AWARD Climate Action (ACA) Fellowship 2025

Omran Aburayya
1 day ago
3 min read

If you're a passionate African woman working in climate change adaptation and eager to lead inclusive, gender-equitable climate solutions, the call for applications for the second cohort of the AWARD Climate Action (ACA) Fellowship 2025 is now open. This transformative program by African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) offers a unique platform to accelerate your career while addressing systemic gender gaps in climate leadership.

🗒️ ACA Fellowship Summary

Location: Blended (virtual and face-to-face sessions across Africa)
Host Institution: African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)
Level: Mid-career professional development
Target Group: African women professionals from Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal
Focus Areas: Climate change adaptation, gender-equitable solutions, agriculture, environmental science, development
Value & Coverage: Fully-funded (training, mentorship, travel and project costs)
Duration: 1 year (August 2025 – August 2026)
Application Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Midnight East Africa Time GMT+3)
Eligible To: Women nationals of the six target countries working in climate-related sectors

🎓 Fellowship Overview

The AWARD Climate Action Fellowship (ACA) is a non-residential, blended (virtual and face-to-face) career acceleration program built on the proven AWARD Fellowship model. It is part of the CLARE program, a UK Government and IDRC-supported initiative promoting Southern leadership for socially inclusive climate resilience.

This fellowship is designed to:

Strengthen leadership and technical capacities of African women.
Equip fellows to design and implement inclusive, gender-responsive climate solutions.
Expand the presence of women in strategic roles in climate science, policy, and innovation.

🧩Structure and Curriculum

ACA Fellows will:

Participate in a one-year customized training experience.
Undergo leadership development and gender integration training.
Be matched with a mentor for individualized career guidance.
Engage in peer-to-peer learning exchanges across borders and sectors.
Conceptualize and implement Climate Research and Innovation Projects (CRIPs)—mini collaborative projects that bring theory into action.

The fellowship’s design accommodates professional responsibilities, with most activities delivered online and a few strategic face-to-face sessions scheduled during the fellowship year.

🎁 Benefits ACA Fellowship

Fellows will receive:

Fully covered training and capacity development programs
Access to experienced mentors across Africa
Funding for CRIPs and travel costs for in-person events
Membership in the prestigious AWARD network of professionals, institutions, and alumni
Opportunities for international visibility and collaboration
Enhanced capacity for policy engagement and institutional transformation

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be female nationals of Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, or Senegal.
Be currently employed in a climate change-related field (e.g., agriculture, environment, energy, development).
Be mid-career professionals from government, NGOs, research, academia, civil society, or the private sector.
Demonstrate a strong commitment to gender-equitable and context-relevant climate action.
Have institutional support to fully participate in the program activities over the 12-month period.
Be proficient in English (some activities may involve French-speaking participants, but the core delivery is in English).

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should:

Visit the Award Fellowship Portal to begin their application.
Carefully read the Application Guidelines PDF
Submit the following documents:
- Completed online application form
- Letter of institutional support from current employer
- Current resume/CV (not exceeding 3 pages)
- Personal statement (describing interest, motivation, and alignment with ACA goals)
- Description of a proposed Climate Research and Innovation Project (CRIP) idea
All documents must be submitted by June 30, 2025 (Midnight EAT GMT+3).