The 2026 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Programme funds outstanding female PhD and postdoctoral researchers in life sciences, engineering, and technology, aiming to promote gender equality in science by supporting early-career women scientists who serve as role models and contribute to regional development.

- Must be a woman researcher (PhD or postdoctoral level) from or working in Sub-Saharan Africa. - Research must be in life sciences, engineering, or technology (including health, environment, agriculture, etc.). - Academic excellence: strong publication record, quality of research proposal, and scientific impact. - Leadership potential and commitment to mentoring/community engagement. - Relevance to regional challenges and potential for societal impact. - For PhD track: must be enrolled in a PhD program; for postdoc track: must have obtained PhD within the last 5 years (typical). - Applications are evaluated by a scientific committee; criteria include scientific merit, feasibility, and clarity of proposal.

Past winners are typically early-career women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa with strong academic records, often with publications in high-impact journals, and research addressing local health, agricultural, or environmental issues. Named examples are not listed on the page, but the programme is known to award multiple fellowships annually across the region, with winners from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and others.

The ideal applicant is a female PhD candidate or postdoctoral researcher from Sub-Saharan Africa with a compelling research project in life sciences, engineering, or technology, demonstrating scientific excellence, clear societal relevance, and a vision for leadership in STEM. She has a strong publication record, a well-defined research plan, and a commitment to advancing women in science.