The Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon, T.D., has announced a scholarship programme to assist future leaders from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to study in Ireland.
The programme is one of a number of commitments set out in the Government’s Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States, launched by An Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, T.D., in June 2019. Scholarships will be available to candidates from the Pacific and Caribbean regions and from African Small Island Developing States. Successful candidates will be supported in undertaking Masters-level studies in Ireland for the academic year 2020/2021 in courses relevant to addressing climate change, the blue economy and associated challenges.
Launching the call for applicants today, Minister Cannon said:
The establishment of these fellowships realises our commitment in our Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States to enable professional women and men from SIDS to benefit from postgraduate study in Ireland. This Programme is intended to support them on their return home in strengthening their countries’ capacity to address the challenges posed by climate change, and enhance the protection of the blue economy and marine life. I am sure that the friendships they develop in Ireland will endure, contributing to the strong, positive relationships between Ireland and SIDS.
The Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States was a key commitment of Ireland's International Development Policy, A Better World, and was launched by An Tánaiste at the Our Ocean Wealth Summit in Cork in June 2019. The SIDS Strategy reflects the breadth of areas where Ireland and SIDS already collaborate, and where we have shared interests in global outcomes, including on climate action and ocean protection.
The call is open today for applications for the 2020/2021 Fellowship Programme for SIDS, and the closing date for applications is 31 January 2020. Those interested in learning more can visit https://www.irishaidfellowships.ie/strands/ireland-sids-fellows-programme for full information and application documents.
The programme is fully funded by the Irish Government and is offered under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Programme implementation in Ireland is supported by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).
Note to Editors:
Applicants should be a national of one of the eligible countries and resident in one of the eligible countries (they can be a national of one country and resident in another, in the same region). Scholarships are available to the following eligible independent SIDS:
Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname.
Africa: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Mauritius, Sao Tomé and Principe.
The award covers course fees, flights, accommodation and living costs. Eligible Masters level courses in Ireland commence in August or September each year and, depending on the course, will run for between 10 and 16 months. The Programme promotes equal opportunity and welcomes diversity.