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Overview

Established in 2008, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) was launched following a successful three-year pilot program in East Africa supported by the Rockefeller Foundation from 2005-2008.

AWARD is a professional development program that strengthens the research and leadership skills of African women in agricultural science, empowering them to contribute more effectively to poverty alleviation and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

AWARD Fellows benefit from a two-year career-development program focused on fostering mentoring partnerships, building science skills, and developing leadership capacity. Following a highly competitive process, the fellowships are awarded on the basis of intellectual merit, leadership capacity, and the potential of the scientist's research to improve the daily lives of smallholder farmers, especially women.

To date, AWARD has received applications from almost 3,000 women for a total of 320 available fellowships. On average, only the top nine percent of applicants are selected each year.

Currently, 250 African women scientists from 11 countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia) have benefitted directly as AWARD Fellows.

AWARD partners with more than 200 organizations and universities, including many national agricultural research institutions. More than 15,500 people (primarily female high school students) have also been reached through role-modeling events led by AWARD Fellows.

Nearly 50 percent of AWARD's mentors are African men in senior positions. They play a key role in influencing organizational culture about the important role of African women scientists. Many mentors report that they are better leaders as a result of experience gained through AWARD.

THE AWARD DIFFERENCE

AWARD offers a unique, well-tested career-development program. Fellows stay in their institutions and continue their research during the two-year fellowship, which includes:

Fostering Mentoring Partnerships

  • One-to-one monthly mentoring by a senior scientist or professional for each AWARD Fellow

Building Science Skills

  • Workshops on science writing and proposal writing
  • Registration at a regional or international science conference
  • Opportunities to compete for a research attachment at leading international universities and institutions
  • Membership in a professional association
  • Training to use electronic science libraries

Developing Leadership Capacity

  • Participation in AWARD's internationally recognized Women's Leadership and Management Course
  • Support to host a community role-modeling event

AWARD is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Agropolis Fondation, and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). AWARD is a preferred service provider of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and is hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre.

We are also grateful for the many national, regional, and international research institutions, private corporations, and other organizations that have provided in-kind support.

Learn more about “What we offer”