The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially launched the call for nominations and applications for the third edition of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The prestigious international award recognizes outstanding young scientists whose work contributes to scientific advancement, innovation, education, and international cooperation while helping address global challenges linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Applications and nominations will remain open until 30 November 2026 (midnight UTC+1).
Established to encourage excellence in science and innovation, the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize highlights the achievements of young researchers whose work is driving socio-economic development and creating solutions to global challenges.
The prize also seeks to promote greater participation of women and girls in STEM disciplines, reinforcing UNESCO’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive scientific advancement.
Award organizers emphasize that the initiative aims to inspire future generations of scientists while fostering international collaboration across scientific fields.
The prize is awarded every two years to five exceptional young scientists representing different regions of the world.
The five laureates will be selected from:
Each winner will receive:
The competition is open to young scientists who have demonstrated significant contributions in STEM-related fields.
Candidates must have achieved notable accomplishments in one or more of the following areas:
Applicants must be:
UNESCO strongly encourages nominations of young women scientists as part of its ongoing efforts to improve gender representation within STEM professions.
Candidates are required to complete an online application and submit supporting documentation through the official UNESCO application platform.
Required application materials include:
Applications must be completed in:
A key requirement of the UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize is that every application must be supported by an official nomination.
Self-nominations without endorsement from an eligible nominating organization will not be considered.
Eligible nominators include:
Individual faculty members and university staff are not permitted to submit nominations independently.
Each nomination must include:
Nominators may submit a maximum of three candidates, with each nomination requiring a separate submission.
Applicants and nominators should take note of several important requirements:
The UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize continues to serve as a major platform for recognizing emerging scientific leaders whose work contributes to sustainable development, technological innovation, and international cooperation.
By celebrating excellence among young researchers across all world regions, the award seeks to strengthen the global STEM ecosystem while encouraging greater participation from women and underrepresented groups in science and technology.
With five international awards worth $50,000 each, the 2026 edition presents a significant opportunity for young scientists to gain global recognition for their contributions to advancing knowledge and addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding

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