Expression of Interest now open for GenSIS country projects

Following the announcement of the launch of the Gender-inclusive science institutions and systems (GenSIS) initiative at the OWSD General Assembly in Bogotá, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), in partnership with UNESCO, has officially launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) for participation in the project. This EOI seeks to create a pool of countries in the Global South to support the establishment of National Gender in Science Committees, in partnership with national science, technology, and innovation authorities.

📌 Read the full background article on the GenSIS initiative here.

Who can apply

OWSD National Chapters are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to take part in GenSIS.

• Policy makers can only apply in partnership with an OWSD National Chapter
• In this first phase, four (4) country-level projects will be selected
• Additional phases will follow, allowing further National Chapters to be selected over the lifetime of the project

How to apply

Interested applicants are invited to consult and download the application materials:

• 📄 Expression of Interest document
• ❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please submit your application using this form: Expression of Interest for National Gender in Science Committees (National GiS Committees) .

All supporting documentation is available at the end of this page.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; National Chapters and partners are therefore strongly encouraged to submit their Expression of Interest as early as possible and not to wait until the final deadline of 15 March 2026.

Information and FAQ webinars

An initial online information session introducing the call was held on 10 December 2025. The recording and presentation slides are available on this page for those who were unable to attend.

OWSD will also hold a dedicated FAQ webinar on 29 January 2026, giving interested National Chapters and policy makers the opportunity to ask questions directly and seek clarification before submitting their Expression of Interest. Register here.

Timeline

• Now – mid-January 2026
  Download the Expression of Interest document and prepare the required information
• 16 January 2026
  Submission window opens (deadline to be announced)
• January – March 2026
  Review of submissions and selection process
• 15 March 2026
  Deadline to submit application for the first round
• By end of March 2026
  Selected applicants notified

For further information, applicants are encouraged to consult the FAQs or contact the OWSD Secretariat at GenSIS@unesco.org.