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inclusion: Accommodating spouses/partners
:
Tips and Tools
Fellowships
1 Centers generally award research fellowships to spouses/partners:
- to participate in a Center research program/project;
- to undertake an approved topic of research relevant to the Center’s objectives; or
- to undertake other projects of value to the Center.
2 Fellowships typically are up to one year’s duration. A fellowship usually provides a modest stipend based on local market conditions. Fellowships are seen primarily as providing an opportunity to carry out an interesting piece of work, rather than to provide significant income. In some cases, this means working in collaboration with experts, possibly undergoing some technical training; in other cases it means working alone.
3 A wide range of individuals normally is eligible for fellowships. They must possess, at least, a relevant academic background and have an interest in the specific area in which they will be working. They must also be assessed as having the potential to make a contribution to either the relevant Center program/project, or to some other important aspect of the Center’s operations. Consequently spouse/partner fellowships should not, in principle, be restricted to any particular category of spouse/partner (i.e. expatriate, distant or local).
4 It follows that there is enormous flexibility available to Centers in creating fellowships. Indeed, Centers can exercise considerable creativity in leveraging the talent that spouses/partners have to offer. Some fellowships may be offered to spouses/partners on a competitive basis, with clear criteria for eligibility. Others may be offered in response to an individual initiative from a spouse/partner.
5 As examples of possibilities for fellowships, Centers could consider:
- research fellowships, where a post does not exist but a spouse/partner has relevant skills that could be harnessed, to the advantage of both Center and spouse/partner;
- a “competition” fellowship to meet a specific Center need (e.g. best fundraising idea);
- individual fellowships to support work on a Center need identified by a spouse/partner;
- fellowships for training/professional development;
fellowships providing funding to attend a conference (with an appropriate report/seminar afterwards).
The options are almost limitless. The costs to the Center typically would be very modest in relation to the benefits to the Center, with the very important additional benefit to the spouse/partner of sustaining an intellectual contribution.
© CGIAR Gender & Diversity
Program 2006