SPARK Fellowship Programme
Nature of Work
The Fellows will choose the thematic areas in accordance with their interest/skill sets and the requirements of the Organization.
Fellows shall undertake a project to work on, through the course of the fellowship period. This shall preferably be an action-research project / assessment /explorative study involving the local community of the Fellow’s location.
Fellows will have access to guidance and mentorship from people working in similar fields and experts, both, within and outside the organization. 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, but 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 AREA: ICT Applications
The following thematic areas are open for the applicants to choose from:
- IT and Digital Services
- Telephony
- Internet of Things
- E-learning
- Spatial technology
- Data Analysis and Business Intelligence
THEMATIC AREA: Agri-Biological Sciences
The following thematic areas are open for the applicants to choose from:
- Biodiversity
- Bio-Informatics
- Genomics Application
- Study of Ethno Veterinary Medicinal plants
- People’s Biodiversity Registers
- Screening and Domestication of wild plants and Animals
The following thematic areas are open for the applicants to choose from:
- Rural design studio
- Rural innovation hub
CATEGORIES:
There will be two categories under the Fellowship Programme:
- Junior Fellowship
- Senior Fellowship
ELIGIBILITY:
Junior Fellowship: Any individual who is an Indian national appearing for last semester/ completed graduation or Post Graduation in relevant discipline, between 22-26 years of age is eligible to apply for the Junior Fellowship. Age limit can be relaxed for deserving candidates having professional experience
Senior Fellowship: Any individual who is an Indian national professionally qualified /is a post graduate, with relevant work experience of at least 2 years between 22-28 years of age is eligible to apply for the Senior Fellowship. Age limit can be relaxed for deserving candidates having professional experience
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Junior Fellowship: The support will include a stipend of INR 15,000/- per month for a period of 12 months.
Senior Fellowship: The support will include a stipend of INR 17,500/- per month for a period of 12 months.
Additional funding can be provided for specific requirements in connection with the project on a case to case basis and at the discretion of the SPARK Technical Committee.
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
The Fellowships are open for Programmes in BAIF-sponsored states i.e. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Applicants’ preference of state shall be duly considered while allotting locations under the Fellowship but final location will be decided by the Management Committee.
This is a 12-month full-time residential Fellowship. Fellows are required to stay at the field location in rural areas for the full duration of the Fellowship. Fellows are admitted in two cohorts each year, starting in January and July of each year.
Please submit following documents in MS Word file:-
- Resume (max. 2 pages).
- Write up on themes of interest. Candidates may also chose to submit write up on only one theme of interest (in maximum 2000 words; themes are ICT Applications, Agri-Biological Sciences, Education and Life skills / Work based learning).
- Write up on “Why should you be selected for BAIF SPARK Fellowship programme” (max 200 words).
Please submit all the above 3 documents by:
- E-mail: fellowship@baif.org.in OR
- WhatsApp Number : + 91 7728081909 OR
- Postal Address: BAIF Bhavan, Dr. Manibhai Desai Nagar, Warje, Pune 411058 (Please mention “SPARK Fellowship Programme 2019-20” on the envelope)
Contact No.: 020 25231661
Selection will be based on relevance to identified theme, merit, usefulness and feasibility. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited for a personal interview. The selected candidates will be informed by E-mail.
TIMELINES TO NOTE:
- May 30 and November 30 – Last date for submission of Application Form
- June 5 and December 5 – Shortlisted candidates will be intimated for personal interview
- June 21-26 and December – Interviews
- July 4-5 and January – Intimation to selected applicants
- July 16 and January – Fellowship Programme will commence
A “Certificate of Completion” will be awarded to the Fellows who successfully complete the Fellowship.
Who are we looking for?
Someone who –
Is highly motivated, outstanding young professional or fresh Graduate /Post Graduate
Is an Indian citizen
Has demonstrated initiative and leadership in the past, to be able to foster change at the grassroots level
Is willing to learn, possess the passion, strength of character and commitment to take up socially- relevant work and are sensitive to the realities of rural India
Is physically and emotionally capable of living in a rural set-up
Why has BAIF launched this programme?
To provide an opportunity for young professionals/ students to explore the possibility of uniting their educational / professional background with socially-relevant work.
To provide the educated young professionals / students a platform to apply their knowledge and skills to issues such as creation of sustainable rural livelihoods, improving quality of rural life, natural resource management and environmental restoration.
To encourage creativity and innovation, foster experiential learning and help young people make a meaningful contribution to society.
Why is it essential to live in rural India?
The challenges of rural development cannot be fully understood unless one spends time with them, empathize with their problems and see the world as they see it.
Which are the Projects I can work on?
Project will be defined on the basis of fellow’s educational background, interest area and ongoing work of BAIF under the identified thematic areas and overall feasibility and relevance.
Where are the project sites located?
The project sites will be located in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Applicant’s preference of state will be duly considered while allotting locations under the Fellowship.