ITTO offers fellowships through the Freezailah Fellowship Fund to promote human resource development and to strengthen professional expertise in member countries in tropical forestry and related disciplines. The goal is to promote the sustainable management of tropical forests, the efficient use and processing of tropical timber, and better economic information about the international trade in tropical timber.

As of December 2006, the Programme, which began in 1989, has enabled more than 900 young and mid-career people from over 40 countries working for government, research institutions, civil society and the private sector to pursue their professional development and improve their career prospects. The total value of fellowships awarded to date amounts to about US$5.2 million; the Programme supports mainly short-term activities, such as participation in international conferences, training courses and study tours, but also helps people to prepare manuals and monographs and provides small grants for post-graduate study. Click on Resources to read articles written by ITTO fellows on their fellowship activities.

The maximum amount for a fellowship grant is US$10,000. Only nationals of ITTO member countries are eligible to apply, and fellowships are awarded mainly to nationals of developing member countries. Click here for further information including eligibility, appraisal and selection criteria.

• Changes in 2009 ITTO Fellowship Programme application procedure