Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship Program

AWARD has opened applications for the second cohort of the Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship. This two-year, non-residential fellowship supports African women scientists to strengthen their capability, confidence, and influence in climate-responsive agricultural research and agrifood systems. The application deadline is 6 November 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time (EAT) (GMT+3). The Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship is designed to help mid-career African women agricultural scientists build leadership capability and influence, so they can better lead and contribute to climate-responsive agricultural research and agrifood systems. The fellowship is an AWARD initiative funded under the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture, delivered by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The fellowship also supports participants in strengthening skills relevant to leadership and science contribution in agrifood systems. This is a fellowship (non-residential) and the source emphasizes capacity and capability-building rather than a grant amount. Selected fellows can expect activities including: The source also notes the fellowship includes community/networking through engagement with the fellows cohort (as part of the program experience).

Eligible applicants must be:

The opportunity also notes an accommodation pathway: The fellowship is focused on strengthening contributions to: This fellowship is designed for mid-career women scientists who want to move beyond technical expertise toward strategic leadership within agricultural research and agrifood systems. By combining mentoring with targeted training (leadership, negotiation, gender-responsive climate adaptation, science communication, and research proposals), the program supports fellows in strengthening their influence and ability to lead and contribute in their institutions and the broader agrifood sector. The source provides a submission instruction that applications are “strictly via the online portal.”

Official opportunity page: AWARD Opens Call for Second Cohort of Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship

1) What is the deadline to apply for the second cohort?

The application deadline is 6 November 2026 at 23:59 East Africa Time (EAT) (GMT+3). The source states applications will NOT be accepted after this date.

2) Is the Women in Agriculture Leadership Program Fellowship residential?

No. The fellowship is described as a two-year non-residential fellowship.

3) Which countries can applicants be based in?

Applicants must be working in Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, or Senegal.

4) What education and experience are required?

Applicants must have at least a master’s degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of seven years of work experience in agriculture and agrifood systems (including gender in agriculture research and programming).

5) How do I apply?

Applications are submitted strictly via the online portal. The source provides separate portal links for English-speaking and French-speaking candidates.

6) What kind of activities do fellows participate in?

Selected fellows engage in a mentoring program and training courses covering areas such as leadership and negotiation skills, gender integration in climate adaptation, science communication, and research proposal writing.

7) What if I require disability-related adjustments to apply?

The source advises individuals needing reasonable adjustments to remove barriers to participation to email [contact details removed]. Eligible applicants should carefully review the official guidelines and supporting materials on the opportunity page, including the instructions for the English or French online application portal. If you plan to ask questions or need clarification, consider attending the listed information webinar on 7 October 2026 at 15:00 EAT, and ensure your submission is completed well before 6 November 2026 (23:59 EAT).