UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea Fellowship Programme for Young Women Scientists in Africa 2025

UNESCO and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea are launching for the first time a fellowship programme entirely dedicated to young African women scientists. This initiative aims to bridge the persistent gaps on the African continent. It is designed to offer targeted support and focuses on promoting equal opportunities in science, by creating concrete opportunities for young women to become actively involved in various life science disciplines.

Objectives

• Enhancing opportunities by providing scholarships and training to empower talented young women in Africa within the life sciences.
• Boosting productivity by supporting research grants and offering professional development to increase creativity and research output.
• Leadership development by equipping a new generation of women with mentorship and leadership skills to become leaders in scientific fields.
• Fostering sustainable development by encouraging women scientists to contribute to sustainable development projects in their home countries.
• Building networks by facilitating regional and international collaborations through conferences, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Funding Information

• Each year, two young women will be awarded a grant of $25,000, with a total of $50,000, to advance their research and foster a promising scientific career.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must hold African nationality and conduct research at a recognized laboratory in Africa.
• Must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.
• Must hold a PhD in the field of life sciences.
• Engaged in scientific research within the field of life sciences, focusing on advancing knowledge and contributing to sustainable development.
• Only Governments of all African Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions can submit applications.
• Eligible Scientific Fields:
  • Medical and Health Sciences
  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular, cellular and structural biology
  • Biological systems and organisms
  • Environmental and ecological sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences
  • Physical sciences
  • Chemical sciences
  • Bioinformatics
  • Computational Biology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Mathematical Sciences (only where applicable to life sciences research)

Selection Criteria

• Significant contributions and innovation in their research.
• Notable achievements and advancements in the life sciences.
• Production of scientific materials (e.g., publications, patents).
• Recognition at national, regional, or international levels (awards, grants).
• Alignment with UNESCO’s goals for sustainable development in science.

Application Requirements

• Once pre-registered, the candidate will be invited to complete a comprehensive online submission form in English or French, which should include the following elements:
  • A proposal outlining an innovative research idea that can be completed within one year, considering the facilities available to the applicant.
  • A detailed work plan, including the project’s activities, objectives, and expected outcomes, with a timeline showing completion within one year.
  • A comprehensive budget breakdown for the $25,000 grant, clearly demonstrating how the funds will be allocated to implement the proposed project (e.g., materials, equipment, travel, publication fees, etc.). Given that the Grant Disbursement will be as follows:
    • $23,000 of the grant will be provided in advance at the start of the project.
    • $2,000 will be provided upon submission of a final report at the end of the fellowship period, detailing the project’s results and the use of the funds.
  • A summary of past research, including publications and other supporting documents, with significant publications highlighted.
  • A detailed CV, including academic qualifications, positions held, research experience, and current work.
  • One or two recommendation letters from a thesis supervisor or peer in the research field (who is not part of the candidate’s immediate environment).

For more information, visit UNESCO.