Applications are now open for fully funded 11th edition of the Science by Women fellowship program!

Ednah Carrick October 30, 2025

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Closing Date: 30 November 2025

Applications are now open for fully funded 11th edition of the Science by Women fellowship program!

Overview

The Women for Africa Foundation is pleased to announce its 11th edition of the Science by Women fellowhip program. This program, which is a fundamental pillar of the Foundation, aims to promote African women leadership in scientific research and technology transfer to address key challenges faced by Africa in areas such as health, agriculture, food security, water, mathematics, astronomy, energy and climate change.

It consists of a 6-month post-doctoral fellowship program in collaboration with recognized Spanish Centers of Excellence, thus ensuring excellence in scientific research in various fields. Since its first edition, the program has involved 33 institutions, benefiting more than 170 African women researchers.

Science by Women is based on the capacity of African women researchers to lead the continent transition towards an economy based on knowledge and innovation. It seeks to address the social, structural and economic barriers that limit their participation in science and technology in order to reduce the gender gap in these fields for the long-term progress and equitable growth of African countries.

In this edition, the program offers 17 fellowships in 15 research centers of excellence, thanks to the unwavering commitment of more than 50 program partners , including research institutions, universities and public and private funders, such as the CSIC, the Government of the Canary Islands, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the CSAI Foundation, Abertis Foundation, Fisabio Foundation and FUHNPAIN, among others.

General Elegibility Criteria

Being a woman and having the nationality and residence in an African country.
Holding a PhD in the sciences area of expertise at the time of submitting the application or proof of having it by the time of the start of the fellowship
Having a current or recent contractual relationship with a university or a public or private organization based in Africa dedicated to scientific research.
Meet the specific requirements for each host institution you are applying for.
Only one application per person will be accepted, but each application can include up to 2 preferences of host institution.
Beneficiaries of previous editions are not eligible.

Required Documents

To apply you will need to attach the following documents:

Passport and National Identification Document
Profile Picture
CV
English language level certificate (it is not compulsory, but recommended)
Each choice of fellowship must be accompanied by a tailored 3-pages research proposal.
Motivation letter
Letter of referral/recommendation PHD diploma, certified and translated

Selection Process

All applications will be subjected to a revision by the Women for Africa Foundation with regard to the general eligibility criteria, and a subsequently highly competitive selection process by the host institutions, through which the following criteria will be evaluated:

The candidate’s research career, Curriculum Vitae and experience.
How your experience fits into the research topic of the receiving research team.
The project’s scientific-technical quality and innovative potential.
The expected and measurable economic or social impact of the research project.
The candidate’s plan to communicate and disseminate the project’s results.
The proper consideration of ethical issues, where appropriate.

Successful applicants will present innovative research projects that respond to the needs of the African continent and that are likely to be transferred to products or patents for commercial exploitation, or services and public policies that have a social impact in terms of well-being and quality of life of people, and the economy, productivity and competitiveness of companies. The centers may suggest changes to the submitted projects according to the budget and resources they have available. Please note that the Women for Africa Foundation does not provide funding for the shipping of samples, for the purchase of laboratory materials, or to cover the costs of publications.

General conditions of the fellowship

The period of enjoyment of the fellowship depends on each host institution. Please check each host institution available in the 11th edition fellowships to know more.

Generally, the post-doctoral fellowship is of 6 continuous months, to be completed within a period of enjoyment of 1 year and a half from January 2026. There are some exceptions, indicated within the detailed information and conditions of the fellowships offered by each host institution.

Successful candidates will have the following benefits:

Monthly living allowance of 2.600 euros gross per month. A 24% tax will be applied, leaving 1.976 euros net. This stipend is calculated based on the Spanish basic standard of living to cover, for one person only, accommodation, maintenance support and health and emergency insurance.
Round flights from their city of origin to their host city up to 1800 euro;
Refund of visa fees and any administrative or transportation costs derived from the visa application process up to 400 euro, always subject to the presentation of the corresponding receipts or invoices;
Possibility of financial aid to participate in seminars or congresses during the period of the fellowship in Spain, after proper evaluation from the Science by Women program’s team;
Possibility to participate in all in-person or online events organized by the Foundation or the host institution during the months of the fellowship;
Joining the N.O.W. is Africa Network, a space for connection, exchange and opportunities among the fellows of the program.

Beneficiaries must devote themselves entirely to research at the assigned research institution and may not be beneficiaries of any other fellowship, grant, stipend or regular income during their research stay. Beneficiaries may be asked to formalize in writing their relationship with the research institution.

All selected candidates of the Science by Women program are responsible for securing their own accommodation for the duration of the 6-month fellowship stay in their host city 2 months prior to their arrival. Some host centers have accommodation arrangements at the disposal of candidates, please check each fellowship for further information.

Conditions for Termination

The Women for Africa Foundation reserves the right to revoke or terminate the Science by Women fellowship at any time, including before the official start date, under the following circumstances:

Submission of false, misleading, or incomplete information in the CV, motivation letter, references, or any other documentation provided during the selection process
Failure to join the host research center on the agreed date without justified cause
Abandonment of the fellowship without prior notice or authorization
Repeated failure to carry out the scientific, training, or outreach activities outlined in the program
Unjustified refusal to participate in monitoring or evaluation activities
Breach of the internal rules, professional ethics, or behavioral standards of the host research center
Conduct that causes serious conflict with staff or other researchers at the host center
Any form of harassment, discrimination, verbal or physical aggression, or behavior that undermines the dignity of others
Misuse of funds allocated for the fellowship or failure to justify expenses when required
Clearly unsatisfactory performance in the research project without external justification
Lack of engagement, motivation, or interest in the program activities
Personal, medical, or family circumstances that prevent continuation of the fellowship
Institutional or logistical changes at the host center or within the Foundation that make it impossible to carry out the program under appropriate conditions
Any situation arising before or during the fellowship that significantly obstructs the normal development of the program or the collaboration between parties

Science by Women Fellows’ Commitments

Selected candidates of the Science by Women program fellowship commit themselves to:

Obtain a formal approval of institutional leave from their organization.
Secure accommodation for the six-month duration of the fellowship at least two months prior to their arrival in Spain. Proof of accommodation must be provided to both the host center and the Science by Women program team. Maintain, at all times, continuous and open channels of communication with both the host center and the Science by Women program team. If there is no response within 15 days of initial contact, the fellowship may be subject to revocation.
Familiarize themselves with the cultural and living conditions of the host city where they will be residing. This includes understanding the available means of transportation, local eating habits, cultural norms, and typical weather conditions.
Have the financial means to cover their personal expenses, when necessary, especially during the first weeks in Spain while they manage to open a working bank account.
Respect and comply with the internal institutional and legal regulations of the Spanish host center.
Submit a brief report on the research stay and personal experience to the Women for Africa Foundation, 30 days, at the latest, after departure from Spain.
Complete two evaluation surveys: mid-stay and end-stay, so that Women for Africa Foundation can evaluate the results and, if necessary, introduce modifications and improvements to the fellowship program.
Authorize the Women for Africa Foundation and the Spanish host center to make full or partial use, on their website or in any of their publications, of the contents of the report submitted at the end of the fellowship and any other audiovisual or written material produced during the period of the fellowship.