Nominate Young Social Science Leaders: UNESCO Juan Bosch Prize 2026 ($12,000 for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean)

If you work with early-career social scientists whose research has real traction in Latin America or the Caribbean, this is one of those moments when a nomination can change a career. The UNESCO Juan Bosch Prize recognizes researchers under 40 who have made notable contributions to social science scholarship and to policies that affect social development across the region. It is funded by the Dominican Republic and carries a monetary award of USD 12,000 — modest in cash, but significant in prestige and reach.

This prize is not only a check. It signals to ministries, foundations, and universities that a researcher’s work matters. A well-prepared nomination can amplify an investigator’s visibility, open doors to policy tables, and fast-track invitations to speak in regional forums. If you represent a National Commission, an eligible NGO, or a government body, this is a timely opportunity to put a promising scholar in front of UNESCO’s selection panel.

Important short facts: nominations must arrive through National Commissions of UNESCO or NGOs in official relations with UNESCO; self-nominations are not accepted. Submissions are accepted in English, French, or Spanish and must be emailed by midnight (GMT+1, Paris time) on 15 February 2026.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

Beyond the USD 12,000 prize, the Juan Bosch Prize brings recognition from a major international actor in education, science, and culture. That recognition has two practical effects. First, it amplifies the laureate’s credibility when they approach ministries, NGOs, or funders with policy recommendations or follow-up projects. Second, it adds a strong line to a CV that hiring and tenure committees notice — especially for researchers who aim to build regional profiles rather than purely national ones.

For an early-career scholar, prize visibility can convert into invitations to consult on policy design, to join cross-national research teams, or to be cited in development agency reports. For civil society actors and NGOs, having an affiliated researcher recognized by UNESCO creates leverage when advocating for programmatic funding.

The monetary award is intended to support the laureate’s continued work; UNESCO prizes often come with opportunities to present at UNESCO events, media exposure, and sometimes follow-on networking offers from funders who track UNESCO awardees. In short: this prize blends cash, credibility, and visibility — three things that matter at different stages of an academic or policy-focused career.

Who Should Be Nominated

The prize targets individuals, not institutions, and the key eligibility point is age: nominees must be under 40. The work must be in the social sciences and have a clear focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. That can include, but is not limited to, sociology, political science, economics, anthropology, human geography, development studies, public policy, social work research, and interdisciplinary projects that ground social inquiry in regional realities.

Good candidates are not just scholars with impressive bibliographies. The strongest nominations show a line from research to real-world effects: papers or projects that informed municipal policy, rigorous evaluations that led to program redesign, research that resulted in legislative briefings, or community-engaged work that changed how public services are delivered. A public intellectual who writes accessible policy briefs and has measurable influence on local or national debates is as eligible as a tenure-track researcher with a string of peer-reviewed articles.

Concrete examples:

• A 36-year-old researcher whose ethnographic study of informal housing shaped a city government’s resettlement policy in Colombia.
• A Spanish-speaking economist under 40 who authored an impact evaluation that led a Caribbean ministry to redesign cash transfer targeting.
• An interdisciplinary team lead (individual nomination) whose fieldwork on climate-induced migration has been cited in national adaptation planning documents.

Nationality does not matter. A researcher of any passport who does rigorous, high-quality work on Latin America and the Caribbean qualifies, as long as they meet the age limit.

Eligibility and Nomination Process (in plain terms)

Nominations can only be submitted by two types of actors: Member States, working through their National Commissions for UNESCO, and NGOs that maintain official relations with UNESCO and operate in relevant fields. Individuals cannot nominate themselves — that’s non-starter number one. If you are an institutional colleague or mentor, your route is to work with your country’s National Commission or an eligible NGO to file the dossier.

Nominations must be in English, French, or Spanish. Each nomination must include a written recommendation that describes the candidate’s background and achievements, a summary of the work being put forward (including publications and other supporting documents of significance), and a statement explaining how the candidate’s contributions align with the prize’s objectives.

The email for submission is [email protected]. Ensure your National Commission sends the nomination package by the deadline: 15 February 2026 at midnight (GMT+1, Paris time). If your country has internal deadlines for National Commission review — and many do — factor those in early.

How to find your National Commission: UNESCO lists National Commissions on its website. If the home page feels like a maze, contact your country’s ministry of education or foreign affairs; they usually handle the National Commission secretariat.

