Deadline: October 15, 2025
Applications are open for the AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences 2026. The program funded by The Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) and implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) seeks to build a pool of capable, confident, influential young women scientists equipped to excel in agricultural sciences, thrive in leadership roles, and champion gender integration in agriculture.
The competitively selected successful applicants will benefit from a range of opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills; enhance capacities to effectively communicate their work to diverse audiences; and amplify their visibility and networking skills. It is envisaged that the program will equip them to overcome institutionalized barriers to women’s career progression and motivate them to stay in agricultural science careers. It will increase their awareness of the importance of gender integration in agricultural sciences and the need to champion gender equality in agricultural professions.
Mentees will be drawn from diverse biophysical and social science agriculture disciplines and organizations, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, research organizations, civil society, and the private sector, among others.
Benefits
- Participants will gain leadership and mentoring training, access to a network of professionals, tools for personal branding, and opportunities to amplify their visibility through presentations and media engagements.
- They will gain skills in gender-responsive agricultural research, enhancing their capacity to win grants that promote gender equality.
- Overall, they will acquire skills to accelerate their career progression and have a more satisfying and impactful career in the male-dominated agriculture field.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this Fellowship, applicants must meet all the eligibility criteria outlined below:
- Young African women agricultural scientists under 35 years old, who are nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.
- Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in an agricultural-related field.
- Reside in Africa and be currently actively engaged in agriculture-related professional work;
- Not a Fellow or Laureate of any other Fellowships offered by AWARD.
Application
The call for applications closes at midnight on October 15, 2025, East Africa Time (GMT+3). Applications will NOT be accepted after this date.
For more information, see FAQ and visit AWARD Leadership Program.
