<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has approved 99 scholarships to train young Spaniards in development cooperation at its Cooperation Offices and in Spain's network of diplomatic missions abroad during the 2025-2026 period, for a total of €2,467,410.</strong></h4> According to the call for applications, signed on November 14 by the director of AECID, Antón Leis, and published this Tuesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), the objective of these scholarships, whose application period opens on November 19 and closes on December 2, is to offer young Spaniards opportunities to gain training experience abroad in areas such as cultural management and development cooperation. On the one hand, 43 scholarships will be awarded (three more than last year) for the COOPERATION Program, a training program for young Spaniards in development cooperation management at the Spanish Cooperation Offices (OCE) and the specialized Spanish Cooperation Offices-Training Centers (CF) of the AECID in 29 countries: Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Philippines, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Jordan, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Senegal, Tunisia, and Uruguay. The purpose of this scholarship program is to provide theoretical and practical training in development cooperation management, humanitarian action, and specialization in the field of knowledge for development within the framework of the Spanish Cooperation's Knowledge Transfer, Exchange, and Management Plan for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (INTERCOONECTA). Additionally, 56 scholarships will be awarded (two more than in the previous year) for the CULT Program, a training program for young Spaniards in cultural management and scientific diplomacy within Spain's network of diplomatic missions abroad and in the Spanish Cooperation Offices - Cultural Centers (CC) of the AECID. The purpose of this scholarship program is to provide theoretical and practical training in international cultural management and scientific diplomacy, offered by the AECID's Directorate of Cultural and Scientific Relations. Participants will become familiar with the promotion of Spanish culture, cultural cooperation (bilateral and multilateral), and culture for development, as well as with the procedures for planning, programming, implementing, and evaluating cultural activities. They will also have the opportunity to learn about the development of international scientific relations, the promotion of Spanish science abroad, support for the internationalization of the Spanish Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) system, and the organization of public diplomacy activities in the field of science. “With 78 editions already under its belt, this program is part of the initiatives of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), to promote culture, art, science, and education as a means of projecting Spain internationally,” the Agency highlighted in a press release.