Insider Tips for a Winning Nomination (what reviewers actually notice)

1. Start by building institutional buy-in. The National Commission’s endorsement should feel active, not perfunctory. A cover note from a minister, ambassador, or the Commission’s head that succinctly explains why the candidate represents the country’s best young social scientist for regional policy influence carries weight. If your Commission needs persuading, prepare a short one-page brief that links the candidate’s accomplishments to national or regional objectives.

2. Make impact visible with evidence. Don’t merely say the nomination influenced policy — show it. Include citations of policy documents that reference the candidate’s work, minutes from advisory meetings, email confirmations from ministry officials, or short excerpts from policy briefs. Concrete evidence beats rhetoric every time.

3. Craft a crisp, non-academic summary. The selection panel reads across fields. Open with a 300–500 word plain-language narrative: what the candidate did, why it mattered for social development, and what changed because of it. Avoid dense jargon; imagine explaining the significance to a senior policy maker in two minutes.

4. Curate publications strategically. You don’t need to submit every paper the candidate ever published. Choose three to five representative pieces — ideally including at least one that directly influenced policy or practice — and provide a one-line explanation for each, indicating the contribution and outcome.

5. Get endorsements from policy actors, not just academics. A short letter from a ministry official, NGO leader, or community organization that explicitly describes how the candidate’s work informed decisions is persuasive. Peer letters are useful, but impact letters are gold.

6. Translate key documents or provide bilingual summaries. If the main publications or policy briefs are in Spanish or Portuguese, include English or French summaries. The panel is multilingual, but readability helps.

7. Polish the presentation. Assemble a single, clearly labeled PDF package or a zipped folder with an index. Use searchable PDFs, include page numbers, and keep files under typical email-attachment limits (or advise the National Commission if larger files need alternative delivery). Small touches — clean layout, consistent naming conventions, and a short table of contents — make the dossier easier to evaluate.

8. Tell a story that connects research method to results. Explain not only what was done but how the methodology generated trustworthy evidence and why the results should alter policy thinking. Be explicit about limitations and how the candidate addressed them — reviewers interpret that as intellectual honesty.

These tips require time. Start early — at least 8–10 weeks before the deadline — so you can secure endorsements, translations, and the National Commission review.

Application Timeline (realistic schedule)

Work backward from 15 February 2026. A practical schedule for a strong nomination begins about 10–12 weeks before the deadline. Weeks 12–10: identify the candidate and contact the National Commission. Weeks 10–8: draft the recommendation, gather publications, and request endorsement letters from policy actors. Weeks 8–6: finalize translations and prepare the summary narrative; ask at least two colleagues (one inside and one outside the subfield) to read the dossier. Weeks 6–4: National Commission performs its internal review; address any feedback they provide. Weeks 4–2: complete formatting, compile the final PDF package, and confirm email addresses and submission process. Final 48–24 hours: submit through the National Commission, request confirmation of receipt, and keep copies of all files.

If your National Commission imposes an internal deadline earlier than 15 February, treat that as the actual deadline and adjust your timeline accordingly.

Required Materials (what to assemble and how to present it)

The official minimum is a written recommendation (in English or French; Spanish is accepted too), which must include the candidate’s background and achievements, a summary of the work or results submitted for consideration, and a statement specifying how the candidate contributes to the prize objectives. Beyond that, build a dossier that makes the reviewers’ job easy.

Essential documents to prepare:

• A concise written recommendation that follows UNESCO’s guidance.
• A 300–500 word plain-language summary of the nominated work and its impact.
• Curriculum vitae of the nominee with date of birth (to confirm age eligibility).
• A curated list of publications and PDFs of 3–5 key works.
• Copies or excerpts of policy documents, program reports, or media coverage that show real-world uptake.
• Letters of endorsement from policy actors or community partners (not more than 2–3).
• Contact details for the nominator (National Commission or NGO contact person).

If original documents are in languages other than English, French, or Spanish, include certified translations or at least translated summaries. Ensure all PDFs are searchable, under reasonable file size limits, and labeled clearly (e.g., Surname_CV.pdf; Surname_Summary.pdf). Include a one-page index at the front of the dossier listing all files and their purpose.

