A. Program Description

The Scientific Exchange Program (SEP) leverages the latest developments in cross-cutting agricultural priorities, research, and technologies to educate a new generation of agricultural scientist to promote trade, trade policy, trade capacity building, and food security. The collaborative nature of the SEP leadership training and research programs improves agricultural productivity, systems, and processes in partnering emerging market economies through the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies. USDA may also use the program as a market development tool to assist in opening markets and decreasing or eliminating trade barriers in low to middle income countries, which ultimately increases and creates new trade opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports.

SEP focuses on a cohort of fellows who spend up to 12 weeks at the U.S. academic institution (host institution) and work directly with U.S. scientists in their fields. SEP fellow(s) hold a minimum of a Master’s-level degree, in the early or middle stage of their career, and represent a university, government agency, or research entity in their home country. Mentors coordinate the training program in the United States. Upon the Fellow's return home, the mentor travels to the Fellows country to follow-up. SEP is administered by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Programs, Fellowship Programs.

Objectives for Track 1

For fiscal year 2023, USDA is seeking applications that focus on research related to increase access to high quality animal feed and innovative techniques leading to improved efficiency of fertilizers among African smallholder farmers. The animal feed sector in Africa remains underdeveloped. High quality, available animal feed plays a vital role in improving animal health and welfare, which directly impacts the production of safe products of animal origin and overall food security.

Additionally, in a rapidly changing agricultural environment, farmers need to make strategic decisions about their animal feed and improve upon fertilizer production methods to jump start the next generation of fertilizers. Considering this, USDA/FAS is seeking applications that

illustrate how the adoption of improved animal feeding coupled with innovative and efficient fertilizer, nutrient management, and cropping practices will assist in reducing food insecurity.

USDA/FAS is seeking applications that focus on training and empowering fellows from low to middle income economies in Africa (as defined by The World Bank). USDA/FAS envisions multiple fellows on each award to participate as a cohesive geographical cohort who will spend up to 12 weeks at the U.S. academic institution (host institution), rather than at individual times, and applicants should prepare their approach accordingly. The cohort may comprise of fellows with a policy governance, and research and technical expertise background. Additionally, the award will provide a platform for fellows of the same cohort to share ideas and foster collaboration to lead to better regional and intraregional coordination on animal feed and fertilizer innovation.

USDA/FAS is seeking applications that also advances diversity, leadership and science communication objectives to empower fellows to advocate for sound policy to peers, decision-makers, and the public. The focus, topic, size and nature of each exchange project will be identified by USDA/FAS, in consultation with the staff at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas, and the award recipient during the course of the award period. Under the Scientific Exchanges Program, USDA/FAS staff are responsible for identifying countries and topics eligible for exchange project. This includes arranging for fellows to obtain a J-1 visa, related entries in SEVIS, and monitoring impacts of policy to the program implementations.

The SEP Program may also include collaboration with and input from relevant stakeholders, such as U.S. regulatory agencies, the Office of the United States Trade Representative and relevant U.S. Embassies. Ideally, fellows and host institutions will share the knowledge gained through these endeavors in their classroom and extension work with their faculty, students, extension officers, constituents, policy makers, and other stakeholders in the international agricultural marketplace; and that they will continue to maintain professional contacts with the Fellows after their departure from the United States.