AWARD Leadership Scholarship supports young African women in agricultural sciences with a nine-month, non-residential leadership and professional development program. The AWARD Leadership Scholarship focuses on strengthening leadership capacity, communication, visibility, mentoring, and gender integration skills for early-career women researchers.
The program is implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. It selects participants from specified Sub-Saharan African countries for non-residential training, mentoring, and networking over nine months.
AWARD Leadership Scholarship Benefits
- Leadership skill development
- Improved research communication
- Increased visibility and professional networks
- Mentoring
- Career transformation support
- Training on gender integration in agricultural sciences and organizational leadership
- Leadership development training
- Communication skills enhancement for presenting research to diverse audiences
- Networking opportunities
- Training on negotiating organizational challenges
AWARD Leadership Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be female.
- Applicants must be under 35 years old.
- Applicants must be working or engaged in agricultural sciences.
- Applicants must be from one of the targeted countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, or Zambia.
- Applicants may be affiliated with governments, NGOs, universities, research centres, civil society, or the private sector.
- Applicants must submit their application through the online form before the deadline.
How to Apply for AWARD Leadership Scholarship
- Complete the online application on the official AWARD page.
- Review the official guidance carefully to confirm the full requirements and application process.
- Submit the online form before the deadline (20 September 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the AWARD Leadership Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply for the 2026 cohort.
What is the AWARD Leadership Program?
The AWARD Leadership Program is a nine-month, non-residential leadership training for young African women engaged in agricultural sciences. It focuses on leadership capacity, communication, visibility, mentoring, and gender integration to help participants grow as leaders in research and related sectors.
Who runs and funds the program?
The program is implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) and is funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, according to the provided information.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are female, under 35 years old, and working or engaged in agricultural sciences. Candidates must be from one of the targeted countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, or Zambia.
What do fellows receive during the program?
Fellows receive leadership development training, improved research communication skills, increased professional visibility, networking opportunities, mentoring support, and training on gender integration and negotiating organizational challenges.
Is the program residential or remote?
The program is non-residential. Participants remain based in the specified Sub-Saharan African countries while taking part in the nine-month training and mentoring activities.
How many participants will be selected?
According to the provided information, at least 40 participants will be selected for the 2026 cohort of the AWARD Leadership Program.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is 20 September 2026 at midnight, East Africa Time (UTC+3). Applicants should submit their completed online form before this date and time.
How do I apply for the program?
Interested applicants should complete the online application on the official AWARD page linked from the announcement. Applicants are advised to review the official guidance carefully to confirm all requirements and the application process.
Which countries are targeted by the program?
The program targets women based in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia in Sub-Saharan Africa, as listed in the announcement.
Are candidates required to be affiliated with institutions?
Applicants may be affiliated with governments, NGOs, universities, research centres, civil society, or the private sector. The announcement indicates a range of acceptable affiliations for applicants engaged in agricultural sciences.
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