UNU Training and Fellowships Program
Project / Program Summary

I. Basic data

Sector: Capacity Building
Programme Title: UNU Training and Fellowships Programme
Land organization: The United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo, Japan
Partner Research and Training Institutions in Africa
Partner Research and Training Institutions in OECD Countries
Other donors / organizations involved:
Benefiting regions: Sub-Saharan Africa
Implementing agencies in beneficiary countries / regions:
Duration: 8 years
Starting Date: October 1994
Project / Program budget: US$1,000,000 (for 1998-99)
Type of cooperation: Grant / technical cooperation

II. Project / program description

  1. Objectives
    • Strengthening capacity of institutions into regional "centres of excellence" for research and training in important development issues
    • Promoting regional and international co-operation and networking in these issues
  2. Activities / contents
    Strengthen capacity of five selected research and training institutions through: supplementing regular teaching with guest lecturers: procuring equipment needed; providing fellowships to attend training; and support for curriculum development. Also, providing support for Africa-wide workshops every two years.
    Promote networking: (i) regionally - by linking the "centres" to other research and training institutions in Africa; and, (ii) globally - by linking the "centres" to relevant institutions in developed countries. Current centres of excellence being supported are: (i) University of Nairobi, Kenya for research and training in Food and Nutrition (international link to Cornell University, USA); and (ii) University of Yaounde, Cameroon for research and training in Computer Science (international link to INRIA, France) Support for three more centres in Africa is under development.
  3. Expected outcomes / impacts
    • Five "regional centres of excellence" for research & training on key African development issues
    • Stronger regional (and international) collaboration and networking on key issues
  4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
    • Capacity building and African ownership
    • Regional cooperation (and wide geographical impact)

III. Contact point:

Dr Abraham Besrat, Vice Rector, The United Nations University
53-70 Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan
Tel:(81)3 3499 2811: Fax:(+81)3 3499 2828, Email: besrat@hq.unu.edu

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