Scientific Exchanges Program

The Scientific Exchange Program promotes trade, trade policy, trade capacity building, and food security. The program aims to educate a new generation of agricultural scientists in emerging market countries, increase scientific knowledge and collaborative research, and extend knowledge to users and intermediaries in the international agricultural marketplace. The intention is to improve the scientific capacity in targeted emerging market countries in specific fields, such as fertilizer use, women in agriculture, or other topics in the agricultural sciences.

Fellows must hold a minimum of a Master’s-level degree, be in the early or middle stage of their career, and represent a university, government agency or research entity in a low or middle-income country.

USDA/FAS will convene a review panel to review eligible applications against the evaluation criteria described in the NOFO. Reviewers will ensure that the applicant is capable of delivering the programs/activities as described in the announcement based on the applicant’s project narrative and assign a score and provide summary comments based on the evaluation criteria identified below. The review panel will make a recommendation list to the selecting official, who is not a member of the panel.

The selecting official may select applications out of rank order in consideration of strategic program priorities, such as geographical distribution, incorporation of minority-serving institutions, or congressional directive. Selection determinations are final and cannot be appealed.

Prior to selection, the agency may contact the highest-ranking applicants to seek clarification and to negotiate technical and programmatic aspects of the application. If an application includes a subaward, FAS may request to speak with all parties included in the application to ensure sufficient planning and coordination has taken place prior to making an award.