UNESCO invites nominations for the Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation to recognize outstanding contributions to the management or preservation of the environment. Eligible candidates include individuals, groups of individuals, institutes, and organizations that have made significant impacts through environmental and natural resources research, environmental education and training, or the creation of protected areas such as biosphere reserves and World Heritage sites. The prize consists of a diploma and a financial award of US$100 thousand. The deadline for nominations is 15 June 2026. Prize for Environmental Preservation
Jan Laarman
Global Development Network — Global Development Awards Competition 2026
The Global Development Awards Competition is open for applications. The awards recognize excellence in policy-oriented research, support research capacity development of researchers in low and middle-income countries, and fund innovative social development projects benefiting marginalized groups in the developing world. The program targets non-profit NGOs and CSOs that are currently implementing projects focused on science, technology, and innovation to support marginalized groups. Three winners will receive grants totaling US$125 thousand: two first-prize winners receive US$50 thousand each, and one second-prize winner receives US$25 thousand, all accompanied by technical advising. Additionally, the first-prize winners may later compete for a Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) grant of up to US$200 thousand after a twelve-month implementation period. The application deadline is 17 June 2026. Global Development Awards
UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program — Young Scientist Awards 2026
The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme offers the Young Scientists Awards to support early-career researchers conducting interdisciplinary studies on ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainable development. The program prioritizes research carried out in biosphere reserves and projects that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Eligible applicants must be 35 years or younger and must have their applications endorsed by their National MAB Committee, which can nominate up to two candidates per year. Individual research grants are awarded up to a maximum of US$5,000 to cover project-related costs for a two-year period. The deadline for applications is 07 May 2026. Young Scientist Awards
United Nations University — PhD Internships in Economics
UNU-WIDER (World Institute for Development Economics Research) invites applications for its PhD research internship program in Helsinki, Finland. Preference is for applicants who live or work in developing countries, and who are in the later stages of their PhD. Program themes in WIDER include the economics of energy, climate change, food security, and others. UNU-WIDER provides a travel grant and a monthly stipend of €1,850 during the period of the fellowship. Deadlines for submission of applications are 31 March and 30 September each year. Know more about the program
African Plant Nutrition Institute — Plant Nutrition Scholar Award
The Plant Nutrition Scholar Award program offers ten awards of US$2,000 to students in the disciplines of soil science, agronomy, and horticultural or tree crop science with a focus on plant nutrition. Students must also be attending a degree-granting institution located in Africa. Candidates must be enrolled in a program of graduate study as of the application deadline of 30 April 2026. Plant Nutrition Scholar Award
Xiamen University — Scholarships for International Students
Xiamen University (XMU) in coastal Southeast China supports several doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate programs in English. Subject areas at XMU include marine affairs, environmental sciences and ecology, life sciences, and many others. The university’s scholarship programs include several for international students. The application deadline is 10 April 2026. Find out more
Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust — Grants for Research and Training 2026
The Trust makes grants for education and research in ornamental horticulture, primarily in North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Australia. Projects may focus on research in ornamental horticulture, creation and maintenance of gardens accessible to the public for educational purposes, educational activities that further ornamental horticulture, and environmentally responsible cultivation of plants which have ornamental horticultural value. Applicants include botanical gardens, arboreta, universities, and other nonprofit charitable organizations. Grants are up to US$25 thousand. The application deadline for Letters of Intent (LOIs) is 15 June 2026. More information
Heinrich Böll Foundation — University Studies in Germany 2026
The Heinrich Böll Foundation annually funds graduate and doctoral students across all subjects and nationalities for university studies in Germany. Preference is for applicants working in the subject areas of the Foundation such as climate and energy, resource governance, and ecology and green development (among others). The special focus regions for international students are Central and Eastern Europe; EU neighborhood countries and the CIS; the Middle East and North Africa; transition and newly industrialized countries; and conflict regions worldwide. Applicants should be capable of the German language. The deadline for international applications (i.e., from outside Germany) is 01 March and 01 September of each year. Study in Germany
Rotary Foundation — Masters Studies in Water and Sanitation
The Rotary Foundation partners with UNESCO to offer funding for master’s studies in water and sanitation. Applicants for Rotary’s support must be provisionally admitted to one of the three participating degree programs at UNESCO’s Institute for Water Education (IHE). Students apply via their local Rotary club or district. Each award is approximately €34 thousand, paid directly to UNESCO-IHE. The deadline for submitting Rotary scholarship applications is 15 April 2026. Find the Application Process
World Wildlife Fund — Fonseca Leadership Program
The Fonseca Leadership Program aims to provide financial support for researchers and practitioners in Latin America to pursue graduate-level studies geared towards education and research training. Applicants may apply for up to two (master’s) and three (PhD) years of funding and request up to US$30 thousand per year. The fellowship is open to nationals of eligible countries within WWF-US and the GEF priority areas (Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Suriname). The deadline to apply is 18 December 2025. Fonseca Leadership Program