The WAAW Foundation supports African women who seek a STEM-focused college education. The Foundation offers a need-based scholarship of US$500 to undergraduate female African students. Applicants have to be under 32 years old and be enrolled in an undergraduate B.S. degree program at a University or college in Africa. Eligible courses include Agriculture, Biology, Botany, Environmental Science, Natural Science, Zoology and many other fields. Application closes on 18 December 2026. Link to the WAAW Foundation
Category: Cross-Cutting Subjects
The Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling honors journalists in Africa who strengthen people’s voices and show the transformational change taking place on the continent. The ICFJ seeks a wide variety of topics, not limited to health and social issues. This includes stories and initiatives about global climate change, development challenges, or the environment. The winner receives a US$5 thousand cash prize. The deadline to apply is 08 January 2027. Visit the website
- Tags: Africa, climate, conservation, individuals, january2027, media/journalism
The Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT offers academic-year fellowships to science journalists. Fellows will be able to leverage the resources and connections available to them at MIT and in the surrounding greater Boston area. The research project must be journalism-related. Fellows receive a US$85 thousand stipend paid out in installments over 9.5 months. The program is designed for journalists from around the world. International candidates are encouraged to apply. Applications close on 09 January 2027. KSJ Fellowship
The World Press Photo Contest recognizes the best visual journalism and awards visual stories in eight categories, including Environment and Nature. The award winners will receive €1 thousand each. The prize-winning photographs will be assembled into a worldwide year-long exhibition. The contest is only open to professional photographers. Entries close on 13 January 2027. World Press Photo Awards
The Rice University (Texas, USA) invites student teams to participate in the Rice Business Plan Competition 2027. Entrepreneurs receive the opportunity to pitch their startups to investors, receive mentoring, network with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and enhance their startup strategy. Typically, startups have a technology component in Energy/Clean Technology; Life Science/Biotechnology; or Digital Services. The competition is open to degree-seeking students currently enrolled at a college or university anywhere in the world. The grand prize winner receives up to $300 thousand in investments. The application deadline is 29 January 2027. Business Plan Competition
The University of Antwerp’s Institute of Development Policy and Management (IOB) offers three specializations for one-year master’s programs in development studies. Topics include poverty, climate change, conflict, good governance, sustainable development, and others. The Institute of Development Policy awards scholarships to students from many countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America for studies at Belgian universities that include Antwerp’s IOB. Candidates applying for an ICP Connect scholarship have to submit their application by 01 February 2027. Link
The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) offers the Iso Lomso Fellowships to early-career African researchers in any discipline. The program provides a three-year attachment to STIAS in addition to the possibility of a residency at a sister institute for advanced study in North America, Europe, or elsewhere. Other benefits include support for attending international conferences or workshops and support to the fellow’s home institution for lecturer replacement. The program is aimed at African scholars who have obtained a doctoral degree within the preceding eight years, and who hold an academic position at a university or research institution anywhere in Africa. The application deadline is 15 February 2027. About
The Embassy of Japan in Uganda provides financial assistance to non-profit, development-oriented organizations in support of community development projects in Uganda. Any projects geared towards grassroots assistance are eligible for financing, including water and sanitation, disaster relief, and agricultural development. The grant amount per project is generally under 10 million yen (approx. US$100 thousand). Potential recipients are international or local NGOs, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and local governments. The Embassy receives concept papers anytime throughout the year, but the selection process is conducted twice a year with deadlines on 15 February and 15 June.. More about this opportunity
The AXA Foundation offers two-year grants of up to €140,000 to early-career researchers working on “Responsible Nature-Based Solutions for a Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Future”. Projects must be transdisciplinary, combining social sciences or humanities with natural sciences or engineering, and must partner with societal actors such as public authorities, NGOs or communities. For-profit companies cannot be partners. Only academic institutions and public research organisations can host, and the host institution submits the application on the researcher’s behalf. Expressions of interest close on 12 November 2026. (Note: Institutions not yet registered must register by 03 November 2026). Know more
The University of Turku offers up to 10 three-year research positions in Finland, open to researchers from any discipline within the university’s five faculties (including Biodiversity and Sustainability). Candidates must have a PhD completed within the last eight years and meet the MSCA mobility rule (not having lived in Finland for more than 12 of the past 36 months). Fellows receive full salary funding to carry out their own research project. Applicants must apply online by 13 November 2026. TIES2 Postdoctoral Fellowship