UNESCO launches WINGS Caribbean to advance science, women and Caribbean transformation
The UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean launched today WINGS Caribbean (Women Inspiring New Generations in Science), a new fellowship initiative designed to support outstanding women researchers and innovators whose work addresses some of the Caribbean’s most pressing development challenges.
Under the theme “Advancing Science. Advancing Women. Transforming the Caribbean,” WINGS Caribbean will award two fellowships of USD 10,000 each, one in STEM and one in Social Impact.
The initiative is specifically aimed at mid-career and advanced-career women whose projects address priorities including climate and environmental resilience, disaster risk reduction, digital innovation, applied scientific research, social development, governance, social entrepreneurship and community-based research.
Fellows will have up to 12 months to develop projects capable of delivering practical and measurable societal benefits.
“The Caribbean needs the full power of its scientific talent to meet the challenges ahead, and women must be at the center of that effort,” said Eric Falt, Regional Director of UNESCO for the Caribbean. “WINGS Caribbean is not simply about supporting women in science. It is about advancing science itself by ensuring that some of the Caribbean’s most talented women researchers and innovators have the opportunity, resources and visibility to develop solutions that can make a tangible difference to our societies.”
WINGS Caribbean builds on a growing portfolio of UNESCO initiatives supporting women and girls in science across the region. Together, these initiatives reflect a sustained commitment to supporting women at different stages of the scientific journey, from inspiring the next generation to enabling established researchers and innovators to make a greater impact.
WINGS Caribbean is designed to complement this pathway by addressing a different stage of the scientific career: supporting mid-career and advanced-career women to take their research and innovation further, strengthen its application to Caribbean priorities, and translate scientific achievement into leadership and tangible societal impact.
WINGS Caribbean is being implemented by the UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean, in technical collaboration with The University of the West Indies, Mona, Faculty of Science and Technology, and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. Through the two fellowship streams, UNESCO and its partners aim to strengthen scientific excellence, increase the visibility and
leadership of women in research and innovation, and build a growing regional network of women whose work is helping shape a more resilient, innovative and sustainable Caribbean.
Applications are open to eligible women nationals of UNESCO Member States and Associate Members in the English-speaking and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Each selected fellow will receive USD 10,000 for a project lasting up to 12 months.
Application deadline: 30 September 2026 at 11.59 pm Jamaica time (UTC−5) WINGS Caribbean Call for Applications
