Terms & Privacy Policy

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using the Unisfere website (https://unisfere.com) and any services offered through it, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, our Privacy Policy, and our Cookie Policy. If you do not accept these terms in full, you must refrain from using the website.

These terms apply to all visitors, users, donors, fellowship applicants, fellows, mentors, volunteers, and any other person who accesses or uses the website or our programs.

2. About Unisfere

Stichting Unisfere is a non-profit foundation incorporated under Dutch law on 22 September 2025. Our mission is to promote sustainable development in developing countries — particularly Afghanistan — through youth empowerment, academic research, education, and knowledge-sharing. Unisfere does not pursue commercial objectives and does not distribute profits.

3. Intellectual Property

All content on the Unisfere website — including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, photographs, audio clips, videos, research publications, and software — is the property of Stichting Unisfere or is used with permission, and is protected by Dutch and international copyright, trademark, and intellectual property law.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, translate, adapt, publicly display, or create derivative works from any content on this website without the prior written consent of Stichting Unisfere. You may share links to our content provided you do so fairly, legally, and in a way that does not misrepresent Unisfere or imply endorsement.

Fellow research: Fellows in the Unisfere Research Fellowship retain ownership of their individual research outputs. By submitting research through the Unisfere program, fellows grant Stichting Unisfere a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to publish, distribute, and promote their work through Unisfere channels. Full terms are set out in Part E.

4. User Conduct

You agree to use the website lawfully and respectfully. The following activities are prohibited:

• Attempting to gain unauthorised access to our servers, systems, or data
• Uploading, transmitting, or distributing malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
• Interfering with or disrupting the functionality or security of the website
• Harvesting or collecting personal data about other users without consent
• Using the website to send unsolicited commercial communications (spam)
• Impersonating Unisfere, its staff, or any other person or organisation
• Engaging in any form of harassment, discrimination, or hate speech
• Using the website for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable law

Stichting Unisfere reserves the right to block or restrict access to any user who violates these terms, without prior notice.

5. Donations

Donations made through the Unisfere website or via our bank details are subject to the Donation Terms set out in Part D. By making a donation, you confirm that you have read and accept those terms.

6. Fellowship and Program Applications

Use of the website to apply for the Unisfere Research Fellowship or any other Unisfere program is subject to the Fellowship Program Terms set out in Part E. By submitting an application, you confirm that you have read and accept those terms.

7. External Links

The Unisfere website may contain links to third-party websites. These links are provided for convenience and information only. Stichting Unisfere has no control over the content, privacy practices, or availability of third-party websites and accepts no responsibility or liability for them. A link does not imply endorsement.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

The website and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. Stichting Unisfere makes no representations or warranties of any kind — express or implied — regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability, or availability of the website or its content.

We do not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components. You use the website at your own risk.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Dutch law, Stichting Unisfere shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from your use of, or inability to use, the website or our services — including but not limited to loss of data, loss of income, or any other loss or damage.

This limitation applies regardless of whether the loss or damage arises from negligence, breach of contract, or any other cause, and even if Stichting Unisfere has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for fraud, wilful misconduct, or any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under Dutch law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Stichting Unisfere, its board members, volunteers, and partners from and against any claims, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the website, your violation of these Terms and Conditions, or your violation of any rights of any third party.

11. Force Majeure

Stichting Unisfere shall not be held responsible for delays or failures in performance resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, internet outages, civil unrest, government action, or other events of force majeure.

12. Changes to Terms

Stichting Unisfere reserves the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Changes will be published on this page with an updated “Last updated” date. Your continued use of the website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed from the remaining terms, which shall continue in full force and effect.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands. Any disputes arising from or in connection with these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent court in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, unless mandatory consumer protection law in your country of residence provides otherwise.

Stichting Unisfere is committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR / AVG) and applicable Dutch law. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and what rights you have.

1. Who We Are (Data Controller)

Stichting Unisfere does not have a designated Data Protection Officer (DPO), as this is not required for organisations of our size and nature under Article 37 GDPR. For all privacy-related matters, please contact us at info@unisfere.com.

