The TWAS Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partner (TWAS-SAREP) invites you to nominate suitable candidates for the 2026 TWAS Young Affiliateship. We would also like kindly request that you assist us to widely disseminate the opportunity to your databases and networks.
Background information:
Every year the five TWAS Regional Partners each select up to five scientists to be Young Affiliates for a period of six years. During their tenure, Affiliates are invited to participate in TWAS general meetings and conferences as well as provide feedback to TWAS on how the Academy can respond to the needs of young scientists in developing countries. They are encouraged to provide information about TWAS programmes to their students and colleagues; are encouraged to seek out and nominate excellent scientists from developing countries, especially science-and technology-lagging countries, for TWAS awards and seek out excellent scientists from science-and technology-lagging countries and recommend their nomination for TWAS membership (via a full member of the Academy). The idea of the Young Affiliateship is to give opportunities to young scientists who currently do not have them because they are based in Africa or elsewhere in the developing world.
Updated Eligibility criteria for TWAS Young Affiliates (https://twas.org/article/eligibility-criteria-twas-young-affiliates-updated). From hereon, the full eligibility requirements for the TWAS Young Affiliates Programme are:
1. Age and doctoral degree
– Candidates must meet one of the following requirements:
(i). Be 40 years of age or younger while holding a PhD degree, or
(ii). Possess a PhD degree awarded within the last five years for male candidates, or within the last eight years for female candidates, with no age restriction.
2. Residency and professional experience
– Candidates must have resided and worked in a developing country for at least the three years immediately prior to their nomination.
3. Scientific publications and research context
– A strong record of scientific publications is essential. Evaluation will be qualitative, focusing on:
(i). Quality of each publication
(ii). Relevance of the candidate’s research field
(iii). Impact and significance of the research
– In addition, the research environment will be considered, including available infrastructure, resources, and working conditions. This contextual analysis provides a more holistic and equitable assessment of scientific achievement, acknowledging that researchers in different settings face varying levels of support and access to resources.
4. Exceptions and special considerations
– Exceptions to residency and work experience requirements may be granted for:
(i) Female scientists
(ii) Scientists who are displaced or in exile
– Nominations requesting exceptions must include a thorough and detailed explanation of the circumstances justifying the request.
– These changes reflect TWAS’s commitment to recognizing excellence in science while acknowledging diverse career paths and challenges faced by researchers worldwide.
Selection of the candidates will be based on the recommendations of a Selection Committee comprising TWAS fellows in sub-Saharan Africa.
Apply here: TWAS Young Affiliates Nomination Form. (you will be required to login to your Gmail account to be able to open the form and upload all the supporting documents). This electronic application form is only limited to candidates from sub-Saharan Africa region and the closing date is 30 June 2026.
This form together with the below supporting documents must be submitted on the above link (last process before submitting the nomination/application). The following supporting documents must be uploaded immediately together with this signed form. Please name your files accordingly, e.g. SMITH_D. Application; SMITH_D Publication; SMITH_D Signature form; and SMITH_D Nomination Letter. The required supporting documents are:
- Full Curriculum vitae (maximum of 3 pages)
- List of the candidate’s most significant publications (minimum is 10)
- Signed nomination letter/Reference letter
- Fully completed nominator-nominee form (pdf)
For any queries, please contact the secretariat, Kholani Mbhiza at kholani@assaf.org.za
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to receiving your nominations/applications.
Kind regards
Kholani Mbhiza
Programme Officer
SAYAS & TWAS-SAREP Secretariat
Strategic Partnerships
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)