L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Programme
Fondation L'Oréal and UNESCO
Annual research endowments of EUR 10,000 (PhD, 2nd year+) and EUR 15,000 (post-doc) plus leadership training for women scientists who are citizens of, and researching in, one of 49 Sub-Saharan African countries incl. Ghana. 2026 call closed 15 May 2026; next expected ~March 2027.
Verified today · verified by our team · Official page
Create a free student account to check your eligibility and get reminders.
Eligibility
- Who can apply
- Sub saharan africa
- Education required
- Masters completed
- Open to
- Women only
- Fields
- Stem, Natural sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Environment
- Residency
- Must be conducting research within a laboratory or institution located in one of the 49 Sub-Saharan African countries
- Also required
- Citizen of one of the 49 Sub-Saharan African countries (South Africa included)
- Doctoral applicants: enrolled in a doctoral school and at least in the second year of the PhD (first-year students are not eligible)
- Post-doctoral applicants: thesis defended after February 2021 (for the 2026 call)
- Minimum of two publications
- Not a previous beneficiary of any L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science national or regional programme
- Mandatory participation in the Management and Leadership training and the award ceremony
About this opportunity
The Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Programme, run by the Fondation L'Oréal with UNESCO since 2010, rewards outstanding women scientists at doctoral and post-doctoral level. The 2026 edition offered 38 endowments: 30 doctoral (EUR 10,000) and 8 post-doctoral (EUR 15,000). Laureates also receive leadership and communication training and attend a regional award ceremony; travel and accommodation for these mandatory events are covered.
Applicants must be citizens of one of the 49 Sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana is named in the regulations) and be researching in a laboratory or institution in one of them, in the formal, life, environmental, physical, engineering or technological sciences. Doctoral applicants must be at least in their second year; post-docs must have defended within the last five years (plus one year per child). Previous L'Oréal-UNESCO awardees are ineligible.
- Level
- PhD, Postdoc
- Where
- Multiple countries
- Duration
- One-off, non-renewable endowment; includes a leadership training programme and regional award ceremony
- Number of awards
- 38 in 2026 (30 doctoral, 8 post-doctoral)
- Difficulty
- High · about 4 weeks to prepare
Funding
Partially funded
- research costs
- travel
- training
EUR 10,000 for doctoral laureates and EUR 15,000 for post-doctoral laureates (or local-currency equivalent), paid after the award ceremony; usable for computer/advanced equipment, travel to meet experts, conference attendance, childcare support and scientific articles, but not basic laboratory equipment. Travel and accommodation for the training and ceremony are covered by the Fondation L'Oréal.
What you will need
- CV / résumé
- Research proposal
- Publications
- Reference letters (2)
- Other documents
CV (1-2 pages incl. training, publications and dissemination), 200-word research summary, 2-page detailed research description with references, estimated budget, list of publications (minimum two), and at least two letters of recommendation (thesis director or laboratory director, plus laboratory acceptance letter for 2026-27; a peer letter if possible). Applications are submitted online on forwomeninscience.com.
Track this application and eStudent360 turns the list into a checklist and, with Plus, a dated plan that works back from the deadline.