This three year programme (2007-2010), funded by Royal Dutch Shell:

• Built research capacity and skills of field researchers in three of the world’s poorer countries
• Encouraged research relevant to the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of “ensuring environmental sustainability”
• Strengthened partnerships with selected local NGOs, universities and others, to help deliver in-country training and support
• Mentored, supported and funded research by 21 early-career field scientists in Ecuador, Indonesia and Uganda

The International Leadership and Capacity Building programme (ILCB) enabled the Society's expertise in supporting field research, previously focused on UK participants, to be made available internationally to researchers from, and working in, the selected countries.

Bursaries of up to £2,000 each were awarded to support applicants that demonstrated how their field research experience will assist their professional development and contribute to the seventh Millennium Development goal relating to "ensuring environmental sustainability", for example in the areas of:

• Sustainable development
• Reversing the loss of environmental resources and biodiversity
• Access to safe water 

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world's time-bound and quantified targets for ensuring that the human rights of every person on the planet are met. There are eight goals consisting of 21 targets and are measured by a variety of indicators.

 Further information on the Millennium Development Goals

This programme has now ended, but requests for information on the International Leadership and Capacity Building programme can be sent to: Mrs Shane Winser, ILCB programme manager go@rgs.org.