Caribbean women working in science and innovation are being invited to apply for a new fellowship programme aimed at strengthening their leadership and supporting projects addressing some of the region’s development challenges.
The UNESCO Office for the Caribbean has launched WINGS Caribbean (Women Inspiring New Generations in Science) under the theme “Advancing Science. Advancing Women. Transforming the Caribbean.”
According to UNESCO, the initiative will provide two fellowships valued at US$10,000 each—one in STEM and one in Social Impact. The programme is designed for mid-career and advanced-career women whose work responds to Caribbean priorities.
Projects may focus on areas including climate and environmental resilience, disaster risk reduction, digital innovation, applied scientific research, social development, governance, social entrepreneurship and community-based research.
Selected fellows will have up to 12 months to develop their projects, with UNESCO seeking initiatives capable of producing practical and measurable benefits for society.
The initiative is open to eligible women who are nationals of UNESCO Member States and Associate Members in the English-speaking and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.
WINGS Caribbean is being implemented by the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, in technical collaboration with The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Mona Faculty of Science and Technology and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences.
UNESCO said the fellowship is intended to strengthen scientific excellence while increasing the visibility and leadership of women involved in research and innovation. It will also help build a regional network of women whose work contributes to a more resilient, innovative and sustainable Caribbean.
The programme builds on other UNESCO initiatives supporting women and girls in science across the region, but focuses specifically on women at the mid-career and advanced-career stages. The aim is to help them take their research and innovation further, connect their work more closely to Caribbean priorities and translate their achievements into leadership and tangible societal impact.
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Jamaica time (UTC−5) on September 30, 2026.
Further information on the fellowship, including eligibility requirements and the application process, is available through UNESCO’s WINGS Caribbean call for applications and online application form.