What Makes an Application Stand Out (how panels think)

Reviewers are looking for evidence of two linked qualities: rigorous scholarship and meaningful social impact. Rigor alone is insufficient if there is no demonstrable connection to social development policy. Conversely, activism without methodological depth will struggle to impress academic reviewers. The sweet spot is work that combines sound methods, persuasive evidence, and a track record of influencing policy or practice.

Outstanding nominations usually show:

• Clear, replicable methods that justify the claims made.
• Demonstrable uptake: citations in policy documents, program redesigns, budgetary decisions, or formal advisory roles.
• Scalability or transferability: evidence that the approach or findings could inform other parts of the region.
• Ethical and participatory practices: how communities or stakeholders were engaged and protected.
• A narrative that ties the candidate’s work to the broader social development goals for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Selection panels also reward clarity. A dossier that makes impact quantifiable (for instance, “policy X was changed and Y people benefited”) will be more persuasive than vague claims of influence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and how to fix them)

1. Waiting until the last minute. National Commissions often have internal review processes; last-minute submissions risk rejection. Fix: begin outreach to the National Commission at least 10 weeks before the deadline.

2. Sending an academic-only dossier. If your package is heavy on theory and light on practical outcomes, it will read as disconnected from social development. Fix: include policy briefs, summaries, and any evidence of practice influence.

3. Poorly organized files. Large, unlabeled attachments or scanned images of poor quality frustrate reviewers. Fix: create searchable PDFs, include a table of contents, and stick to clear naming conventions.

4. Relying on self-nomination or informal channels. Self-nominations are explicitly ineligible. Fix: work through the National Commission or an NGO in official relations with UNESCO.

5. Omitting language support. If key documents are only in a local language, panel members who don’t read it may miss the impact. Fix: add English/French summaries or translations of key documents.

6. Weak recommendation letters. Generic praise without specifics about impact or methods won’t carry weight. Fix: the recommender should cite concrete outcomes and include supporting evidence or contacts who can verify claims.

Avoid these traps and you’ll significantly improve a nomination’s chances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can someone who is not from Latin America or the Caribbean be nominated? A: Yes. Nationality is not a criterion. What matters is that the nominee’s research addresses themes relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean.

Q: Can an institution or research team be nominated? A: No. The prize recognizes individual researchers under 40. If you lead a research team, select the individual whose work best aligns with the prize’s objectives.

Q: Are self-nominations accepted? A: No. Nominations must come from Member States via National Commissions or from eligible NGOs in official relations with UNESCO.

Q: What counts as social sciences? A: Disciplines such as sociology, political science, economics, anthropology, human geography, development studies, public policy, and interdisciplinary social research are relevant. Emphasize work with social development implications.

Q: Is the $12,000 paid to the individual or to an institution? A: The laureate receives the award; UNESCO prize rules typically direct the monetary component to the individual. Check final award conditions in the official guidelines or ask UNESCO for clarification if needed.

Q: Are nominations limited to published work only? A: No. Policy briefs, evaluations, and documented program work count. The key is that the submitted materials substantiate the candidate’s contribution to social development policy or practice.

Q: Will unsuccessful nominees receive feedback? A: UNESCO does not guarantee detailed feedback for every unsuccessful nomination. However, National Commissions sometimes keep internal reviewer notes; ask your Commission what their practice is.

Q: How many laureates are there each cycle? A: Historically, the Juan Bosch Prize awards a single laureate in each edition. Refer to UNESCO’s official announcement for confirmation.

Next Steps and How to Apply

Ready to move? Here’s a short checklist you can act on today:

• Identify the candidate and confirm they are under 40 by 15 Feb 2026.
• Contact your National Commission for UNESCO immediately and ask about any institutional deadlines.
• Draft the written recommendation and a plain-language impact summary.
• Gather 3–5 representative publications and any policy documents that cite or were shaped by the nominee’s work.
• Secure 1–2 endorsement letters from policy actors or community partners.
• Prepare translations or summaries into English, French, or Spanish as needed.
• Ask the National Commission to send the nomination by email to [email protected] before 15 February 2026 (midnight, GMT+1).

Ready to apply? Visit the official UNESCO page for full details and to confirm any last-minute procedural updates: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-calls-nominations-juan-bosch-prize-2026

If you need help preparing a nomination package or want a quick review of your draft recommendation, I can help rephrase the summary, tighten the impact evidence, or propose wording for endorsement letters. Time is the limiting factor — start now so the dossier you submit is crisp, convincing, and impossible to ignore.