In response to Chinese Premier WEN Jiabao’s announcement made at the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Sharm El-Sheikh on November 8, 2009, the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST) launched the China-Africa Science and Technology Partnership Program (CASTEP) to further enhance cooperation and exchanges in science and technology (S&T) between China and Africa. CASTEP aims at developing a new type of S&T partnership between China and African countries, sharing China’s experiences and achievements in science and technology development and facilitating African countries in building up their S&T capacity.

As one of the major actions under the CASTEP framework, the Postdoctoral Program for African Researchers is aimed at enhancing cooperation and exchanges in science and technology between China and African countries by means of encouraging and supporting competent African researchers to conduct postdoctoral research in China. It is expected that the linkage between high-level researchers will further strengthen the scientific and technological cooperation as well as the traditional relations and friendship between China and African countries.

I. Administrative agency
The Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China role as the sponsor and organizer of the Program respectively, while China Postdoctoral Science Foundation is the implementing agency of the Program.

II. Cooperative nations
African member countries of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)

III. Implementation plan
35 African scientific researchers will be funded each year from 2010 to 2012 for one-year postdoctoral research in China.

IV. Postdoctoral research stations
Postdoctoral research stations in Mainland China established under the approval of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China. Specific information on those postdoctoral research stations can be found at www.chinapostdoctor.org.cn.

V. Research mode
The African researchers of this Program will conduct postdoctoral research as members of research teams under supervision of Chinese professors in postdoctoral research stations in China.

VI. The applicant shall meet the following requirements
i. Recommended by African Embassies in China.
ii. Granted with doctor’s degree and having research experience.
iii. 40 years of age and under.
iv. In research field of natural science.
v. Fluency in English or Chinese. (Certificate in languages is required.)
vi. Good health.

VII. Funding
The Program will provide for each researcher with a fellowship worth of 140,000 RMB, including international travel expenses, accommodation, medical insurance, and research subsidy.

VIII. Application procedures
i. Application period for the Program in 2010 starts from November 26, 2010 to December 31 2010. Application period for the Program in 2011 and 2012 will start from January 1 to March 30 of the year.
ii. The applicant shall submit two copies, including at least one original copy, of complete application documents as required. Application documents  nclude Application Form and Recommendation Form. Application form submitted must include at least one original. The forms of application documents can be downloaded at www. chinapostdoctor.org.cn. Please check the updated version in case of any revision of the forms of the application documents.
iii. The applications which are overdue, incomplete or with false information will not be accepted.
iv. All the applications will be reviewed by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China. Qualified applicants of the application year 2010 will be dentified before March 31, 2010. Qualified applicants of the application year 2011 and 2012 will be identified before October 31 of the year. Qualified applicants will then be notified by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.
v. Qualified applicants are expected to start postdoctoral research work in China within five months after the notification.

IX. Contacts
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
Ms. Chen Ying
Tel: 86-10-62335025
Fax: 86-10-62335012
Email: boguanhui@126.com
Add: No.30 Xueyuan Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China
Post Code: 100083

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