Featured Grant (a.k.a., Grant of the Week)

The West African Research Association (WARA) is looking for candidates for the summer fellowship opportunity at the West African Research Center (WARC) Library in Dakar, Senegal. Application is open to Library and Information Studies (LIS) and non-LIS students.

"WARA is accepting applications for WARC Library Fellow for the summer of 2009.

"This program is designed to encourage the upcoming generation of Africanist scholars and librarians and to assist in capacity building at the library of the West African Research Center (WARC) in Dakar, Senegal. The WARC Library Fellow will work with the WARC librarian on collection development and management, electronic cataloguing and use of electronic research databases and should have well-developed skills in these areas. Preference will be given to those who are fluent in or have a working knowledge of French.

"This internship will provide round trip travel to Dakar and a stipend of $2500 to cover the cost of living for 6 to 8 weeks. This competition is open to US citizens who are enrolled in a graduate program with Africa content and who have a particular interest in libraries.
Applicants should submit a statement of not more than six double-spaced pages describing their career plan and how this internship would contribute to their professional development. This should indicate particular areas of interest and expertise as well as describing personal and professional goals for the internship.

"A complete application must include the following:

• A WARA grant application cover sheet (downloadable from website)
• A statement (6 double-spaced pages maximum, described above)
• Three (3) letters of reference from professors
• Resumé
• Both undergraduate and graduate transcripts (copies of official ones are acceptable)
  

"An excellent source of suggestions for preparing your application can be found on the SSRC website at http://fellowships.ssrc.org/art_of_writing_proposals/

"Complete applications will consist of one original and three copies of all materials (4 sets total) except letters of reference. Letters should be included in the application packet in envelopes sealed and signed by the referee. Letters of reference sent separately will not be considered.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY February 15, 2009.

"Upon completion of their internships, grantees are required to submit a detailed report of their work and findings. This report will subsequently be published in the biannual WARA newsletter. Please direct inquiries and submit applications to:

"WARA
African Studies Center, Boston University, 270 Bay State Road Boston MA 02215
Tel: 617-353-8902 Fax: 617-353-4975 Email: wara@bu.edu"