On September 3, 2026, at Kingston, Jamaica, UNESCO’s Regional Office for the Caribbean has officially introduced WINGS Caribbean – Women Inspiring New Generations in Science – a landmark fellowship program crafted to uplift exceptional women researchers and innovators tackling the Caribbean’s most urgent development hurdles.
Aligned with the program’s core mission, “Advancing Science. Advancing Women. Transforming the Caribbean,” two $10,000 fellowships will be awarded: one dedicated to projects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and a second focused on social impact work. Unlike many early-career support programs, WINGS Caribbean targets mid-career and senior-career women scientists, a demographic that often faces gaps in targeted funding and advancement opportunities. Eligible projects must align with key regional priorities, ranging from climate and environmental resilience and disaster risk reduction to digital innovation, applied scientific research, social development, governance, social entrepreneurship and community-led research. Selected fellows will have 12 months to execute their projects, which are required to deliver measurable, practical benefits for Caribbean communities.
Eric Falt, Regional Director of UNESCO for the Caribbean, emphasized the transformative logic behind the new initiative during the launch. “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,” Falt explained. “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 is the latest addition to UNESCO’s expanding regional portfolio of programs designed to support women and girls in science. For years, the organization has run initiatives supporting women across every stage of the scientific career pathway, from outreach to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers to grant opportunities for early-career researchers. This new fellowship fills a critical gap, extending support to mid-career and senior women looking to scale their work, deepen its alignment with regional needs, and convert scientific progress into community impact and leadership roles.
The program is being rolled out by the UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean, with technical partnership from The University of the West Indies Mona Campus’ Faculty of Science and Technology and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. Beyond direct funding for individual projects, the collaboration aims to strengthen regional scientific capacity, boost the visibility and leadership representation of women in research and innovation, and grow a connected regional network of women scientists working to build a more resilient, innovative and sustainable Caribbean.
Applications are now open to eligible women who are nationals of UNESCO Member States or Associate Members in the English-speaking and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. The submission deadline is set for September 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Jamaica time (UTC−5), with application materials available via the official WINGS Caribbean Call for Applications and online application portal.