Research and Innovation Fellowships Annual Report (FY 2017)

The program received funding from the Global Food Initiative and has been working to establish partnerships with non-governmental organizations in Brazil. In November 2016, David Miller participated in a Capitol Hill panel titled "From Research to Action: UC's Global Food Initiative," which led to the development of a collaborative relationship with Catholic Relief Services (CRS). As a result, one student's work was sponsored in Ethiopia and Kenya during the summer of 2017. In January 2017, the program held outreach events at different campuses to broaden its recruitment field, resulting in 31 total applicants in the first round. The program selected 32 fellows for the 2017 cohort, with 18 from UC Davis, 6 from UC Santa Cruz, 2 from UC Riverside, and 1 from UC Santa Barbara. The remaining students were from other US universities participating in the Brazil Biodiversity program. In April 2017, the program held its annual conference with Berkeley fellows at UC Davis, featuring a keynote speech by Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost of Global Affairs. The program also collaborated with the USAID-funded Integrating Gender and Nutrition within Agricultural Extension Services (INGENAES) program to create a special project opportunity in Liberia, built from the work of a 2016 fellow. The application deadline for this project was June 1st, and a PhD student from the University of Idaho was ultimately selected. Throughout the year, the program worked with various partners, including CRS, International Executive Service Corps, and the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD). The program also received funding from the Global Food Initiative and was awarded a grant to support 20 fellows between March 2018 and March 2019. The program's communications coordinator, Kate Wilkins, established partnerships with research organizations in Brazil and launched the RIFA project catalog, showcasing 21 fellowship opportunities around the world. The program also expanded its social media and communication outreach to increase its visibility at UC campuses. In quarter two, the program focused on outreach to potential student applicants, holding several outreach events and using email and social media to reach a wider audience. The program also held its first annual short course for outbound students between April 7th and 11th, with 12 course participants from UC Davis, UC Riverside, and UC Santa Cruz. The program's engagement with partners and other actors has been a key aspect of its activities throughout the reporting period. The program has worked with CRS to design a framework for collaboration, and has also collaborated with International Executive Service Corps on a USDA Food for Progress proposal. The program has also partnered with CIAT to apply for a grant from the National Science Foundation, although this funding was later canceled. The program has also received financial support from Jim and Rita Seiber, who have pledged to support one RIFA fellow each year for the next 10 years. The program has also hosted an information booth at the annual InterAction NGO Forum in June, which provided an opportunity for subsequent conversations regarding long-term partnerships with the NGO membership of InterAction. Throughout the year, the program has collaborated with USAID on various initiatives, including the Integrating Gender and Nutrition within Agricultural Extension Services (INGENAES) program. The program has also worked with other partners, including the Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD) and the International Executive Service Corps. The program's activities and collaborations have been focused on establishing partnerships with non-governmental organizations in Brazil, expanding its social media and communication outreach, and engaging with partners and other actors to advance its mission. The program has made significant progress in these areas, and is well-positioned to continue its work in the coming year.