• UNESCO. Programme de bourses

While fellowships and grants were awarded as part of programme activities during the first year of UNESCO’s existence, the centralized unit for administering the programme and the programme regulations took form in 1947. The purpose of the UNESCO fellowship programme is to give highly qualified specialists in the fields of UNESCO’s competencies opportunities for further intensive studies, research or observation abroad, so that by improving their own knowledge and professional competence they may contribute to the advancement of their home countries. Fellowships are financed as part of the Regular Programme, under the Participation Programme, under the auspices of UNDP or other UN organizations, under Funds-in-Trust agreements or other sponsorship agreements. Areas for study for regular programme fellowships are decided by the General Conference. UN system fellowships are funded with an overall view to promoting technical and social development in the areas where such assistance is most needed. Participation programme fellowships are requested by member states as part of UNESCO assistance to projects undertaken. Sponsored or Funds-in-Trust fellowships support activities consistent with UNESCO purposes and principles.

After the approval of new fellowships in the General Conference or the signing of an agreement, the workflow is generally as follows: 1) member states alerted to new fellowships, traditionally by means of a Circular Letter; 2) up until 1995, applications could be sent by an individual candidate with a formal letter of support from the government concerned; since 1995, all nominations must be transmitted through the National Commission of the member state; 3) selection of candidates by UNESCO; or in the case of co-sponsored fellowships or the Participation Programme, by the co-sponsor or member state in consultation with the Secretariat; 4) notification, acceptance, and approval of study plan by programme sector if not specified in an agreement; 5) agreement with administering agency (if applicable); 6) fellowship under immediate supervision of administering agency, field office, specialized institute or fellowship section with technical supervision by the programme sector, field office or specialized institute; 7) submission of preliminary and final report after fellowship; 8) evaluation of the effectiveness of the fellowship by programme sector, field office or specialized institute, and 9) follow-up and compilation of Directories of UNESCO fellows.

The Fellowship Programme was evaluated a number of times. In 1962, UNESCO prepared an evaluation for the Technical Assistance Board for later submission to the Technical Assistance Committee of ECOSOC. In 1972, an International Committee of Experts looked at UNESCO’s programme and policies on Training Abroad. There were more specific reports on the programme with respect to specific countries or specific fields, such as a 1978 report with particular reference to women. Most recently, in 2001 the programme UNESCO initiated an external evaluation which had the broad finding that fellowships are an effective and positive tool in enhancing national capacity-building in the Organization’s fields of competence.

The centralized administration of the programme has been carried out by the following units over time: Office for the Exchange of Persons/Department of Exchange of Persons, 1947-1950; Fellowship Administration Division/Fellowship Division in the Exchange of Persons Service (EXP), 1951-1960; Division of UNESCO Fellowship Administration in the International Exchange Service (IES), 1961-1965; Office of Training Abroad and Fellowship Administration in the Sector for Communication (COM), 1966; Division of Training Abroad in the Education Sector, 1967-1975; Fellowships Division in the Co-operation for Development and External Relations Sector (CPX), 1975-1985; Division for Training, Development of Human Resources and Fellowships, Bureau of Studies, Action and Coordination for Development (DEV), 1985-1989; Fellowships Management and Information Section in the Bureau for Coordination of Operational Activities (BAO), 1989-1993; Equipment and Fellowships Division in the Bureau for Extrabudgetary Funding (BER), 1994-2000; Fellowships Section in the Sector for External Relations and Cooperation (ERC), 2000-2011; and the Fellowships Programme Section, 2011-2013, followed by the Participation Programme and Fellowships Section, 2013-, in the Sector for External Relations and Public Information (ERI).

• Tumlir, Pineda A. (1978). Evaluation of Unesco fellowships with particular reference to women. Paris, 30 November 1978. CPX/FEL. Accessed online in UNESDOC 02/04/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0003/000331/033162eb.pdf
• UNESCO. (2013). Restructuring of the Sector for External Relations and Public Information (ERI). 26 June 2013. DG/Note/13/9. Available online in UNESDOC, accessed 20-11-2014: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002213/221330e.pdf
• UNESCO. (26 January 2011). Restructuring of the Sector for External Relations and Public Information (ERI). DG/Note/11/1. Accessed online in UNESDOC 26/03/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0019/001907/190742e.pdf
• UNESCO. (27 juillet 2009). Programme de Participation et des bourses. DG/Note/09/37. Accessed online in UNESDOC 26/03/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001833/183384f.pdf
• UNESCO. (22 December 2005). Sector for External Relations and Cooperation (ERC). DG/Note/05/52. Accessed online in UNESDOC 26/03/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001522/152261e.pdf
• UNESCO. (3 July 2000). Restructuring of the Secretariat at Headquarters. DG/Note/00/15. Accessed online in UNESDOC 26/03/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001516/151636E.pdf
• UNESCO. (27 juillet 1985). Restructuration du Secrétariat. DG/Note/85/18. UNESCO Archives, AG 6 Secretariat Documents.
• UNESCO. (3 November 1983). UNESCO Manual: 705 – Fellowships, Item 705. Issue No. 1087. UNESCO Archives, AG 6: Secretariat Documents.
• UNESCO. (31 January 1972). International Committee of Experts on Training Abroad Policies, Paris, 25-29 October 1971: final report. ED.71/CONF.8/5. Accessed online in UNESDOC, 02/04/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0000/000016/001600eb.pdf
• UNESCO. (November 1962). Evaluation of UNESCO fellowship programmes; report of the Technical Assistance Board to the Technical Assistance Committee. WS/1162.186. Accessed online in UNESDOC, 02/04/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001849/184966eb.pdf
• UNESCO. (16 January 1959). Guide to UNESCO fellowships. EXP/46. Accessed online in UNESDOC 28/03/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001278/127857eb.pdf
• UNESCO. Executive Board, 161st Session. (3 April 2001). Evaluation report on the implementation, structure and results of the Fellowships Programme at UNESCO. 161 EX/19. Accessed online in UNESDOC 26/03/2013 : http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001222/122222e.pdf
• UNESCO. Executive Board, 113th Session. (1981). Decisions adopted by the Executive Board at its 113th session, Paris, 15 September-2 October 1981. 27 October 1981. 113 EX/Decision 4.1.14 (d). Accessed online in UNESDOC, 02/04/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0004/000474/047487e.pdf
• UNESCO. General Conference, 28th Session. (1995). Records of the General Conference, 28th session, Paris, 25 October to 16 November 1995, v. 1: Resolutions. 28 C/Resolution 13.6. Accessed online in UNESDOC, 02/04/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001018/101803e.pdf
• UNESCO. General Conference, 1st Session. (1946). Report of the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Commission. In (Records of the) General Conference, first session, held at UNESCO House, Paris from 20 November to 10 December 1946. UNESCO/C/30. Annex VI. P. 261. Accessed online in UNESDOC 28/03/2013: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001145/114580e.pdf