The Coimbra Group offers short-term research grants to early-career scholars from higher education institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The program enables researchers to visit a participating European university for one to three months to further their research and develop academic collaborations. Applicants must be staff members at a Sub-Saharan African university. Funding amounts vary by host university, with many providing monthly stipends ranging from €750 to €1,500, often supplemented by travel allowances or accommodation. The deadline for applications for the 2026/2027 academic year is 10 May 2026. Coimbra Group
early-career
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area — Young Innovators Award 2026
The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) invites young entrepreneurs and researchers to apply for its 2026 Young Innovators Award. The program recognizes outstanding digital and technological solutions that address sustainability challenges in the Mediterranean region, particularly in the fields of water management, sustainable farming, and the agrifood value chain. Eligible applicants must be under 35 years old and be citizens or residents of a PRIMA participating country, which includes various nations across the European Union and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. The award provides a financial prize of €10 thousand to the winner in each category to support the further development or scaling of their innovation. The application deadline is 22 May 2026. Young Innovators Award
Global Biodiversity Information Facility — Graduate Researchers Award 2026
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) invites nominations for its annual award recognizing master’s and PhD students who use biodiversity data in innovative research. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in a graduate program and be citizens of a GBIF participant country or studying at an institution within one. The program provides two prizes of €5,000 each for research that demonstrates discovery in biodiversity informatics, such as taxonomy, ecology, or biogeography. The final deadline to submit nominations is 29 May 2026. Graduate Researchers Award
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research — Fellowship Program
The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) enables early-career researchers to join a project team from another country for research activities that further our understanding of Antarctica. The fellowship is for PhD students to undertake research at major international laboratories, field facilities, or institutes in SCAR member countries. Applicants should be citizens of both a World Meteorological Organization member country and a developing economy. SCAR will offer three to four fellowships of up to US$15 thousand each. The deadline for fellowship applications is 04 September 2026. Find details
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — Young Forest Champions
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) invites nominations for the Young Forest Champions initiative. This program recognizes individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 who lead innovative projects in forest monitoring using geospatial technology to support climate action. Eligible applicants include individual forest practitioners, researchers, and community leaders from Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Uganda, or Zambia, with a specific focus on those contributing to indigenous and local community efforts. Selected champions receive a US$10 thousand grant to scale their projects, along with technical mentorship and an invitation to participate in the XVIV IUFRO World Congress. The application deadline is 21 March 2026. Young Forest Champions
OPEC Fund for International Development — Young Professional Development Program
The Young Professional Development Program (YPDP) is a two-year program designed to prepare young professionals from OPEC Fund member countries for a career in global development. The themes include poverty reduction, energy and sustainable development, environment, and other related science and technology fields. YPDP offers training, coaching and mentoring, the opportunity to experience different departments and access to professional networks. To be selected for the program, applicants must be 30 years of age (or younger) and hold a Master’s degree. The deadline for applications is 11 April 2026. More about the YPDP
VivaTech — Next Startupper Award
VivaTech organizes the Next Startupper Award to celebrate student entrepreneurs driving positive change through technological innovation. The competition is open to current students from any country who have founded a tech-oriented startup or project less than three years ago that demonstrates a clear social or environmental impact. Finalists receive four-day VIP speaker passes to the event in Paris and the opportunity to pitch their solutions to industry experts. The grand prize winner receives a €5,000 cash prize and a dedicated startup corner at the 2027 edition of VivaTech. The deadline for applications is 09 March 2026. More information
Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association — Marine Research Grant
The Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), in partnership with the Blue Nature Alliance, invites proposals for research aimed at strengthening marine conservation finance systems in the Western Indian Ocean. This thematic call seeks to generate actionable evidence on sustainable financing mechanisms to support national and regional frameworks, particularly in relation to biodiversity targets and blue economy strategies. Eligibility is restricted to Early Career Ocean Professionals as well as current Master’s and PhD students. While the specific grant amount for this thematic call is detailed in the full guidelines, the MARG program typically provides small-scale funding to support field-based research. Applications must be submitted by 30 March 2026. Marine Research Grant
United Nations University — PhD Internships in Economics
UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) invites applications for its PhD research internship program in Helsinki, Finland. Preference is for applicants who live or work in developing countries, and who are in the later stages of their PhD. Program themes in WIDER include the economics of energy, climate change, food security, and others. UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant and a monthly stipend of €1,850 during the period of the fellowship. Deadlines for submission of applications are 31 March and 30 September each year. Know more about the program
Aspire Institute — Leaders Program for First-generation University Students
The Aspire Leaders Program provides academic and professional development resources to students who are from backgrounds of social and financial adversity. All applicants must be between the ages of 18-26, come from a low-income background and be the first generation to attend university. Through the program, students will gain access to fully-funded HarvardX courses and participate in live seminars with Harvard University. Eligibility extends to students from all around the world as long as they are enrolled in an undergraduate program or have recently graduated (within three years). The application deadline is 13 April 2026. Aspire Leaders Program