16th Meeting of Senior Fellowships Officers of the ... - Development

Operational Issues 31
by extra-budgetary resources were UNESCO/L’ORÉAL Fellowships for Young Women
in Life Sciences (15 fellowships per academic year for 2-year duration); UNESCO/
Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme (20 fellowships per academic year);
UNESCO/Suzanne Mubarak/Egypt/Japan Friendship Research Fellowships for the
Empowerment of Women Researchers in Peace and Gender Studies and UNESCO/
Israel post-Doctorate Fellowships in Engineering (might commence in 2007). A third
category of UNESCO Fellowships were those administered directly by Programme
Sectors, Institutes and Regional Offices such as UNESCO/Ashberg Bursaries for Artists;
UNESCO/MIRCEN (Microbial Resources Centers Network); UNESCO/BAC
(Biotechnology Action Council); UNESCO Institutes; MAB (Man and the Biosphere)
and the IIEP Annual Training Programme Fellowships in extra -budgetary projects
funded by UNDP, the World Bank, etc.
107. Mr. Zaid concluded his presentation by providing statistical data on the fellows that
have been with UNESCO from 1 January to 31 October 2006. During the evaluated
period 32% of the fellows came from Africa, 13% from Arab States, 21% from Asia
and the Pacific, 17.5% from Europe and 16.5% from Latin America & the Caribbean.
Of the 168 fellows, 89 (53%) were females and 79 (47%) males. With respect to the
fields of study, 53% were in Natural Sciences, 22% in Social and Human Sciences,
12% in the Communication and Information Sector, 9% in the field of Culture and
4% in Education.
108. This comprehensive presentation was followed by discussions. Ms. Gladbach from
WHO/PAHO expressed her interest in knowing more on the UNESCO-Cuba Fellowships.
Mr. Zaid explained that the Programme with Cuba was a cost-sharing arrangement.
Cuba had approached UNESCO for a Fellowships Programme for Sub-Saharan
Africa that offered Master’s and Doctoral degrees. UNESCO would pay, as it was
the common practice in its cost-sharing agreements, for the travel from Africa to Cuba
whereas the Cuban Government would cover all costs related to studies, accommodation
and insurance. Fourteen fellows from Africa obtained fellowship awards through
this programme.
109. Another issue raised by the representative of WHO/PAHO was the experience of
UNESCO in fund raising through the extra-budgetary fellowships programmes. Mr.
Zaid took the example of the company L’Oréal which funded 15 young female fellows
to study for two years in advanced countries. A similar agreement existed with Japan.
The regular budgetary funds of UNESCO covered 20% to 25% of the UNESCO fellowship
budget whereas 75% to 80% of the fellowships were covered by extra-budgetary
funds coming from member countries, NGOs and the private sector.
110. Several representatives were interested in knowing more about the conditions and modalities
of the UNESCO agreements with the private sector. Ms. Patrizia Slessor from
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) inquired on how the integrity of the
UNESCO fellowships programme was preserved when the private sector was involved
and whether companies like L’Oréal posed a danger of brain drain to the UNESCO fel-