Supporting women’s leadership in science, technology, and innovation through early-career fellowships (2017–2021)

A cutting-edge CA$15 million fellowships program, jointly funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and IDRC, will support 140 doctoral and 60 early career women scientists in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program will be managed by the Secretariat of the Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World, a program unit of UNESCO’s World Academy of Science.

IDRC’s contribution of CA$7.5 million over four and a half years will provide early career women scientists with the opportunity and skills to become leaders in their fields, managing important research projects, strengthening their collaboration with industry, and acting as role models for the next generation of female scientists. The project will build the leadership and business skills needed for the dissemination and uptake of research results, and for career advancement. Participants will disseminate their research results in various ways, including technical reports and peer-reviewed publications on innovative research and its applications in LMICs, and join regional networks of women scientists in leadership positions.