ANNOUNCEMENTS

With three of the most pristine large rivers and some of the most extensive intact forest in the Mekong region, Myanmar is Asia’s last frontier for conservation. Its natural environments remain mostly unspoiled. They support some of the region’s poorest people, and possibly the last population of wildlife elephants in Southeast Asia. WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN) is offering the best and brightest future conservation leaders the opportunity to pursue graduate-level study anywhere in the world with the goal of advancing conservation in Myanmar. EFN supports up to two years of study for a maximum of USD 30,000 per year.

The Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation (BHSI) Fellowship at Chicago Ideas Week (CIW) recognizes social entrepreneurs, 35 years or younger, whose nonprofit and for-profit ventures tackle significant social challenges through innovative business models. Now in its sixth year, the BHSI Fellowship is committed to empowering entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds by providing them a platform for growth. Fellows gain exposure to nationally-recognized business and civic leaders, establish a community of support with past Fellows, are awarded $10,000 in financial support toward their work and participate in CIW, a weeklong ideas festival featuring world-class speakers and thinkers, October 17–23, 2016.

The International Leadership Programme (ILP) is an innovative leadership development opportunity which aims to develop leadership skills, inspire thinking about global issues and equip young people to become involved in their local communities. The programme begins with the International Summit, which brings together 80 international young leaders aged 25-35 to participate in a two week residential training conference, featuring world-renowned leadership trainers and speakers.

To launch the Matasa Fellows Network, 10 fellowships will be awarded in 2016 through a competitive process. Fellows will attend two review workshops, and each fellow will produce a high quality synthesis paper and related policy brief. The synthesis papers will be published in a special issue of the IDS Bulletin. By focusing the work of Matasa Fellows on youth unemployment, this initiative will address one of the greatest development challenges in Africa today. While this issue has moved to the top of the development agenda in recent years, the research and evidence base to support policy and programs around youth employment remains both fragmented and weak.