Apply for the AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences

The program, funded by The Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) and implemented by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), aims to cultivate a pool of capable, confident, and influential young women scientists. These women will be equipped to excel in agricultural sciences, thrive in leadership roles, and champion gender integration within the sector.

Successful applicants, selected through a competitive process, will gain access to a variety of opportunities to:

• Strengthen leadership skills

• Enhance the ability to communicate their work effectively to diverse audiences

• Boost visibility and expand professional networks

The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) program is designed to help participants overcome institutional barriers to career advancement, encourage retention in agricultural science careers, and raise awareness of the importance of gender integration and equality in agricultural professions.

Mentees will be drawn from a wide range of biophysical and social science agriculture disciplines, as well as organizations including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector.

This call for applications is open to candidates from the following sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The initiative will select up to 40 African women under 35 years old and their mentors to participate in an intensive, non-residential, nine-month career-transformative program. Participants will gain expertise in areas such as:

• Effective leadership styles

• Defining career paths and leveraging networks for professional advancement

• Developing personal brands to confidently pitch research ideas to potential funders and collaborators

• Managing teams, navigating organizational dynamics, building alliances, and taking calculated risks

• Navigating gender dynamics and applying strategies to become effective negotiators and problem solvers

Participants will receive a certificate of completion upon successfully finishing the program.

Program structure – AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences

The Program consists of highly interactive training sessions focusing on leadership, mentoring, proposal writing, and communication skills, complemented by one-on-one coaching sessions. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of:

• – Effective leadership styles and the development of their own leadership potential
• – Defining a career path and leveraging professional networks for career advancement
• – Developing a personal brand to build confidence when pitching research ideas to potential funders and collaborators
• – The essential tools and skills required to successfully manage teams, navigate organizational dynamics, build strategic alliances, and take calculated risks.

Eligibility and participation – AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences

The program is open to high-potential female applicants under the age of 35 who work in science and agriculture and possess a minimum of five years of full-time experience in the sector.

• Education qualification: Applicants must hold a minimum of a B.Sc. degree or its equivalent in any agricultural science discipline from a recognized university.
• Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to professional growth, articulate their career goals clearly, and show the capacity to assume leadership responsibilities.
• Applicants must be residents of Africa and be currently and actively engaged in agriculture-related professional work.
• Applicants must not be a Fellow or Laureate of any other Fellowships offered by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).

The call for applications closes at midnight on October 15, 2025 (East Africa Time, GMT+3). Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).

Applicants are encouraged to review the application guidelines carefully for detailed information on eligibility criteria and the application process.

Download the application guidelines

Download the frequently asked questions

Applications are submitted via an online registration form.

Apply here

For more information about AWARD Leadership Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences, its programs, and training opportunities, visit: www.awardfellowships.org