I.  Program Description

Alcoa Foundation has launched a unique $8.6 million signature program that is international in its focus to advance the knowledge and support for exemplary work in the field of conservation and sustainability through fellowships to outstanding academics and practitioners from non-governmental organizations (NGO).  By bringing together the academic, NGO and business communities, Alcoa Foundation’s program will be a new model of effective private philanthropic action to address urgent problems of global concern. 

Sustainability is defined to include the three pillars of sustainability – economic, environmental and social.  

Over six years, the program will support the research activities of approximately 30 academics and 60 practitioners from around the world.  Five Academic Partners will form Sustainability Cabinets to support the work of the Academic Fellows, and three Sustainability Institutes will support the work of the Practitioner Fellows.  Convenings and networking opportunities will build connections among participants and key stakeholders.  A panel of experts is serving as advisors to this program.

The program will be evaluated in relation to four measures of success that also serve as the basis for a more detailed evaluation for the program:

·         The Fellows become recognized as innovators and world-class leaders in the field of conservation and sustainability, creating a global interdisciplinary network and advancing the field through their research. 

·         The Fellows’ work leads to the adoption of specific practices, policies, or improvements by host institutions, organizations, communities, or others in the field of conservation and sustainability. 

·         Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation are recognized for a prestigious program that promotes innovation, interdisciplinary work, and root cause solutions in conservation and sustainability. 

·         The Signature Program informs and guides Alcoa Foundation’s grantmaking and engagement strategies. 

II.  Program Components

A.  Advisors and Administrative Partner

Internal Advisors:  Alcoa Foundation is working with a group of 10 Internal Advisors, made up of a select diverse group of leaders from across the company whose work and interest are in the areas of conservation and sustainability, the global reporting initiative, and businesses that represent Alcoa’s growth plans.

Their role is to advise Alcoa Foundation about Alcoa’s global and regional priorities, provide vision, guidance, and advice on the program design and management, and provide linkages to Alcoa for the Fellows.  These Internal Advisors have provided input on each of the program components described below. 

External Advisors:  Alcoa Foundation is advised by a panel of three External Advisors, international leaders who are recognized as experts in the field of conservation and sustainability.  Their role is to share the current thinking about issues and trends in conservation and sustainability, assist in the final selection of the Academic Partners, work with the Internal Advisors in the shaping of opportunities for Alcoa, participate in the selection of the Fellows and interact with them in planned convenings and networks, and to share with Alcoa Foundation promising evaluation approaches for the Signature Program. 

Institute of International Education (IIE):  The Institute of International Education is serving as the Administrative Partner, providing the day-to-day operational support, expertise, and worldwide experience necessary to implement the Signature Program.  Its role includes:  being the repository and day-to-day operational manager of grant funds; assisting with the recruitment, selection, monitoring, and administration of the Fellows; monitoring the program implementation, timeline, evaluation, etc.; working with Alcoa on the communication plan design, implementing planned meetings, convenings, and network opportunities; and drawing upon their expertise to enrich the design and implementation of the program. 

B.  Academic Partners and Sustainability Cabinets

Five leading higher education institutions have been chosen to participate in the Signature Program.  In addition to supporting the work of the Fellows, the Signature Program will offer support over the life of the program to the institutions through annual grants for Sustainability Cabinets. 

The Academic Partners are:

• Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia
• London School of Economics and Political Science, Centre for Environmental Policy and Governance, London, UK
• Tsinghua University, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing, China
• University of Michigan, Center for Sustainable Systems and the Erb Environmental Management Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
• University of São Paulo, Center for Environmental Research and Training (CEPEMA - USP), São Paulo, Brazil

The role for the Academic Partners includes:

·                   Establish a Sustainability Cabinet and carry out its functions as described below;

·                   Recruit and select post-doctoral Academic Fellows who will be based at the institution in consultation with Alcoa Foundation;

·                   Advise, mentor and oversee the work of the Academic Fellows, and encourage their inter-disciplinary research;

·                   Participate in planned convenings and networking opportunities, and share information and expertise with Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation; and

·                   Allow Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation the rights to record, publish, and disseminate any products, research papers, and any other publications that were conducted or completed as a result of the Signature Program. 

