2026 AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences

Applications are open for the 2026 AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences. Funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation and implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), the initiative will support up to 40 competitively selected women and their mentors through an intensive, nine-month, non-residential career development programme. The programme is designed to help young women scientists become more capable, confident and influential in agricultural science. Participants will strengthen their leadership skills, learn how to define their career paths and use professional networks strategically, build personal brands, and improve how they present research ideas to potential funders and collaborators. The programme also covers team management, organisational dynamics, alliance building, calculated risk-taking, gender dynamics, negotiation and problem-solving. Selected participants will also develop their ability to communicate research to different audiences, increase their professional visibility and expand their networks. AWARD expects the cohort to include women from biophysical and social science disciplines applied to agriculture, working across government, non-governmental organisations, universities, research organisations, civil society and the private sector. Applicants should read the official application guidelines and frequently asked questions before completing AWARD's online registration form. The form requests personal and contact information, nationality and African country of residence, as well as details of the applicant's highest academic qualification, discipline, university and year of completion. The form can be saved and resumed later. Applications close at midnight on 20 September 2026, East Africa Time (GMT+3). AWARD states that applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Applicants must be African women under 35 who are engaged in agricultural sciences. The 2026 call targets nationals of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia. The official application form also requires applicants to be resident in Africa at the time of application. Eligible fields include biophysical and social science disciplines applied to agriculture. Applicants may work in government, non-governmental organisations, universities, research organisations, civil society or the private sector. The application form requires applicants to provide details of their highest qualification, with bachelor's, master's and PhD options. Applicants should consult AWARD's official guidelines and FAQ for the complete selection criteria before submitting.