2. Definitions

3. What Personal Data We Collect

3.1 Website visitors

• IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, referral source
• Cookie data (see Cookie Policy, Part C)

3.2 Newsletter and email subscribers

• Name and email address

3.3 Donors

• Name, email address, country of residence
• Payment information (processed by our payment provider — Stichting Unisfere does not store full payment card details)
• Amount and date of donation

3.4 Fellowship applicants

• Full name, date of birth, gender
• Email address and contact details
• Country, city, and province of residence
• Educational background and academic institution
• Proposed research topic and motivation letter
• Any supporting documents submitted as part of the application

3.5 Fellows (enrolled participants)

• All data collected at application stage
• Research proposals, drafts, and final reports
• Mentor meeting records and progress notes
• Feedback and evaluation responses
• Any photographs or video provided with consent for publication

3.6 Mentors and volunteers

• Name, email address, country of residence
• Professional background and institutional affiliation
• Communications during the course of the program

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Where we rely on your consent, you have the right to withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

5. How We Use Your Personal Data

• To operate and maintain the website
• To respond to your enquiries and communications
• To send newsletters and program updates (only with your consent)
• To administer the Research Fellowship — including selection, mentorship coordination, and evaluation
• To publish fellow research and impact stories (only with explicit consent)
• To process donations and issue acknowledgements
• To comply with our legal and financial obligations
• To improve our programs based on feedback and analytics

We will never sell your personal data to third parties. We will never use your data for commercial advertising purposes.

6. Who We Share Your Data With

6.1 Service providers — We may share data with trusted third-party service providers who process data on our behalf, including email and newsletter platforms, website hosting and analytics providers, and payment processing providers. All service providers are contractually required to handle your data securely and only for the purposes we specify. Where required, Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) are in place.

6.2 Partners — Where you are a fellow or program participant, we may share relevant data with our partner organisations (such as MSSADO or the Rumi Organisation for Research) for the purpose of program coordination. You will be informed of this at the point of application.

6.3 Legal requirements — We may disclose personal data where required by Dutch law, a court order, or a competent government authority.

We will not transfer your personal data to recipients outside the European Economic Area (EEA) without ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

7. Data Retention

After the applicable retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@unisfere.com. We will respond within one month. We may ask you to verify your identity before processing your request.

9. Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you believe your personal data has been processed in violation of GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Dutch data protection supervisory authority:

We encourage you to contact us first at info@unisfere.com so we can attempt to resolve your concern directly.

10. Data Security

Stichting Unisfere implements appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction. These include access controls, secure data storage, and regular review of our security practices.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is entirely secure. While we take reasonable steps to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our website and programs are not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16 without verifiable parental consent. If you believe a child under 16 has submitted personal data to us, please contact us at info@unisfere.com and we will delete it promptly.

12. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be published on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Material changes will be communicated to you where possible. Your continued use of the website after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the website to recognise your device and store certain information about your preferences or actions.

2. Cookies We Use

2.1 Strictly necessary cookies — These cookies are essential for the website to function. They cannot be switched off and do not store any personally identifiable information. They include session cookies that maintain your browsing session and security cookies that protect against cross-site request forgery.

2.2 Analytics and performance cookies — These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting information anonymously. We use this data to improve the website, including traffic analysis and page performance monitoring. We only deploy analytics cookies with your consent.

2.3 Functional cookies — These cookies allow the website to remember your preferences, such as language settings. They are only set with your consent.

2.4 Marketing and social media cookies — We do not currently use marketing cookies. If we do so in the future, we will update this policy and request your consent before placing any such cookies.

3. Your Cookie Choices

When you first visit our website, you will be shown a cookie consent banner. You can accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or manage your preferences individually. You can also manage or delete cookies at any time through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

For more information about cookies and how to manage them, visit www.aboutcookies.org.

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some pages on our website may embed content from third-party platforms (e.g., YouTube videos, social media feeds). These platforms may set their own cookies subject to their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review those policies separately.

