World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program 2017 for PhD Candidates from Developing Countries

Application Deadline: November 2 2016.

The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSMFP) provides support to developing country nationals who are PhD candidates from developing countries and working in academic and research institutions in a developing country who seek 6-10 months of funding to conduct PhD research in a World Bank member country other than their home country or country of residence. RSMFP was established in 1982 with $2.8 million in funding from the World Bank and the governments of Bangladesh, China, India, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, and former Yugoslavia.

Eligibility Requirements:

The eligibility criteria are:

• You are a citizen of a Bank member country eligible to receive World Bank financing.
• You are not a citizen of any country not eligible to receive World Bank financing.
• You are enrolled in a PhD program in a World Bank member country eligible to receive World Bank financing at the time you submit your application.
• While enrolled in a PhD program, you have resided in a World Bank member country eligible to receive World Bank financing.
• You will have completed all coursework and exams required by your PhD program at the time you submit your application. vi. You are 35 years or younger on the Application Deadline date. vii. You are not an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of all types of appointments of the World Bank Group (The World Bank, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and International Center for Settlements of Investment Disputes). Nor are you a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term “close relative” defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew.
•  You have not previously been the recipient of the World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program.
• You are accepted as a visiting scholar for a period of six to ten months by a university or research institution in a World Bank member country other than your country of citizenship and, if applicable, other than a developing country in which you currently reside.
• Your research proposal for RSMFP funding is endorsed by your PhD thesis supervisor and your host institution research advisor.
• You can begin your proposed fellowship between April and September 2017.
• You are able to complete your proposed fellowship research in 6 to 10 months.

Benefits:

• RSMFP provides up to $25,000 (U.S.) for developing country nationals to travel abroad to conduct development-related PhD research under the supervision of a host advisor at a university, research or development institution in a World Bank member country. Scholarship covers a 6 to 10 month period.

Selection Process?

The RSMFP uses the following process to review completed applications, with the aim to identify eligible candidates with the most innovative and relevant research proposals in the area of development.

Two qualified reviewers independently review each eligible application to assess the following:

1) Quality of the proposed fellowship (70%)
2) Prospects for a productive career in research post-PhD (30%)

Information provided by your PhD thesis supervisor and your host institution research advisor are particularly important elements of your application.

The World Bank Robert S. McNamara Secretariat uses the average score of the two reviewers and the following other aspects to select the finalists:
• Maintaining a reasonably wide geographical distribution of awards, that takes into account the geographic distribution of eligible applications;

• Maintaining a reasonable distribution of awards across gender that takes into account the distribution of eligible applications across gender;

• Giving fellowships to those applicants who, other things equal, appear to have limited financial resources;

• Giving preference to applicants currently employed as a lecturer or researcher at an academic or research institution in a member developing country of the World Bank;

• Giving preference to applicants who have not received a JJ/WBGSP scholarship for a master’s degree program.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program 2017