BAIF SPARK Fellowship Programme : Pune Development Research Foundation

Organization : BAIF Development Research Foundation
Fellowship Name : SPARK Fellowship Programme
Location : Pune

Website : https://baif.org.in/

SPARK Fellowship Programme:
The SPARK Fellowship Programme launched by BAIF Development Research Foundation is a unique opportunity for young professionals to explore the possibility of uniting their educational / professional background with socially-relevant work.

Fellows will be supported financially for 12 months by way of stipend, during which they shall apply their knowledge and skills to issues related to rural development .The Fellowship is designed to encourage creativity and innovation, foster experiential learning and help young people make a meaningful contribution to society.

It is essentially a one year residential program, where Fellows are expected to stay at field locations from BAIF’s operational area in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat

Nature of Work:
The Fellows will choose the thematic areas in accordance with their interest/skill sets and the requirements of the Organisation.

Fellows shall undertake a project to work on through the course of the fellowship period. This shall preferably be a participatory action-research project / assessment /explorative study /documentation etc .

Fellows will have access to guidance and mentorship from people working in similar fields and experts, both, within and outside the organisation. Fellows are expected to work to the best of their abilities to complete the project undertaken, but not look at their project as an end in itself, but rather as an initiation into a new and multifaceted field.

In consultation with the Mentor/ Assignment Guide, the Fellow will need to define the assignment, outcome that the Fellow seeks to achieve at the end of the placement period and work towards achieving it.

Expected output will be in the form of a full-fledged report capturing the work accomplished under the chosen theme.

Thematic Areas :
Indicative Broad Thematic Areas For Consideration Of Fellowship Support :
** Environmentally sound development ,including biodiversity conservation
** Use of Appropriate technologies for rural development
** Use of geo informatics ( GIS ) for rural development
** Tribal development
** Integrated watershed development
** Farming system development and innovations
** Agribusiness related innovations
** Tribal tourism
** Use of media and communication for development
** Rural health , nutrition and drinking water
** School based interventions for life skill education
** Women and development

Categories :
There will be two categories under the Fellowship Programme
** Junior Fellowship
** Senior Fellowship

Eligibility :
Junior Fellowship:
Any individual who
** is an Indian national
** is a Graduate in any discipline
** is between 20-26 years of age
** is eligible to apply for the Junior Fellowship.

Senior Fellowship:
Any individual who
** is an Indian national
** is professionally qualified /is a post graduate, with working experience of at least 2 years
** is between 22-30 years of age
** is eligible to apply for the Senior Fellowship.

Financial Support:
Junior Fellowship :
The support will include a stipend of Rs. 7,500/- per month for a period of 12 months. The Fellow’s accommodation and project-related travel expenses will be taken care of by BAIF.

Senior Fellowship :
The support will include a stipend of Rs. 10,000/- per month for a period of 12 months. The Fellow’s accommodation and project-related travel expenses will be taken care of by BAIF.

Additional funding could be provided for specific requirements in connection with the project on a case to case basis and at the discretion of SPARK technical committee.

Other Programme Support:
The Fellowship will be supplemented by :
** Contact sessions – Quarterly contact sessions to give inputs to help build perspective and technical facilitations
** Skill building trainings – Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Report writing, Writing Case Studies etc will be imparted during the Fellowship by our training division for the overall development of the Fellow
** Interactive sessions – Will encourage Fellows to share their experiences
** Cross learning activities
** A quarterly contact session will be planned at BAIF’s Campuses to fulfill this.
** A “Certificate of Completion” will be awarded to the Fellows who successfully complete the Fellowship.
** An alumina association has been formed to give post fellowship information support and inputs to fellows

Location :
The Fellowships are open for programmes in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Applicants’ preference of state shall be duly considered while allotting locations under the Fellowship.

Duration :
This is a 12 months full-time residential Fellowship. Fellows are required to stay at field location in rural areas for the full duration of the Fellowship, at a mutually agreeable location.

Applying For The Fellowship:
Applications only in the prescribed format will be accepted.

Download the form, fill it, e-mail it to fellowships@baif.org.in or send a hard copy of the duly filled form with applicant’s signature by post at the following address –

Address :
SPARK-Convenor, BAIF Development Research Foundation
BAIF Bhavan, Dr. Manibhai Desai Nagar
National Highway No.4
Warje, Pune – 411058.