1. General

Donations to Stichting Unisfere support our programs and operations. By making a donation, you confirm that:

• You are authorised to use the payment method provided
• The funds are your own and are not the proceeds of criminal activity
• You accept these Donation Terms

2. Use of Donations

All donations are used to fund Unisfere’s programs and operational costs, in accordance with our mission. Stichting Unisfere does not distribute profits or surplus to its board members or founders.

Where a donation is made for a specific purpose (e.g., “sponsor a fellow’s internet costs”), we will endeavour to apply the funds accordingly. If this is not possible, we will contact you or apply the donation to our general program fund.

3. Non-Refundability

Donations are generally non-refundable. If you believe a donation was made in error, please contact us at info@unisfere.com within 14 days and we will consider your request on a case-by-case basis.

4. Tax Deductibility

Stichting Unisfere is pursuing ANBI status (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling). Once ANBI status is granted, donations from Dutch taxpayers will be tax-deductible in accordance with Dutch tax law. This section will be updated when ANBI status is confirmed.

For donors outside the Netherlands, tax deductibility depends on your country’s tax law. We recommend consulting your tax adviser.

5. Receipts and Acknowledgement

We will issue a donation acknowledgement by email upon receipt of your contribution. This acknowledgement will include the amount, date, and our KvK registration number.

6. Bank Details

Donations may be made by bank transfer to:

Please include your name and “donation” in the payment reference so we can identify and acknowledge your contribution.

1. Application

Applications to the Unisfere Research Fellowship are open to Afghan youth and young professionals under the age of 35. Selection is merit-based through an open competitive process. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

By submitting an application, you confirm that all information provided is accurate and complete. Submission of false or misleading information will result in disqualification or removal from the program.

2. Program Participation

Accepted fellows agree to:

• Participate actively and punctually in all scheduled workshops, mentorship sessions, and program activities
• Conduct their research honestly, ethically, and in accordance with Unisfere’s Academic Integrity Standards
• Treat mentors, fellow participants, and Unisfere staff with respect and professionalism
• Maintain confidentiality regarding the personal data of other participants
• Comply with all program deadlines and deliverable requirements
• Not plagiarise or misrepresent the work of others

3. Intellectual Property and Publication

Fellows retain ownership of their individual research projects. By participating in the program, fellows grant Stichting Unisfere a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to:

• Publish their research in the Unisfere journal or on the Unisfere website
• Promote their research and findings through Unisfere communications channels
• Include their name and research title in reports and impact documentation

Where a fellow wishes to publish their research in a third-party journal, this is encouraged. Fellows must acknowledge Unisfere and their mentor(s) in any such publication.

4. Photographs and Media

Unisfere may wish to photograph or film program activities for documentation and promotional purposes. Fellows, mentors, and volunteers will be asked for explicit written consent before any image or footage featuring them is published. Consent may be withdrawn at any time by contacting info@unisfere.com.

5. Code of Conduct

All program participants — fellows, mentors, and volunteers — are expected to:

• Treat all participants with dignity and respect regardless of gender, nationality, religion, or background
• Maintain academic integrity in all research activities
• Report any concern about misconduct, plagiarism, or ethical violations to info@unisfere.com
• Avoid any conflict of interest without prior disclosure to Unisfere

Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in removal from the program.

6. Termination of Participation

Stichting Unisfere reserves the right to remove a fellow, mentor, or volunteer from the program if they:

• Violate these Terms or the Code of Conduct
• Submit false information
• Engage in behaviour that undermines the integrity or reputation of the program
• Fail to meet participation requirements without reasonable justification

Removal decisions are made by the board and are final.

7. Certificates and Credentials

Certificates of completion are awarded to fellows who successfully fulfil the requirements of Phase 1 and/or the full program. Certificates are issued in the name of Stichting Unisfere and include the fellow’s name, program phase, and year. Certificates may be verified by contacting info@unisfere.com.

8. Volunteer Mentors

Mentors participate on a fully voluntary basis. Stichting Unisfere does not pay mentors and accepts no liability for any loss or damage incurred by a mentor in connection with their volunteer participation, except where caused by Unisfere’s own negligence or wilful misconduct.

These Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Donation Terms, and Fellowship Program Terms together constitute the complete legal framework for use of the Unisfere website and participation in Unisfere programs.