The mission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is to contribute to world peace and the elimination of poverty through education, culture, the sciences and communication, according to its website. As part of UNESCO's goal to fulfill this mission, funds are available to assist with the cost of foreign travel.
Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship
Proposals for the Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship are to be submitted by American college and university students demonstrating work that the applicant plans to conduct in a foreign country. The work must follow UNESCO's mandate of using education, culture, communication and the sciences to help build ties between countries. Working within a four- to six-week time frame, the fellowship recipient must be willing to attend diplomacy events and, at the end of his travel, write a report that describes the experience and analyzes the achievement of objectives.
UNESCO-L'oreal Co-Sponsored Fellowships for Young Women in Life Sciences
The UNESCO-L'oreal Co-sponsored Fellowships for Young Women in Life Sciences is granted to 15 women doing research at the doctoral or post-doctoral level whose proposals receive acceptance from a reputable institution outside of their country. The fellowships are valued at up to $40,000 for use over a period of two years (in January 2011). Three fellowships are awarded to women from these regions: Africa, the Arab States, Europe and North America, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
American Fellowship Program
Additional UNESCO-L'oreal fellowships are offered by L'oreal-USA in the American Fellowship Program. The one-year fellowships are offered to women in a post-doctoral program who do research in any of the following fields: life science, technology, physical and materials science, engineering and mathematics. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents.
UNESCO Individual Fellowships
UNESCO Individual Fellowships are available through the UNESCO Equipment and Fellowships Division located at 7, Place de Fontenoy 57352 Paris 07 SP, France. Meant to finance opportunities for higher education and research relating to the improvement of a country's social and economic development, the fellowships can be used for travel and tuition, in addition to the recipients' receipt of a monthly allowance.
UNESCO Study Grants
UNESCO study grants are available through the UNESCO Equipment and Fellowships Division at 7, Place de Fontenoy 57352 Paris 07 SP, France. They cover the cost of economy travel plus a daily allowance to allow a recipient to study cultural activities, natural and social sciences and communication within a foreign country. The recipient is expected to provide a report upon her return.