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Steve and Riea Lainoff Crop Trust Fellowship in Honor of Cary Fowler '71

2024-2026

1. Background
The Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust) is an international non-profit organization located in Bonn, Germany whose mission is to ensure the conservation and availability of agricultural biodiversity (‘crop diversity’) for food security worldwide. For further information about the Crop Trust, consult the web page at

�ǿ����޴�ý College, in collaboration with the Global Crop Diversity Trust, offers an annual 12-month Fellowship to a graduating �ǿ����޴�ý student. The Fellowship provides the opportunity for recent graduates to develop an understanding of crop diversity as a key component in current and future global food security. The Fellow will be part of the External Affairs team which is tasked to mobilize resources; political support and awareness for the Crop Trust’s mandate. Below are the Terms of Reference and Qualification Criteria for the position.

To apply, graduating �ǿ����޴�ý students must be nominated by a professor and must submit a letter of interest with a resume (more information on the required application materials is provided under Section 3 below).

For questions about the fellowship, contact Dr. Will Eckenhoff, Chair of the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program.

2. Position description and required qualifications

Terms of Reference

The selected Fellow will have the opportunity to engage in a number of ongoing initiatives that provide a unique window into the working processes of the Crop Trust. The selected Fellow will support the work of Resource Mobilization and Communications in equal measure. Examples
of areas the Fellow will provide support include:

Resource Mobilization

●    Assisting with the preparation of materials for donor meetings, missions, and consultations, including notes, briefs, and other documentation.
●    Supporting the development of funding proposals and concept notes, as well as responding to inquiries from donors and partners.
●    Conducting research on potential partnerships and key stakeholders to aid engagement efforts.
● Providing support for meetings, events, and donor visits, including preparing agendas and coordinating logistics.
 
Communications

●    Drafting content for the Crop Trust’s website, including blogs and stories that highlight the importance of crop diversity.
●    Assisting in the creation of visual materials, such as infographics, to present research and scientific reports.
●    Supporting web content updates and maintaining the Crop Trust’s photo library. 
●    Contributing to social media efforts, including content development and the design of social cards.
●    Supporting the preparation of presentations and communication materials for potential donors and outreach activities.

This role is ideal for individuals with strong writing and research skills, an interest in communications and resource mobilization, and a passion for global issues related to
food security, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and livelihoods.

Qualification Criteria

The qualifications that will be considered in the application process include, but are not limited to, the following. The ideal candidate:

• has just completed an undergraduate degree at �ǿ����޴�ý College, Coursework in business administration, international relations, environmental sciences or studies, finance and economics is desirable;
• has excellent research, writing and analytical skills;
• has foreign language skills beyond English (desirable but not essential);
• demonstrates resourcefulness and creativity in problem-solving;
• demonstrates the willingness and ability to readily respond to changing circumstances and expectations;
• can establish and maintain effective working relations with people from diverse backgrounds;
• has advanced computer skills: sound, hands-on, knowledge of standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, etc.); and
• has a demonstrated interest in issues relating to biodiversity conservation and food security.

Terms and Conditions

The Fellowship will be for a period of twelve months, with a start date of 1 August 2025 and the position will be located in Bonn, Germany. The total funding including salary, a stipend for health insurance, and the travel and moving allowance is $50,000 for the year. The Crop Trust will assist with obtaining the required residence certificate, providing housing information and will assist the Fellow to settle into their new environment. The Fellow is required to enroll in the German health care coverage required by the Crop Trust for temporary staff. The Crop Trust will provide the necessary registration information. Please see the attached Fellowship Logistics for more general information.

3. Application Process

The application process is conducted in four stages. Instructions for each stage are detailed below:

Stage 1

1. A two-page Letter of Interest – this letter should address the following:

• Your motivation for applying
• Summary of your qualifications and experience with an indication of how you meet the terms of reference and competencies for the position;
• Description of previous work experience and coursework that is relevant to this Fellowship;
• How this Fellowship relates to your future career goal 
   

2. Your resume (including current residence address, telephone and email address)

3. Nomination from a �ǿ����޴�ý professor.

In the nomination letter, the professor should assess the following items:

1. How long and in what capacity the professor has known the student
2. The student’s standout qualities
3. Ways the student has demonstrated leadership while at �ǿ����޴�ý College
4. The student’s communication and interpersonal skills
5. Utilize this ranking scale: (Outstanding: upper 5%; Excellent: upper 10%; Above Average: upper 25%; Average: upper 50%; Below Average: Lower 50%; No Basis for Judgment) of the characteristics:

• Academic excellence
• Ability to perform the tasks noted in the job description (pages 1-2)
• Reliability
• Judgment
• Resourcefulness
• Maturity

The above documents must be submitted to Dr. Will Eckenhoff by 5 p.m. on January 31, 2025.

Dr. Will Eckenhoff at eckenoffw@rhodes.edu

Stage 2

The second stage consists of a medium-listing process that is undertaken by a faculty committee of the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program. The documentation provided in Stage 1 is reviewed by the Committee with the aim of identifying those candidates who most closely meet the qualification criteria described above and who will be put forth to the Crop Trust for consideration.

Stage 3

The third stage consists of a further short-listing process by the Crop Trust. The candidates identified through this final short-listing process will then be interviewed (Stage 4).

Stage 4

The fourth and final stage consists of a virtual interview that will be arranged in advance with each applicant. The purpose of the interview is to help the Crop Trust better understand the applicants’ motivations, expectations, and goals vis-à-vis participation in the Fellowship. The interview will also assess the applicants’ communication skills and interpersonal skills.

Acceptance

Successful applicants will be required to sign a contract with the Crop Trust that will act as the working contract between the Fellow and the Crop Trust for the duration of the Fellowship. This contract will be sent to the selected candidate who must countersign and return the contract in order for the assignment to be complete. Once completed, the Crop Trust will begin working with the candidate to ensure that all arrangements are in place for obtaining a temporary residence permit for Germany. Please also see the Handbook for more detailed information about the logistical arrangements for this Fellowship.

For feedback about the Fellowship experience with the Crop Trust and information on living in Bonn, contact:

Brooke Taylor
External Affairs Fellow 
The Global Crop Diversity Trust 
brooke.taylor@croptrust.org

Maya Searle 
Resource Mobilization Associate
The Global Crop Diversity Trust 
maya.searle@croptrust.org

Bailey Cate 
Resource Mobilization Senior Associate 
The Global Crop Diversity Trust 
bailey.cate@croptrust.org