Editorial
17 Dec 2010
This newsletter is again rich in content and the articles provide brief insights in the work we engage in.
We start with an article on two media professionals being trained at Radio Netherlands Training Centre (RNTC). It shows the added value of scholarships provided under the NFP. RNTC and the two interviewees are right to be proud of their work!
Notes from the field
NICHE has really started and several projects are underway. We asked two requesting organizations in South Africa to talk about the inception phase of their respective projects in the food security and water sector.
Integrated Capacity Development
In a more reflective article we look at Integrated Capacity Development, one of the cross-cutting themes in NICHE.
Moving towards Accra and Paris
One of the objectives of the NICHE programme is to take concrete steps towards donor coordination and harmonization. Nuffic and its sister organizations have taken the first steps towards this challenging task.
SOL goes live
We are happy that Scholarships Online 2.0 went live in time, allowing for digital, online applications and management of NFP scholarships. We consider this a major step forward to reducing paperwork in the whole process.
Commitment freeze and budget cuts
Finally, late October Nuffic was informed about a commitment freeze for both NICHE and NFP. You may have already read our separate communication on the website.
I had hoped to be able to inform you in this issue of the newsletter about the end of the ‘commitment freeze’ and the actual level of the - unfortunately - unavoidable budget cuts which will be imposed on NICHE and NFP. As soon as more information becomes available, it will be published on www.nuffic.nl/niche so please check our website regularly.
Despite all uncertainties I do wish you a healthy and prosperous 2011 and we look forward to a good cooperation.
Joep Houterman
Director Capacity Building & Scholarships
