The Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, rooted in the World Bank Family Network, that since 1981 has funded the education of women from developing countries who are committed to improving the lives of women and children. Its Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) program awards a one-time education grant to women already enrolled at one of eleven participating universities across the region.
Recipients use the grant toward the costs of their studies — from undergraduate through postdoctoral level — in any field. The award is competitive and is paid in US dollars.
Benefits & funding
- One-time education grant of up to US$7,000 (the cap shared with MMEG’s South Africa program); the exact amount may vary with exchange rates and available funds.
- Funds support educational costs of the recipient’s ongoing studies; expenses are submitted in US dollars.
- Membership in MMEG’s international network of women grantees.
Eligibility
- Persons who identify as women, at least 25 years old at the application deadline.
- Citizens of a country on MMEG’s eligibility list (over 130 low-, lower-middle-, and upper-middle-income economies), with the intention to work for the well-being of women and children in developing countries after graduating.
- Currently enrolled (not merely admitted) as an undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral student at one of the participating Latin American universities, taking at least two courses per academic term, in an accredited in-person program.
- Expect to graduate no later than three years after the award.
- No close family relationship to current employees of the World Bank Group, IMF, Inter-American Development Bank, or the MMEG Board.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Afghanistan · Albania · Algeria · Angola · Argentina · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Bangladesh · Belarus · Belize · Benin · Bhutan
+ 118 more
Bolivia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cambodia · Cameroon · Cabo Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · China · Colombia · Comoros · Cuba · Côte d'Ivoire · DR Congo · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Fiji · Gabon · Gambia · Georgia · Ghana · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Haiti · Honduras · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Jamaica · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · Kosovo · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Mali · Marshall Islands · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Moldova · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · Mozambique · Myanmar · Namibia · Nepal · Nicaragua · Niger · Nigeria · North Korea · North Macedonia · Pakistan · Palestine · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Republic of the Congo · Rwanda · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Serbia · Sierra Leone · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sri Lanka · Sudan · Suriname · Syria · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Togo · Tonga · Tunisia · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · Uganda · Ukraine · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vietnam · Yemen · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled · PhD
Gender requirement
Female
Age requirement
≥ 25 yrs
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Application process
- 1Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria and that your university is on the participating list.
- 2Prepare the required documents, including proof of enrollment and proof of tuition payment.
- 3Complete and submit the online application on the MMEG Embark platform between June 1 and September 30 (11:59pm US Eastern time).
- 4Selected applicants are notified individually in mid-January; results are also posted online.
Program timeline
Applications open
June 1
Application deadline
September 30 (11:59pm EST)
Recipients notified and results posted
Mid-January (following year)