The UNESCO MAB Young Scientists Awards 2026 closed on 7 May 2026. If you missed this cycle, you have not missed the programme itself — UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme opens applications for these awards every year, and this post breaks down exactly who qualifies, what the $5,000 grant covers, and what to do right now so you are ready the moment the 2027 cycle opens.
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The awards fund young researchers working on ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resource projects inside biosphere reserves, with priority given to applicants from developing countries. Information verified July 2026 from the official UNESCO MAB website.
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About the MAB Young Scientists Awards
The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Young Scientists Awards are UNESCO’s research grant programme for early-career scientists, running since 1989 under the Man and the Biosphere Programme. Each year, MAB awards up to $5,000 to researchers 35 years old or younger who are conducting interdisciplinary projects tied to biosphere reserves — protected areas where UNESCO tests approaches to balancing human activity with conservation.
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Since 2022, the programme has run alongside a companion track, the MAB Young Scientists Awards – Prince Albert I of Monaco, which funds five additional fellowships specifically for marine, island, and coastal research. In 2026, UNESCO granted eleven awards in total: six under the general MAB criteria and five under the Monaco-backed marine and coastal track. Projects funded through either track run for up to two years.
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UNESCO MAB Young Scientists Awards Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | UNESCO MAB Young Scientists Awards |
| Host Country ⇒ | France (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris) |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowship — open to early-career researchers, not tied to a specific degree level |
| Benefits ⇒ | Up to $5,000 research grant per awardee, covering project-related costs for up to two years |
| Funded by ⇒ | UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, with additional support from the Principality of Monaco for marine, island, and coastal research |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Open worldwide; priority given to developing countries. Applicants from developed countries are considered only in exceptional cases, typically in partnership with a developing-country researcher. |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 2026 cycle closed 7 May 2026. Watch for the 2027 cycle opening — expected around March–April 2027. |
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be 35 years old or younger at the application deadline.
- Your research proposal must be interdisciplinary and connected to a biosphere reserve or potential biosphere reserve.
- You must secure endorsement from your country’s MAB National Committee before submitting. If your country has no operational committee, the National Commission for UNESCO manages the selection instead.
- If you’re applying from a developed country, you’re only considered in exceptional cases — usually when collaborating with a developing-country researcher or institution.
- Each MAB National Committee can endorse a maximum of two applications per year. This is the disqualifier most guides skip: even a strong proposal won’t get through if your country’s committee has already endorsed two other applicants for the cycle.
What the Award Covers
- A research grant of up to $5,000 for project-related costs — equipment, in-country travel, materials, and other direct research expenses. International travel is generally not covered.
- Funded projects run for up to two years, giving awardees a two-year window to complete the work in their proposal.
- Access to a MAB Secretariat-managed research network — awardees report progress and findings directly to UNESCO in Paris.
- A dedicated track for marine, island, and coastal research through the Prince Albert I of Monaco awards, funding five additional places each year under the UN Decade of Ocean Science initiative.
Required Documents
- Completed MAB Young Scientists Award application form (available in English or French)
- A summary description of the proposed research, maximum two pages
- Written endorsement from your MAB National Committee, or the National Commission for UNESCO where no committee exists
Start the endorsement conversation early. Committee review takes time, and because each committee can only endorse two applicants a year, applicants who reach out early in the window have a real advantage over those who submit a polished proposal in the final week.
The Award Selection Process
- Prepare your proposal. Draft your two-page research summary and complete the application form.
- Get endorsed. Your MAB National Committee (or National Commission for UNESCO) reviews and endorses your application. This is the real bottleneck — competition for one of two endorsement slots happens inside your country before UNESCO ever sees your file.
- Submit to the MAB Secretariat. Endorsed applications are sent to the MAB Secretariat in Paris ahead of the deadline.
- UNESCO review. The Secretariat reviews all endorsed applications and selects awardees based on interdisciplinary strength, alignment with the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan and the SDGs, and relevance to biosphere reserve work.
- Reporting commitment. Selected awardees agree to submit research reports to the MAB Secretariat and their National Committee, and to let UNESCO publish their results.
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How to Apply for the 2027 Cycle
UNESCO typically opens the MAB Young Scientists Awards application window in the first quarter of the year, with deadlines falling in early May. Based on that pattern, expect the 2027 cycle to open around March 2027.
In the months before then:
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- Confirm whether your country has an active MAB National Committee, or identify your National Commission for UNESCO contact if it doesn’t.
- Start drafting your two-page research summary now rather than in the final weeks before the deadline.
- Reach out to your National Committee early — since only two applicants per country get endorsed each year, early contact matters more than a polished proposal submitted late.
- Check the official MAB Young Scientists Awards page periodically for the 2027 opening announcement and the updated application form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UNESCO MAB Young Scientists Awards still open for 2026?
No. The 2026 cycle closed on 7 May 2026. The next cycle is expected to open around March 2027, based on the programme’s usual timing.
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Can Nigerian and other African researchers apply?
Yes. The programme prioritizes applicants from developing countries, and African researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. You’ll need endorsement from your country’s MAB National Committee, or the National Commission for UNESCO if no committee is active — confirm which body handles this in Nigeria before the next window opens.
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How much does the MAB Young Scientists Award pay?
Up to $5,000 per awardee, covering project-related research costs for up to two years. Eleven awards are granted each year — six under the general track and five under the Prince Albert I of Monaco marine, island, and coastal track.
Do I need a PhD to apply?
No. The award targets early-career researchers under 35, not a specific degree level. What matters is an interdisciplinary research proposal connected to a biosphere reserve and endorsement from your MAB National Committee.
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What happens if my country doesn’t have a MAB National Committee?
The National Commission for UNESCO in your country manages the selection and endorsement process instead. Contact your National Commission for UNESCO office directly to confirm the process before you prepare your application.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official UNESCO MAB Young Scientists Awards website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with UNESCO or the Man and the Biosphere Programme.
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