Sierra Leone became the newest member of the Irish Aid Training Fellowship Programme (FTP) when the Embassy of Ireland/Irish Aid launched the scheme for Sierra Leonean students in October 2013.

The fellowship programme was extended to Sierra Leone as a result of the country being named earlier in the year as one of Irish Aid’s nine Key Partner Countries. Membership of the scheme, which aims to contribute to capacity building within developing countries, reflects this commitment made by Ireland to deeper and longer-term engagement with Sierra Leone.

As in other member countries, the FTP in Sierra Leone is aligned to Irish Aid’s development strategy for the country. This focuses on three main areas: nutrition and food security; gender, particularly gender based violence; and governance.

Eligible partners for this year’s Fellowship Training Programme include the Ministry of Health; Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs; Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Forestry; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment; Human Rights Commission in Sierra Leone; United Nations Development Programme; United Nations Children’s Fund; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Helen Keller International; Action Contre La Faim; International Rescue Committee; World Food Programme; Save the Children and Welthungerhilfe.

At the launch event which took place at the Embassy premises, Irish Aid’s Administrative Officer, Davida Macauley encouraged the staff of eligible partners and Ministries to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to access higher education.