Sustainability Cabinet Description

Each institution will propose its own membership and design for the Sustainability Cabinet.  This group should be comprised of scholars from at least two separate disciplines or schools within the institution who evidence enthusiasm for inter-disciplinary work and inquiry, and who are willing to support Alcoa Foundation Sustainability Fellows in their work.  Three members or more are envisioned for this body, including one member who will serve as the Coordinator.  Cabinet members can hail from many disciplines, including engineering, forestry and ecology, leadership, medicine, public policy, business, economics, applied science, etc.

The role of the Sustainability Cabinet will include choosing Alcoa Foundation Fellows; supporting the Fellows’ inter-disciplinary work; and serving as mentors to them.  They will also champion the Fellows’ work at the institution and beyond in their professional circles.  They will facilitate the scholars’ inter-disciplinary work, and will advise the Fellows about publication possibilities, conferences to attend, etc.  They will encourage the Fellows to link to Alcoa leaders as part of the Fellowship opportunity.  Cabinet members will be able to participate in the Fellowship network, in connections to Alcoa, and in all Fellowship Convenings. 

The goal of this cabinet will be to anchor and mentor the Fellows through experiences with leading scholars who embrace inter-disciplinary thought in their own work.  In addition, the Cabinet will encourage others to follow suit in the institution and in their academic work, and to promote opportunities for curriculum development and other institutional change based on the Cabinet’s experience with inter-disciplinary collaboration and research activities. 

The Cabinet should foster multi-disciplinary approaches in the field of sustainability, where it is well suited to bridge the complex intersections of conservation, sustainability, and technology. 

C.  Academic Fellows

Academic Fellowships are designed to provide an academic opportunity to conduct focused inter-disciplinary research around an approved topic in conservation and sustainability.  Each Academic Fellow will receive support for a maximum of two years of intensive research at, preferably, the post-doctoral level.  Overall, three groups of 10 Fellows will be selected in 2005, 2006 and 2007; and each of the five Academic Partners will select two Fellows in each of those years for a total of six Academic Fellows per Academic Partner. 

In consultation with Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation, the Institutions will recruit and select the Fellows to participate in the Signature Program.  Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation will work with the institution’s Sustainability Cabinets on the possible areas for the research projects. 

The Fellows will be diverse and participate with a commitment to carrying out the defined research and other requirements under the Signature Program.  They will be expected to conduct agreed-upon inter-disciplinary research, work with the Sustainability Cabinet, attend all convenings and network meetings, and present/publish their work. 

D.  Sustainability Institutes

Three leading institutions around the globe have been selected as Sustainability Institutes to support the Practitioner Fellows.  The Sustainability Institutes are designed to provide a non-degree opportunity for qualified middle-level individuals to conduct intensive approved applied research projects in conservation and sustainability, under the mentoring of an expert scientist in the field of study.  In addition to supporting the work of the Fellows, the Signature Program will offer support over the life of the program to the institutions through grants for Sustainability Institutes.

The Sustainability Institutes are:

• International Union for Conservation of Nature -The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Switzerland
• Monterrey Institute of Technology, Mexico
• World Wildlife Fund, United States

The role for the Sustainability Institutes includes:

·                  Convene an orientation seminar for Practitioner Fellows;

·                  Assist with the review and selection of the prospective fellows;

·                  Assign mentors who will provide technical expertise and will help to guide the fellows on their projects;

·                  Participate in planned convenings and networking opportunities, and share information and expertise with Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation;

·                  Maintain a connection with the Sustainability Cabinets for alignment with the work that is being conducted by the Academic Fellows; and

·                  Allow Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation the rights to record, publish and disseminate any products, research papers, and any other publications that were conducted or completed as a result of the Signature Program. 

E.  Practitioner Fellows

Practitioner Fellowships are designed to provide a non-degree opportunity for qualified middle level individuals from NGOs with a chance to conduct intensive approved applied research projects for up to six months in conservation and sustainability, under the tutorage and mentoring of an expert in that field of study.

A total of 60 six-month fellowships will be awarded in 2005-2009, or 12 per year for five years.  Each Fellow will receive a six-month grant of $12,500.  Qualified individuals will submit an application and will be selected against a set of established criteria. 

F.  Worldwide Convenings and Alumni Networks

While supporting the work of selected Fellows and Practitioners, the program will also convene participants to share knowledge, experience, and outcomes with each other, other participating institutions, Alcoans, and other key stakeholders.  Academic Partners, Sustainability Institutes, and all current Fellows are expected to participate in two Worldwide Convenings, the first in November 2006 and the second in Fall 2008.