Commonwealth Professional Fellowships for Mid Career Professionals

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships for Mid Career Professionals

Applications are now open for Commonwealth Professional Fellowships to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector, and to have catalytic effects on their workplaces.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Professional Fellowships provide talented and motivated professionals with the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector.

Thematic Areas

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are offered under one of the CSC’s six themes:

Science and technology for development

The fellowship, which may be in any area of science or technology (including, for example, agriculture, veterinary science, or forestry), will develop knowledge and/or skills that are directly related to the specific needs of a low or middle income country. Where possible, applications should cite expressed national or local priorities.

Strengthening health systems and capacity

The fellowship will develop knowledge and/or skills that will improve health provision or outcomes for disadvantaged groups in low and middle income countries.

A range of approaches could be adopted, such as training staff to fill critical shortage areas; establishing better systems, processes, or management; health promotion and improving understanding of non-take up; or developing new treatments.

Promoting global prosperity

The fellowship will support economic prosperity in low and middle income countries.

The knowledge and/or skills gained could lead to, for example, enhanced trade capacity; improved economic understanding or decision-making by business or government; new products and services; or long-term capacity building, through the development of entrepreneurial skills, for instance.

Strengthening global peace, security and governance

The fellowship will develop knowledge and/or skills that will strengthen peace and security at national, regional, or international levels.

Multiple approaches could be used, such as strengthening open and transparent governance; improving mutual understanding within and between societies; or building systems that reduce the potential for conflict or encourage its resolution.

Strengthening resilience and response to crises

The fellowship will develop knowledge and/or skills which will help low and middle countries adapt to changing contexts, withstand sudden shocks, or increase capacity to preserve the continuity of operations following such events.

This could apply to a broad range of threats, including natural and physical disasters; long-term threats such as climate change; interruptions to the supply of key resources; or sudden economic or technological disruption.

Access, inclusion and opportunity

The fellowship will develop knowledge and/or skills that will promote opportunity among historically disadvantaged groups in low and middle income countries.

This could be through, for example, expanding educational opportunities; conducting community outreach; enhancing access to decision making; or increasing understanding of the barriers faced.

A range of disadvantage can be addressed – including social, economic, gender, ethnic, regional, or political – provided that the need is clearly stated.

Eligibility Criteria

Organisations from any sector can apply to host two or more Commonwealth Professional Fellows within their own organisation.