacity of the water sector and the sector’s performance in service delivery and water resource management, in about 6 countries, in a transversal analysis. The methodology will be based on the experiences and tools developed by the team and by other research groups. The approach in the study will include the selection of representative case studies, of which the development and performance will be the KCD activities and programs, the collection of quantitative data and information as well as narratives, and the comparative analysis of the KCD development dynamics in relation to KCD initiatives and programs. The study will establish a method to analyze the modes in which KCD affects the capacity and performance of the main organizations of the sub-sector, and how it helps to achieve benchmarks that are to be determined by the study.

The outputs of the study include (i) a set of peer-reviewed publications that are to be of adequate quality to allow the researcher to obtain his/her Doctor degree under Dutch law, and (ii) elaborate guidelines, and building blocks for KCD action plans and policy inputs that are relevant for international development. The researcher will, beside his/her research, prepare policy documents and reports to disseminate the results and recommendations, and will participate in relevant workshops and forums. In addition, he/she will prepare and give classes at post-graduate level for international course participants, and over time take leadership in the development of new educational programs. He/she will be staff member of the Core on KCD and work under the supervision of the Professor/Chair of KCD.

Requirements and Competencies
The candidate will:
* Have an education at MSc level or equivalent in water or water resources sciences or engineering, or in relevant social or economic sciences. Combination of degrees would create a special advantage. He/she should qualify for acceptance into a PhD programme under Dutch academic regulations.
* Have professional experience of at least three years in a related field in a utility, in a consultancy, government agency, or similar organization, and/or in a research environment. Experience with developing countries will be considered especially valuable.
* Be proficient in English, also for writing scientific papers, and, preferable, policy reports.
* Be able to work in a team and contribute to the teamwork.
* Bring a constructive attitude, and enthusiasm for the goal of knowledge management and international development.

Preference exists for candidates from developing countries.
Conditions of employment
This position is for four years, however, after about half a year a satisfactory detailed work proposal needs to be submitted, after which the appointment will be confirmed. The position is based in Delft, The Netherlands. The PhD research fellowship includes a monthly allowance of about €1190, air travel, health insurance, ancillary expenses and tuition. Candidates must be prepared to carry out long- and short-term missions abroad.

Information and application
Additional information can be obtained from Mr. Jan Luijendijk, Head of Department (T: +31(0)15- 21 51 810 / E: j.luijendijk@unesco-ihe.org).

Applications with curriculum vitae can be sent until August 31, 2010 to UNESCO-IHE, attn. Mr. Jan Luijendijk, Head of Department stating the vacancy description.