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The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development, AWARD, has opened applications for its 2026 Leadership Training Program for Emerging African Women in Agricultural Sciences.
Funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, the nine-month non-residential program is designed to strengthen the leadership capacity, confidence and professional visibility of young women working across agricultural sciences on the continent.
AWARD is targeting a cohort of at least 40 women under the age of 35, along with their mentors, selected through a competitive process.
The program will run intensively for nine months and will focus on practical skills that help participants navigate institutional barriers and advance into management and research leadership roles.
Participants will come from biophysical and social science disciplines applied to agriculture, and from universities, research centres, government institutions, NGOs, civil society and the private sector.
The training will cover core areas including effective leadership, strategic career planning, personal branding, team management, negotiation, and communicating research to funders, policymakers and industry partners.
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A strong emphasis is also placed on gender integration in agriculture, with sessions aimed at helping women understand gender-related challenges and turn them into opportunities for influence and impact.
Another key outcome is network building, connecting participants across disciplines and institutions to support future collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Eligibility for the 2026 call is limited to women from 11 sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia. Applicants must be under 35 and actively engaged in agricultural science.
Applications are submitted exclusively through the online application form, and interested candidates are advised to review the official guidelines and FAQ before applying.
The deadline for submissions is 20 September 2026 at midnight East Africa Time, UTC+3.
AWARD notes that late applications will not be accepted, and early submission is encouraged to avoid technical issues.
For Africa’s agrifood systems, the program speaks directly to a persistent gap. Women make up a large share of the agricultural workforce, yet remain underrepresented in research leadership and decision-making.
By investing in early-career women scientists and researchers, AWARD aims to build a stronger pipeline of leaders who can shape agricultural innovation, food security and climate resilience across the region.
The 2026 Leadership Training Program is hosted by AWARD at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, and applications can be completed online through the official AWARD website.
